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Message: <blockquote data-quote="machineelf" data-source="post: 7292618" data-attributes="member: 6774924">I always respond politely and gently, because I don't want my players to feel bad, and they are doing what they think they are supposed to do. They simply need to be reconditioned to think in terms of what their character would do, and leave the calls for dice rolls to the DM.This problem does come up, so my solutions are as follows:1. Before the gaming group gets going, I give my players a document with all house rules I'll be using and an explanation as to how I approach the game and my duties as a DM. I'll also verbally go over this at the start of Session 0 so that we are all on the same page.2. When they make a dice roll before I've called for it, I say, "rolls don't count until I've called for one," and I say it in the friendliest way possible, because I'm not trying to be a jerk or make anyone feel stupid. I understand that this happens, and a lot of players may not be used to the very character-focused role-play that I like to use in games that I run.3. If they have a special ability that requires a roll, it's OK for them to ask me if they can make the roll. I am human and I forget these things sometimes. I don't get mad if they ask me if they can make a roll for general things either, but the goal I'm going for is for them to state what they are doing and I decide if a roll is called for, rather than for them to ask to make a roll for some non-specialized action. So, I'd prefer, "Them: I start looking through the bookshelves to see what I find. Me: OK, make an intelligence investigation check," rather than, "Can I make an investigation check on this bookshelf?" The reason why I prefer this is not to be an annoying stickler; it's to encourage more character and story immersion. Again, I explain all of this in Session 0.4. Sometimes I make it funny. If a character goes up to a door guard and the player says, "Can I roll a persuasion check to see if I can get him to open the door?" I may have the guard say, "A roll? What is this crazy talk? I am on duty, you really should move along."The key takeaways are: Let them know your style of DM'ing and role-play early on. Don't be a jerk; players forget, and it may take awhile for them to adapt to the kind of immersive role-playing you are encouraging. If they forget, don't be mean. Nothing kills a game faster than a DM who is a jerk and who isn't understanding or gentle.And remember the phrase: "Die rolls don't count unless I call for them." Explain this on Session 0 and have it written in your house rules. And say it with a smile and be nice about it. EDIT: In fact, probably the nicer and better way to approach this in the middle of a session is to do what other people have already suggested, and say, "Tell me what your character is attempting to accomplish." And then call for a dice roll if you feel it needs it.</blockquote>

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