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Message: <blockquote data-quote="N'raac" data-source="post: 6078847" data-attributes="member: 6681948">The preferences of the group should dictate.  However, if success or failure in social interaction will be determined primarily or exclusively by player, rather than character, ability, I believe players should be told so at the outset, and not left to invest (waste) investment in CHA, skill ranks, feats, etc. that would by RAW be used to determine success or failure in social interaction, only to discover that the GM pays little attention to these, instead resolving such challenges according to player ability.Very true.  Even those CHA rolls were typically ignored in prior editions, when it was not just interaction skills that had little or no rules structure.  The result was that the primary (often only) use of CHA was to determine whether the character qualified to be a Druid or Paladin. Result - it was consistently dumped, with no real detriment to the character.  If we rely on player skill in 3e, CHA becomes a dump stat for all characters whose mechanics do not place any reliance on it.  Why should my fighter put anything into CHA or Intimidate if you're going to assess success or failure based on my ability to deliver a threatening speech?  That's not really a fair comparison.  No matter how strong your tactical skills, a 1 still misses, and the guy who took the worst possible tactical approach can still roll a 20 and/or be missed on all those attacks of opportunity.  To me, it is far better role playing when I hear "My character stands up - it's not in my character's personality to crawl to safety" then "I only have 7 hp left, and I'll have to suffer 3 attacks of opportunity to stand up - 5 foot crawl".  The first statement is made, at least at our table, with a full understanding of the tactical consequences.Similarly, I have no problem with someone else at the table (including the GM) pointing out that, if the character stands up, he will be exposed to three AoO's.  Just because the new (or less rules savvy) player does not know this, that is no reason that his character would not be aware of the risk posed if he chooses to stand up.  Here again, it is the character's knowledge and skill, not the player's, that will rule the day.But keep in mind that this comes from a gamer who, when asked about my character's approach to attacking an Umber Hulk, stated (in character accent) "I charge looking the beast straight in the eye - as any TRUE warrior would."  To this day, I am amazed he still let me roll a saving throw (and not at all unhappy it came up '1').There was no reason my character would know the abilities of an Umber Hulk, and every reason he would think as a warrior first.</blockquote>

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