Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Realistic Consequences vs Gameplay
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 8007060" data-attributes="member: 6801286"><p>I'm wondering how I would have handled this social interaction with the Baron if it had come up in any of my campaigns. I've had lots of social encounters in my sessions as a DM. I always establish clear motivations and goals for an npc. The npc basically has wants, and do-not-wants. They have things they want to achieve, and things they are trying to avoid. And they have information that they may be willing or unwilling to share with the party.</p><p></p><p>During a social encounter, players can contribute if they want to. Generally no check is needed for that. It is only when the players are trying to convince the npc to move from his position, or to acquire information he is not willing to give up, that a check is required. The difficulty of that check is determined by whether the topic conflicts with the npc's wants or do-not-wants. If it does, the check will be higher. I generally try to keep checks reasonable, so that even players with low social skill have a chance of beating the DC. If a group of players is involved in the social encounter, I ask the players who of them wants to make the roll. This will usually be the face of the party; the one with the best social skills.</p><p></p><p>If my players had insulted the Baron, the face of the party would have to succeed on a high check to undo that damage. But drawing a weapon and making an attempt on the Baron's life? There's only so much a social check can reasonably do. At that point the Baron would order his men to kill the attacker, or to have him seized.</p><p></p><p>Of course, this does not have to be the end of that adventure. The players can resist arrest on the spot (either by trying to escape, or starting combat). They can try to free their companions from jail, either covertly (a prison break, or a bribe), or by striking a deal with the Baron (quest hook).</p><p></p><p>This is provided that the player who attacked the Baron intends to continue play from this point. If he regrets his actions, I see no issue with rewinding and pretending it didn't happen.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Imaculata, post: 8007060, member: 6801286"] I'm wondering how I would have handled this social interaction with the Baron if it had come up in any of my campaigns. I've had lots of social encounters in my sessions as a DM. I always establish clear motivations and goals for an npc. The npc basically has wants, and do-not-wants. They have things they want to achieve, and things they are trying to avoid. And they have information that they may be willing or unwilling to share with the party. During a social encounter, players can contribute if they want to. Generally no check is needed for that. It is only when the players are trying to convince the npc to move from his position, or to acquire information he is not willing to give up, that a check is required. The difficulty of that check is determined by whether the topic conflicts with the npc's wants or do-not-wants. If it does, the check will be higher. I generally try to keep checks reasonable, so that even players with low social skill have a chance of beating the DC. If a group of players is involved in the social encounter, I ask the players who of them wants to make the roll. This will usually be the face of the party; the one with the best social skills. If my players had insulted the Baron, the face of the party would have to succeed on a high check to undo that damage. But drawing a weapon and making an attempt on the Baron's life? There's only so much a social check can reasonably do. At that point the Baron would order his men to kill the attacker, or to have him seized. Of course, this does not have to be the end of that adventure. The players can resist arrest on the spot (either by trying to escape, or starting combat). They can try to free their companions from jail, either covertly (a prison break, or a bribe), or by striking a deal with the Baron (quest hook). This is provided that the player who attacked the Baron intends to continue play from this point. If he regrets his actions, I see no issue with rewinding and pretending it didn't happen. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Realistic Consequences vs Gameplay
Top