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Message: <blockquote data-quote="zakael19" data-source="post: 9546513" data-attributes="member: 7044099">Sounds like you're tackling a couple different things throughout your thread here:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I want PC actions to have stakes.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I want PCs to engage the world beyond clarify situation -> state triggering action -> look to me to call for a roll.</li> </ul>What you've just stated is a great example of identifying stakes. If you do this for all situations where there's uncertainty, the skill roll has meaning. If there's a locked door, and it's gating progress - your examples are great. Ok, if you fail: you can get the prybars or doorkicker going but now you've got other problems.Extrapolate this out, set stakes before a roll, adjudicate. If there's nothing significant at stake (besides time/resources, which really 5e doesn't usually track very well - you're getting into OSR / other system territory here with a lot of your stuff as well), evolve the situation until something's at stake or just give it to them. As for the second, again, this is OSR territory and you just have to be ready to prep like that. Surface level impressions (3 senses), more detailed information if they dig closers, hidden stuff they have to find. Great blog post here called <a href="https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2019/10/landmark-hidden-secret.html" target="_blank">Landmark, Hidden, Secret</a> that talks through this sort of unfolding information. I'd try and highlight specific party members. with bits of interactive stuff, and if they're like "can I make a perception roll" gently go "what are you looking at? ok...you look closer and blah."No reason you can't expand this to social scenes. Landmark: notable figures, broad emotions and body language; hidden: fingers wrapped round the pommel of dagger, eyes seeking somebody else in the crowd, sweating through his fine velvet shirt; secret: get up close enough, make a statement, roll a skill (can I like, get behind him and see if I can track where he keeps trying to look?). Just gotta remember to clarify stakes.</blockquote>

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