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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 778293" data-attributes="member: 5100">Sounds like your DM is covering up his weaknesses by slipping into "god mode".  That's _not_ a sign of a good DM.If the NPCs know something that the DM doesn't want you to know yet, then he should set up the NPC's abilities in such a way that the NPC isn't going to crack.  Either that or have the NPC (legitimately) avoid being questioned.  Maybe the roll shouldn't be PC A's diplomacy against NPC B's diplomacy, but PC A's diplomacy against BBEG C's intimidate.Regardless, playing every goober you run into as a master of debate and evading questions is flat out _bad_ role-playing.  Good RP involves acting _appropriately_ to the character in question.If the character with the highest diplomacy, intimidate, gather info, or whatever skill may be in question does not perform consistantly better over the long haul (there will always be exceptions where the dwarf hates elves or whatever), then there is a flaw in what's going on.As for how I handle it:  I encourage the players to RP what their characters are saying.  If the player controls the major points made.  The skills control how well those points were made and how well they were received.  Dice may not be rolled every time, but the numbers are always kept in mind.  Basically, success and failure are determined by the character sheet.  The best an exceptional roleplayer can hope for out of the deal is some extra XP.Here's an example of why the numbers are important:  My character is the son of a wealthy merchant.  He's picked up some of the tricks of the trade, but is an inheritor, so hasn't paid too much attention.  The bard in the group has a really high charisma and has maxed his diplomacy.  I (the player) have had years of speak and debate training, easily more than everyone in my group combined.  The fellow playing the bard is rather shy and unassuming.  If the DM went by player skill, I would _always_ be the choice over the bard to talk with NPCs.  That would rather destroy the concept of the bard and that would be rather unfair on the part of the DM.</blockquote>

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