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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sekhmet" data-source="post: 5987123" data-attributes="member: 97602">[MENTION=6669384]Greenfield[/MENTION] There is no inherent falsehood to "I haven't seen him today". He is being completely honest with you, it isn't deception in the slightest. No Bluff check, a Sense Motive check under 100 will not reveal anything. Lets assume that Bartender knows exactly where Blacksmith is, and Paladin asks Bartender "Where is Blacksmith?"  If Bartender says "I don't know", then he is lying. He rolls his Bluff. Sense Motive will help. If he says "He is probably at his smithy", then he is lying. He knows that Blacksmith left town and is probably not at his smithy. He rolls his Bluff. Sense Motive helps. If he says "He isn't here", then he is not lying, deceiving, or misdirecting. He does not roll his Bluff. Sense Motive does nothing (short of rolling 100).  If he says "I haven't seen him today", then he isn't answering the question at all. He does not roll his Bluff. Sense Motive does nothing. The Paladin must ask more questions. Outside of directly opposing a Bluff check, Sense Motive takes a full minute (10 rounds) to get a sense for a single person. A single question such as "Do you know where Blacksmith is?" will likely last only one round, Paladin doesn't even have a chance to get a feel for trustworthiness.</blockquote>