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<blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 1316376" data-attributes="member: 9254">As much as they need and you are comfortable doing.&nbsp; Here's some different techniques I have used or seen used to provide information to players:Character Knowledge: When a player looks at you with a complete lack of comprehension or an utter certainty there's nothing they can do when you are certain they have all the info they need, they aren't understanding the capabilities *you* believe them to have.&nbsp; In this case, you can provide some reasonable background for a character that the player might not realize his character has.&nbsp; &nbsp; In your war scenario this might be the nearest military installation, a nearby druid grove, or a group of warlock hunters.&nbsp; NPCs: These are the greatest source of information in my games.&nbsp; I've taught my players that NPCs are filled with knowledge.&nbsp; I did that by assuming that most conversations were in-character and unless the PCs were some place private that NPCs might butt in.&nbsp; &quot;Warlocks?!?&nbsp; What you need is a tetragramaton cleric!&quot;Limiting player memory vs character memory: When I know the player is forgetting something I'll ocassionally have them make INT checks to remember something.&nbsp; I don't *tell* them what they're rolling or why, but it's basically me being their character's subconscious.&nbsp; I don't do it all the time, just when they're missing the obvious.&nbsp; Common knowledge: what's common knowledge for a DnD adventurer is completely different from a 21st century gamer.&nbsp; You know how to drive, use electronics (TV, vcr, microwave, ATM), operate firearms (with uncertain accuracy), 911 to contact police/fire/rescue, etc, etc.&nbsp; The adventurer has a completely different knowledge set and the player may not be aware of the kinds of things his character might know.&nbsp; &nbsp; In those cases, flat out tell players info their character would definitely know if they don't appear to realize it, such as any character with an Alchemy skill of 10 or better automatically knows Black Pearl Powder is only available from the City of Ickyharbor.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="kigmatzomat, post: 1316376, member: 9254"] As much as they need and you are comfortable doing. Here's some different techniques I have used or seen used to provide information to players: Character Knowledge: When a player looks at you with a complete lack of comprehension or an utter certainty there's nothing they can do when you are certain they have all the info they need, they aren't understanding the capabilities *you* believe them to have. In this case, you can provide some reasonable background for a character that the player might not realize his character has. In your war scenario this might be the nearest military installation, a nearby druid grove, or a group of warlock hunters. NPCs: These are the greatest source of information in my games. I've taught my players that NPCs are filled with knowledge. I did that by assuming that most conversations were in-character and unless the PCs were some place private that NPCs might butt in. "Warlocks?!? What you need is a tetragramaton cleric!" Limiting player memory vs character memory: When I know the player is forgetting something I'll ocassionally have them make INT checks to remember something. I don't *tell* them what they're rolling or why, but it's basically me being their character's subconscious. I don't do it all the time, just when they're missing the obvious. Common knowledge: what's common knowledge for a DnD adventurer is completely different from a 21st century gamer. You know how to drive, use electronics (TV, vcr, microwave, ATM), operate firearms (with uncertain accuracy), 911 to contact police/fire/rescue, etc, etc. The adventurer has a completely different knowledge set and the player may not be aware of the kinds of things his character might know. In those cases, flat out tell players info their character would definitely know if they don't appear to realize it, such as any character with an Alchemy skill of 10 or better automatically knows Black Pearl Powder is only available from the City of Ickyharbor. [/QUOTE]

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