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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gradine" data-source="post: 7713930" data-attributes="member: 57112">The problem is you are treating this type of ruling as an arbitrary and capricious DM simply deciding to penalize a player for no reason, instead of a specific and self-evident ruling that makes perfect sense given the specific narrative context of a specific given ruling. Such as the examples you are using.In such circumstances, what is arbitrary and capricious is letting the player attempt the action thinking they have a chance to succeed, and then declaring their action void and wasted. "No, McTerrorpants, the ultra-powerful Wardlord Darkblade Evilplans, who has spent the last minute speaking to you as if you were vermin barely worth his notice, is not going to be frightened by you. Do you want to try something else?" They might decide it's what their character would do anyway, but at least then the player doesn't feel like they're being punished for no reason.If the player is still upset then it becomes apparent that they what they wish is to be playing a board game with consistent rules and not a roleplaying game with consistent narrative integrity. Or at the very least, that they don't understand the difference between the two. That's not be derogatory; both styles of game are worthwhile endeavors, but 5e, especially with its "rulings over rules" mantra, is clearly in the latter category, and nobody who understands that could reasonably be upset by such a ruling.</blockquote>

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