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<blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 8481177" data-attributes="member: 97077">That is not telling the player what the character thinks. It's honoring their action declaration and the result of the dice and telling them what they observe, just like observing the outline of a secret door or a pressure plate for a trap. Suggesting otherwise looks to me an attempt to obfuscate to try to justify saying what the character thinks in general, which some DMs definitely like doing in my experience, especially those who have a preference for players to portray their characters in particular ways.Some people fidget and stammer while lying. Google that if you don't believe me. I didn't make it up to offend people who stammer and fidget for other reasons. So please spare us all any misplaced outrage.It's not pixel-hunting. It's describing the environment. It also makes the NPCs stand out and feel more real. That you can also pick up on the clues to make informed decisions is added value. This approach does double duty in that regard.Revealing only that my approach means players stay in-character more often, particularly as they are incentivized to do so, and because they do as the rules support and don't ask to make ability checks.Your character can attempt whatever action you want them to attempt at any time. I, as DM, adjudicate it into a result, sometimes calling for a roll. Every player at the table can do the same. You are not disadvantaged here at all.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="iserith, post: 8481177, member: 97077"] That is not telling the player what the character thinks. It's honoring their action declaration and the result of the dice and telling them what they observe, just like observing the outline of a secret door or a pressure plate for a trap. Suggesting otherwise looks to me an attempt to obfuscate to try to justify saying what the character thinks in general, which some DMs definitely like doing in my experience, especially those who have a preference for players to portray their characters in particular ways. Some people fidget and stammer while lying. Google that if you don't believe me. I didn't make it up to offend people who stammer and fidget for other reasons. So please spare us all any misplaced outrage. It's not pixel-hunting. It's describing the environment. It also makes the NPCs stand out and feel more real. That you can also pick up on the clues to make informed decisions is added value. This approach does double duty in that regard. Revealing only that my approach means players stay in-character more often, particularly as they are incentivized to do so, and because they do as the rules support and don't ask to make ability checks. Your character can attempt whatever action you want them to attempt at any time. I, as DM, adjudicate it into a result, sometimes calling for a roll. Every player at the table can do the same. You are not disadvantaged here at all. [/QUOTE]

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