Hussar
Legend
See, again, that's placing the DM right squarely in the middle of the action. Just because I, the DM, am having a bit of a moment and not quite understanding what you're asking me, doesn't mean that the NPC automatically doesn't. The NPC has stats for a reason. So, why should the NPC's understanding of what player is asking be 100% based on me and whatever I feel is appropriate?Because, that would interrupt the flow again. Also, if the player is speaking in Character and it is not clear what he is trying to accomplish, then it is also not clear for the NPC ^^.
I really get the sense that there seems to be a very strong thread in these conversations that people want the DM to be front and center in every single element of the game. I do not want that. I want the game to tell me if the NPC understands. I want the game to tell me, again, as the DM, whether or not that NPC finds the argument compelling. I have zero interest in basing everything off of whatever I happen to feel is appropriate at the time.
I don't understand the resistance to gamifying social aspects of the game. We would absolutely lose our poop if the DM did that during combat. But, as soon as we're not in combat, it's all pass the story stick time and we shouldn't have any mechanics at all. It's frankly baffling to me.