Whisper skill check

[deleteme123456]

One of my players wants to communicate a message secretly, but in a hurry and accurately, to another PC. In the room are two NPCs that he does not want to overhear [and one more that he didn't technically specify]). At least one of the NPCs would be actively trying to listen in. The other two I would probably use passive perception for an opposed check. What skill would oppose the NPC's perception? Endurance comes to mind (as a form of measuring breath control), or Bluff (as ventriloquy? ).

[Edit]
PHB says fixed DC 20 Perception to overhear whispers. I liked the idea of the opposed check though, but will probably go with 20 for now.

 

[CubeKnight]

I'd probably go with Bluff, vs both the NPC's and the other PC's Insight. However, I'd give the PC a bonus on his Insight check if he knows what you're talking about.

 

[keterys]

Bluff or Stealth are the skills I'd consider, but honestly 20 seems fine. If you want to make things more... complex... you could state that your max Perception is the upper bound on what you can potentially understand, so whispering tends to be at that range. 20 for normal people, but if you're in a group of all Perception +20 folks, could go as low as 40 and still convey information.

 

[tombowings]

I usually give me PCs two choices for skill checks. For this instance, Bluff vs. Insight or Stealth vs. Perception. Honestly, the best way to handle these sorts of things to have the PC try to justify whatever skill check they want to use. I find it adds to roleplaying scenes.

 

[Roger]

I'd probably go with Thievery, but the other suggestions also seem fine.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Mistwell]

If any of the two characters are wizards, their cantrips will take care of it with no skill check at all.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'd just let the player in question choose a DC, and then everyone rolls to see if they hear it, including the other PC. The big benefit that the other PC would get is that he'd also get the possibility of reading lips (ie - his DC would be lowered).

 

[deleteme123456]

If any of the two characters are wizards, their cantrips will take care of it with no skill check at all.

I don't think that a wizard can hear using ghost sound--only speak.

 

[darkadelphia]

btb, there is a set DC for hearing whispers (see Perception in PHB). All characters adjacent hear it without making a check. So, your two PCs should be able to whisper and understand at will, but the NPCs would have to make perception checks. If the NPCs don't have perception scores, or you want the PCs to roll, I would have them make a stealth check against a static DC (5, 10 or 15 + 1/2 level, depending on the situation and whether getting caught would make the story more interesting or cause hours of irritation for everyone involved ;-))

 

[mattdm]

I'd just let the player in question choose a DC, and then everyone rolls to see if they hear it, including the other PC. The big benefit that the other PC would get is that he'd also get the possibility of reading lips (ie - his DC would be lowered).

Yeah, this is my thought too. I'd take the "hearing a whisper" fixed DC as a guideline for a typical whispered conversation — obviously one can speak louder or softer at will. And I don't think it's worth a skill check to be able to choose this value exactly; just let the player do it.