D&D Adventure #5: Oakgate Complex

[Dog Pants]

Personally I prefer it when the GM rolls for stuff like this. I can RP it, but it's always there in my mind. On the other hand you end up not trusting your rolls even when you do get a good result, which kind of defeats the point. So I don't know. I changed my own mind while typing this.

[shot2bits]

I forgot to say, I like doing those types rolls personally, and i really enjoy trying to role play around them but im happy for you to do the rolls if everyone else prefers it, its all the same chances and i can still work around the results either way

[Shada]

Personally I'd prefer everything to be behind the scenes. Like I'll say [INTIMIDATE] if I intend to intimidate and you tell me if I did gud or not. But that's just my videogame brain also that'd probably make you have to fuck around with our character sheets more i guess.

[Mr. Johnson]

As a D&D noob I would also prefer things to be behind the scenes, but at least I learn this way I guess.

[Dog Pants]

I'm revising my statement to include a bit of both. Hidden rolls when you don't know you should be making them. Like a spot roll to notice the giant spider looming over you. If you know you're making a spot roll then even if you fail it you know something's going on. Better done in secret. Most other things I've decided to flip-flop and would like to see. I trust myself to roleplay, and I'd rather be able to rely on trusting my rolls.

I just saw a picture of a giant spider (like 80 foot) in a game. I've got giant spiders in my mind.

[shot2bits]

I'm revising my statement to include a bit of both. Hidden rolls when you don't know you should be making them. Like a spot roll to notice the giant spider looming over you. If you know you're making a spot roll then even if you fail it you know something's going on. Better done in secret. Most other things I've decided to flip-flop and would like to see. I trust myself to roleplay, and I'd rather be able to rely on trusting my rolls.

I just saw a picture of a giant spider (like 80 foot) in a game. I've got giant spiders in my mind.

this seems like a good way to do things imo

[Mr. Johnson]

this seems like a good way to do things imo

I am okay with this.

[Grimmie]

You think he's lying through his teeth.

As for checks, I've written down your passive skill checks for Spot and Listen. That's "taking ten" on your rolls plus your modifier, if you want to actively spot or listen then just make that roll with a d20 as normal. If there's something in the road like that mound of earth that you can spot with your passive check then I'll just let the first person in line know. Sound good?

As for Sense Motive/Intimidate/Bluff or other social skills, how about you let me know at the time whether or not you want to roll it, or me? If it turns out you're enjoying me rolling those checks more, I'll do it from then on.

[Grimmie]

The skills I can think the whole "GM rolls for it" could work for are:

Appraise
Bluff
Disable Device
Disguise
Forgery
Hide
Move Silently
Sense motive
Sleight of Hand
Use Rope

I actually made a post about this on Reddit a while back (don't go snooping my other posts unless you want spoilers) asking other GMs what they do, and the response is pretty varied. It seems like it boils down to "every party is different", so I figured I'd just ask.

I don't want to hold you by the hand or take all your fun rolls away (because hey, sometimes it's fun to realise you just rolled a 2 on your hide check) if you're happy with trying not to metagame, but at the same time I don't want to take that surprise away from you by forcing you to roll on skills that have a chance of external failure.

[shot2bits]

You think he's lying through his teeth.

in that case

Shenanigans! Horseplay! Tomfoolery! Absolute codswallop.

[Grimmie]

He looks shocked.

Wh-what? What makes you say that? What proof do you have?

[Mr. Johnson]

We're about to get some, go dig up the body. If you don't, well I might have some qualms about killing a man just for looking shifty but I gather my companions don't. So you best start digging.

[shot2bits]

Do you have any proof that you work for who you say?

Orovan motions toward Glibberig.

I'll have you know our traveling companion here is a noble lord himself, and I'm sure he would know your lord.

diplomacy
Roll(1d20)+0:
20,+0
Total:20

I had a quick word with Grimmie and I'm using diplomacy rather than bluff because Orovan is ignorant enough to actually believe all of glibs bullshit.

edit: sorry Johnson it didn't tell me you posted before i finished that, strange as it usually does

[Grimmie]

The two fair-headed men begin to backstep towards the tied up horses, and the bearded one attempts to talk Thoon down.

Are you serious? You wouldn't have us exhume the body of our friend just to satisfy some, some morbid curiosity would you? Please, be reasonable!

[shot2bits]

i think my last response could maybe still work in place here?

[Grimmie]

Yup, sounds about right Bits.

Bill rolls up to the gap in the stakes by now and will try to drive on through unless any of you want to stop him. He has a sort of "I hope you're handling this okay." look on his face as he draws up towards you.

The dark haired man turns to look over his shoulder at this point and spots his friends retreating to the horses, and he hisses at them urgently. His demeanour shifts somewhat towards panic, and he speaks in an irate, rushed voice.

I-is he really? Well. Well that's lovely, maybe they can meet up for afternoon tea one day. I'll just go and help my brothers here with the shovels, if you'll excuse me.

He turns and heads towards the horses too, at a jogging pace, at which point the other two turn and break into a dash.

[shot2bits]

Do we want to let them get away? somehow i don't think that will sit too well with Thoon

[Mr. Johnson]

I'll direct them to the authorities when we get back in town, just because Thoon's a paladin doesn't mean he can't be lazy. We could try to shoot them down but it's probably not worth the bother.

[FatherJack]

All happening a bit fast.

I don't think Thor could sense a motive even if they had their motive stencilled into their hauberks - he's not really a motive-sensing guy.

He's generally trusting, but sensed from the outset there was something not quite right about these guys, yet he's not about to chase them down and murder them just for that - if they'd demanded a toll under false pretences though that might have been different, because to hell with standing in a road and lying and stealing from folks as a living.

He did one of his special quizzical scowls at Orovan when he mentioned our Lordly travelling companion.

[Dog Pants]

Gah. From Shankley's point of view this is all a bit of a dilemma. If they're just indulging in a spot of friendly robbing then that's cool. Share the wealth (just don't share mine). If they're footpads though, killing people and taking their stuff, then that's crossed the line and they deserve the goblin treatment. I think in this case I'll let it go and hope they're more careful in future. I'll knock an arrow for effect and appear from the grass.