Dm's Tip's (23) Roleplaying social skills by sean connors

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[VoraxTranstellaris]

Sorry, but I have two players who would never succeed on any social interaction if I were to implement this idea. Not even sure if I could pull it off myself. What I do is I ask for a description of what they want to do or speak in-character, whichever they're most comfortable with. Then I have them make the roll and I interpret the result of their action from both.

[TheOutsiders68]

@VoraxTranstellaris trust me its worth doing dont give them the roll encourage them to roll play.

It really works some of the shy players eventually with coaching and encouragement become great role players.

[VoraxTranstellaris]

@TheOutsiders68 I don't allow them to get away with just the die roll. I do "demand" some creative imput.

[TheOutsiders68]

@VoraxTranstellaris i understand good stuff

[VoraxTranstellaris]

@TheOutsiders68 Do you allow creative description instead of "acting" in-character?

[TheOutsiders68]

@VoraxTranstellaris yes not everyone can act or stay in character.

[VoraxTranstellaris]

@TheOutsiders68 That's what I meant to say really. But because even a good speech can fall on deaf men's ears, for example, I still let a (opposed) roll determine the final outcome.

[VoraxTranstellaris]

@VoraxTranstellaris (cont'd) A good roll means they succeed, a bad roll means they don't. But the details are filled in using their description.

[mortonstromgal]

I prefer to either give a skill bonus or give xp for good roleplaying. Because my players are not their characters. For example in my games 1/3rd of your XP or more is gained from roleplaying, I use that to encourage RP rather than just relying on the roll. But the roll still happens. If the roll fails but their argument convinced me I'll give them a bonus which is usually enough that their roll now succeeds.

[Ghaladen]

An idea I would prefer to do in my games, my only issue would be the fact that no one would take social skills since we just RP for those, and they would focus all their points in mechanical ones, thus making stock DC's easily attainable.

I guess you could up the DC's for the mechanical skill challenges. Any idea on how to deal with that imbalance?