Thrasher92
2017-09-08, 11:42 AM
How do you choose to have your players gather information in you games?
I've heard of some people just doing an investigation check to find the basic information they need, with higher rolls gaining them more information.
I like to roleplay all the NPCs and have the characters wander around town and find the corresponding people and then interact with them, this does take some time but it gives me an opportunity to give them some role play experience (They are newer players).
If I get a little frustrated I usually have them "stumble" on the information they need but, I never let them rely on my frustration/good will to get it.
I'm trying to help guide them and make a list of "obvious" ways to get information as a person in a new town. These guys may be somewhat used to the internet and are now figuring out that their characters don't have limitless information at their fingertips.
So, gathering information in a new town. I would think first depends on the size of the town you are in, obviously. A metropolis will have many more resources than a village. But, villages my be more willing to assist or have access to unique information.
Once you are in a town you can investigate to find an elder, a library, or an expert/sage that can assist you with whatever information you need. But, of course, information is often not free. Sometimes my players need to pay a small fee to use the libraries resources or they need to do a small favor for the elder or sage.
Depending on the type of information necessary you may want to rely on more dubious methods to get your information. A rogue or any sneaky member of your party could access the records of a building or area. Of course this would require some stealth and maybe some sleight of hand checks.
Asking the general populace is a very possible way to get information but, it isn't always reliable. The random farmer you talk to can tell you only what he has experienced and what he has heard. Rumors can easily distort the truth and lead to a great deal of misinformation. Asking a random person where something in town is could work, with a charisma check, or they could tell you to piss off.
Do you guys have any cool ideas or methods of how player can gather information?
I've heard of some people just doing an investigation check to find the basic information they need, with higher rolls gaining them more information.
I like to roleplay all the NPCs and have the characters wander around town and find the corresponding people and then interact with them, this does take some time but it gives me an opportunity to give them some role play experience (They are newer players).
If I get a little frustrated I usually have them "stumble" on the information they need but, I never let them rely on my frustration/good will to get it.
I'm trying to help guide them and make a list of "obvious" ways to get information as a person in a new town. These guys may be somewhat used to the internet and are now figuring out that their characters don't have limitless information at their fingertips.
So, gathering information in a new town. I would think first depends on the size of the town you are in, obviously. A metropolis will have many more resources than a village. But, villages my be more willing to assist or have access to unique information.
Once you are in a town you can investigate to find an elder, a library, or an expert/sage that can assist you with whatever information you need. But, of course, information is often not free. Sometimes my players need to pay a small fee to use the libraries resources or they need to do a small favor for the elder or sage.
Depending on the type of information necessary you may want to rely on more dubious methods to get your information. A rogue or any sneaky member of your party could access the records of a building or area. Of course this would require some stealth and maybe some sleight of hand checks.
Asking the general populace is a very possible way to get information but, it isn't always reliable. The random farmer you talk to can tell you only what he has experienced and what he has heard. Rumors can easily distort the truth and lead to a great deal of misinformation. Asking a random person where something in town is could work, with a charisma check, or they could tell you to piss off.
Do you guys have any cool ideas or methods of how player can gather information?