Defiant
2008-10-10, 09:20 AM
I have created a system for myself to help with the various Sense Motive rolls. Of course, I may not adhere to it rigidly because of flexibility in the responses and situation, and especially because of the sheer time involved. However, it does come in handy and to me makes a lot of sense. I would like your opinion on whether or not it sounds like a good idea.
When a person A bluffs,
The opposing person B makes a sense motive check.
If the check equals or exceeds the bluff check, then the opposing person B knows the truth about person's bluff (i.e. that she's lying).
If the check fails by less than 5, then the opposing person B cannot discern whether the person A is lying or not.
If the check fails by more than (or equal to) 5, then the opposing person B will come to a false conclusion.
When person A tells the truth,
Now, I have also instilled penalties on telling the truth, especially on sensitive information and when a person doesn't have reason to believe another. Two people will not necessarily always believe each other unequivocally if they're saying nothing but the truth.
The base Sense Motive DC for not reaching a false conclusion is 5. If your Sense Motive is lower than 5, then you will believe person A to be lying. This is balanced by the fact that within a level or two of fully improving Sense Motive, you'll stop having such a great chance of thinking a truthful person is lying.
However, person A also has to make a Charisma check. Person B's DC for not reaching a false conclusion is 5, but also 10 - (Charisma check if 5 or below). So if a person makes a horrible Charisma check in trying to tell the truth, they may seem incredibly nervous and lead the investigators to a false conclusion.
Of course, none of this is so extremely rigid. Not always do the failing people have to reach a false conclusion and not always is a Charisma check necessary (though in an investigation it will be). I may also adjust the numbers slightly (mainly in the "or equal to" sense).
This will also not burden the players too much, as I'm still rolling their Sense Motives. The only thing they might end up doing is a Charisma check here or there as requested by me.
So what do you think of this system? Too convoluted? Too unnecessary? The most brilliant thing you've ever heard? :smallwink:
When a person A bluffs,
The opposing person B makes a sense motive check.
If the check equals or exceeds the bluff check, then the opposing person B knows the truth about person's bluff (i.e. that she's lying).
If the check fails by less than 5, then the opposing person B cannot discern whether the person A is lying or not.
If the check fails by more than (or equal to) 5, then the opposing person B will come to a false conclusion.
When person A tells the truth,
Now, I have also instilled penalties on telling the truth, especially on sensitive information and when a person doesn't have reason to believe another. Two people will not necessarily always believe each other unequivocally if they're saying nothing but the truth.
The base Sense Motive DC for not reaching a false conclusion is 5. If your Sense Motive is lower than 5, then you will believe person A to be lying. This is balanced by the fact that within a level or two of fully improving Sense Motive, you'll stop having such a great chance of thinking a truthful person is lying.
However, person A also has to make a Charisma check. Person B's DC for not reaching a false conclusion is 5, but also 10 - (Charisma check if 5 or below). So if a person makes a horrible Charisma check in trying to tell the truth, they may seem incredibly nervous and lead the investigators to a false conclusion.
Of course, none of this is so extremely rigid. Not always do the failing people have to reach a false conclusion and not always is a Charisma check necessary (though in an investigation it will be). I may also adjust the numbers slightly (mainly in the "or equal to" sense).
This will also not burden the players too much, as I'm still rolling their Sense Motives. The only thing they might end up doing is a Charisma check here or there as requested by me.
So what do you think of this system? Too convoluted? Too unnecessary? The most brilliant thing you've ever heard? :smallwink: