Results 1 to 10 of 10
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2010-01-28, 11:53 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- Long Shiny Cloud-land
- Gender
Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
So I was wondering something. A character of mine has an insane Sense Motive modifier, although it is short of the epic uses, and I wanted to know if this is a viable use of it. Say your character is in a conversation with someone he wants to learn something from, and he drops a name or two. Can you pick up, from body language and facial expression, whether the other person has heard the name and roughly what it means to them?
If I creep into your house in the dead of night and strangle you while you sleep, you probably messed up your grammar.
I'm always extremely careful to hedge myself against absolute statements.
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2010-01-28, 11:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
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2010-01-28, 11:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
Sure. As a DM, if you asked if you could do that, I would congratulate you on good use of the skill.
As for the DC, I can tell from body language if someone has heard a name and I'm way below epic. With an "insane" modifier, you should be able to do it easily.
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2010-01-29, 12:00 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- Long Shiny Cloud-land
- Gender
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
Actually, I don't know that it's that insane. Is +39 at level 14 good? And also, wouldn't it be some kind of opposed check? And what kind of information can I get if I succeed really well?
If I creep into your house in the dead of night and strangle you while you sleep, you probably messed up your grammar.
I'm always extremely careful to hedge myself against absolute statements.
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2010-01-29, 12:26 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
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2010-01-29, 12:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
I have no (real life) experience with people actively trying to hide motives. For that, I think the opposed check (sense motive vs. bluff) is a good idea.
For a great success, I would say that if you beat the DC by 5 or more, you know what emotion this name invokes in the person (anger, fear, happiness, lust). That's all I can think of. I hope it helps.
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2010-01-29, 03:23 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- Long Shiny Cloud-land
- Gender
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
If I creep into your house in the dead of night and strangle you while you sleep, you probably messed up your grammar.
I'm always extremely careful to hedge myself against absolute statements.
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2010-01-29, 04:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2008
- Location
- Cydonia
- Gender
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
If, in a conversation, you dropped a name, they would probably react with facial expressions or body language, unless they deliberately attempt to not show anything, which would be a bluff check.
The first is probably a set DC modified by their wisdom mod, the second is an opposed check, but I can't come up with any good DC modifiers.
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2010-01-29, 07:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2005
- Location
- Zagreb
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
A DC 20 Sense Motive check gives you a hunch to a general social situation you are in.
As a DM I would expand that, so if you beat the DC by 5 or 10 you get more information. A + 39 modifier is truly epic, and you should have no problem determining emotional states of any NPC you come across.Last edited by Tehnar; 2010-01-29 at 07:28 AM.
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2010-01-29, 07:33 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
Re: Learning Stuff via Sense Motive? [3.5]
Be careful though: if they make their Sense Motive check against you, they might realise that your deliberately dropping names to fish for information. How's your Bluff score?
If a tree falls in the forest and the PCs aren't around to hear it... what do I roll to see how loud it is?
Is 3.5 a fried-egg, chili-chutney sandwich?