I'm not sure I understand your question, as written. This is what I think it's asking:
Can I as my DM to let me make an ability check before I decide on the actual action I'll take?
As a DM, I don't think so. The entire point of the dice is the chaos of not knowing if something will work for sure. The game is built around the idea that a player declares the intent of the action their character will take and the DM states if any check is needed to succeed.
In combat it's cut and dry "I attack the bad guy with my sword." "Ok, make an attack roll."
Out of combat is where it gets a bit less defined. "I'd like to kick the door open if I can!" "Ok, make an athletics check."
I think, in that last example, you are asking "If I kick the door can I knock it open?" before committing to the roll of the dice. As a DM I'd say "You can try and find out."
One other key thing to keep in mind - Players should declare the intent of their characters and the DM calls out which roll is needed (if needed). Many fall into the trap of calling out the roll they think should be made. It's no big deal, but leads to confusion and wasted time/rolls when the DM has to correct someone for a roll that's impacted by things the player does not know.
An ability check tests a character's or monster's innate talent and training in an effort to overcome a challenge. The DM calls for an ability check when a character or monster attempts an action (other than an attack) that has a chance of failure. When the outcome is uncertain, the dice determine the results.
So yeah, I can't think of any scenario where it would work as described in the original question.
Informally, if a player is just trying to get some clarification about the situation that was briefly described by the DM, he might be able to ask if a roll will be required in advance. For example:
Player: Ok, so is that table with that object on it right next to me? Does my character think that I can easily just pick it up without the guards on the other side of the room noticing? Or, is that table actually on the other side of the room and my character will expect to have to make an effort to sneak over there to get that object?
DM: Oh, yeah, that table is on the other side of the room. You can see that these guards are alert. You would need to make a stealth roll if you try to sneak over there.
Of course, the DM can always say something like "You can try it and see what happens!" but I think that sometimes the situation might not be adequately described without giving some information like this. So, instead, possible answers might be: "You're way on the other side of the room behind full cover, the object is right next to you, and the guards are having a loud conversation with each other and are unlikely to hear you pick up the object", or, the above description requiring a stealth roll, or, "the guards are alert and the room is wide open -- you would definitely be spotted".
I think it's ok for a DM to sometimes describe if a roll will be required just in the interest of accurately describing the situation to the players. Like, often times a character would be able to evaluate a situation and know if an action that they are pondering has chances of success and failure so if the character would suspect that then their players should be told that as well.
But yeah, in all cases that I can think of, if the roll is actually made then the character is attempting to do the thing -- there is no changing your mind about attempting to do the thing in the first place based on the result of the roll.
Given a statement to DM about intended action can one make an ability check BEFORE actually declaring intent?
If i understand your question correctly, normally you make a check when the DM asks for one, not before as it may not be required and doing so may put unnecessary pressure.
Normally, the player says what his or her character want to do, and the DM tell what check to do, if any.
Yes. Which is why I called this idea 'unusual." I was just thinking what if I already know that what I intend is doomed to failure beforehand, I may chose to do something different. I play by the dice and accept come what may. I don't get weird over unfavorable results, like some people do. But there are circumstances where it might be nice to know the odds before I blow an action.
While you may roll a d20 before any action in theory since most check rely on one regardless of the ability score, skill or tool proficiency applied, most DM would be unfavorable to such practice as it attempt to figure success or failure before a task is even attempted which is backward. Even a Diviner's Portent ability doesn't forsee that much ;)
Yes. Which is why I called this idea 'unusual." I was just thinking what if I already know that what I intend is doomed to failure beforehand, I may chose to do something different. I play by the dice and accept come what may. I don't get weird over unfavorable results, like some people do. But there are circumstances where it might be nice to know the odds before I blow an action.
Since there are consequences to failure, even if only wasting time, then actually rolling before you decide to try an action would let you duck those consequences, and I can't imagine a DM letting you try it on.
As other people describe, the DM may give you an idea of how difficult your action might be in advance, but that doesn't seem to be what you're asking.
Given a statement to DM about intended action can one make an ability check BEFORE actually declaring intent?
Not unless you have some sort of specialized ability that permits predicting the outcome of a roll (divination wizard's portent does something similar to what you're describing, though not identical). I would be tempted to allow casting augury, then rolling a die and deciding whether to take the action or not.
The way it’s sposta work is you don’t ask to make a check at all. You say what you want your character to do, the DM tells you if a check is required. If it’s doomed to failure no check is required and they should just say so.
Yes. Which is why I called this idea 'unusual." I was just thinking what if I already know that what I intend is doomed to failure beforehand, I may chose to do something different. I play by the dice and accept come what may. I don't get weird over unfavorable results, like some people do. But there are circumstances where it might be nice to know the odds before I blow an action.
This kind of sounds like you're just wanting the DM to clarify more information about the scene in front of you before deciding what to do, which would be totally fair to ask for. Sometimes that plan that seems brilliant to you the player who is trying to envision what the DM is describing, would be obviously stupid to the character actually in the scene.
Another thing you can do in some situations is phrase your intended action to be more about investigating or deducing information (arcane, nature, history, etc) about the situation, before going straight into any physical actions.
No. There are a variety of reasons why but the simplest explanation is that the DM rules when and what rolls are acceptable during the course of game play.
Yes. Which is why I called this idea 'unusual." I was just thinking what if I already know that what I intend is doomed to failure beforehand, I may chose to do something different. I play by the dice and accept come what may. I don't get weird over unfavorable results, like some people do. But there are circumstances where it might be nice to know the odds before I blow an action.
A player wondering about the targeted number before using an action and rolling for it is metagame.
A character wondering about the general difficulty of a given task before trying it is infragame.
As DM i could tell how easy or hard a task appear to be to the character as an acceptable deduction.
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Given a statement to DM about intended action can one make an ability check BEFORE actually declaring intent?
I'm not sure I understand your question, as written. This is what I think it's asking:
Can I as my DM to let me make an ability check before I decide on the actual action I'll take?
As a DM, I don't think so. The entire point of the dice is the chaos of not knowing if something will work for sure. The game is built around the idea that a player declares the intent of the action their character will take and the DM states if any check is needed to succeed.
In combat it's cut and dry "I attack the bad guy with my sword." "Ok, make an attack roll."
Out of combat is where it gets a bit less defined. "I'd like to kick the door open if I can!" "Ok, make an athletics check."
I think, in that last example, you are asking "If I kick the door can I knock it open?" before committing to the roll of the dice. As a DM I'd say "You can try and find out."
One other key thing to keep in mind - Players should declare the intent of their characters and the DM calls out which roll is needed (if needed). Many fall into the trap of calling out the roll they think should be made. It's no big deal, but leads to confusion and wasted time/rolls when the DM has to correct someone for a roll that's impacted by things the player does not know.
So yeah, I can't think of any scenario where it would work as described in the original question.
Informally, if a player is just trying to get some clarification about the situation that was briefly described by the DM, he might be able to ask if a roll will be required in advance. For example:
Player: Ok, so is that table with that object on it right next to me? Does my character think that I can easily just pick it up without the guards on the other side of the room noticing? Or, is that table actually on the other side of the room and my character will expect to have to make an effort to sneak over there to get that object?
DM: Oh, yeah, that table is on the other side of the room. You can see that these guards are alert. You would need to make a stealth roll if you try to sneak over there.
Of course, the DM can always say something like "You can try it and see what happens!" but I think that sometimes the situation might not be adequately described without giving some information like this. So, instead, possible answers might be: "You're way on the other side of the room behind full cover, the object is right next to you, and the guards are having a loud conversation with each other and are unlikely to hear you pick up the object", or, the above description requiring a stealth roll, or, "the guards are alert and the room is wide open -- you would definitely be spotted".
I think it's ok for a DM to sometimes describe if a roll will be required just in the interest of accurately describing the situation to the players. Like, often times a character would be able to evaluate a situation and know if an action that they are pondering has chances of success and failure so if the character would suspect that then their players should be told that as well.
But yeah, in all cases that I can think of, if the roll is actually made then the character is attempting to do the thing -- there is no changing your mind about attempting to do the thing in the first place based on the result of the roll.
If i understand your question correctly, normally you make a check when the DM asks for one, not before as it may not be required and doing so may put unnecessary pressure.
Normally, the player says what his or her character want to do, and the DM tell what check to do, if any.
Yes. Which is why I called this idea 'unusual." I was just thinking what if I already know that what I intend is doomed to failure beforehand, I may chose to do something different. I play by the dice and accept come what may. I don't get weird over unfavorable results, like some people do. But there are circumstances where it might be nice to know the odds before I blow an action.
While you may roll a d20 before any action in theory since most check rely on one regardless of the ability score, skill or tool proficiency applied, most DM would be unfavorable to such practice as it attempt to figure success or failure before a task is even attempted which is backward. Even a Diviner's Portent ability doesn't forsee that much ;)
Some DMs might give you a rough indication of the DC if you ask for clarification. For example
They might ask for another ability check for example
I consider it a fopaux to roll something before it has been called for by the DM.
The How To Play section is pretty clear about the general flow of the game: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/introduction#HowtoPlay
My question to you would be why do you want to withhold information for your DM?
Since there are consequences to failure, even if only wasting time, then actually rolling before you decide to try an action would let you duck those consequences, and I can't imagine a DM letting you try it on.
As other people describe, the DM may give you an idea of how difficult your action might be in advance, but that doesn't seem to be what you're asking.
Not unless you have some sort of specialized ability that permits predicting the outcome of a roll (divination wizard's portent does something similar to what you're describing, though not identical). I would be tempted to allow casting augury, then rolling a die and deciding whether to take the action or not.
The way it’s sposta work is you don’t ask to make a check at all. You say what you want your character to do, the DM tells you if a check is required. If it’s doomed to failure no check is required and they should just say so.
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This kind of sounds like you're just wanting the DM to clarify more information about the scene in front of you before deciding what to do, which would be totally fair to ask for. Sometimes that plan that seems brilliant to you the player who is trying to envision what the DM is describing, would be obviously stupid to the character actually in the scene.
Another thing you can do in some situations is phrase your intended action to be more about investigating or deducing information (arcane, nature, history, etc) about the situation, before going straight into any physical actions.
No. There are a variety of reasons why but the simplest explanation is that the DM rules when and what rolls are acceptable during the course of game play.
A player wondering about the targeted number before using an action and rolling for it is metagame.
A character wondering about the general difficulty of a given task before trying it is infragame.
As DM i could tell how easy or hard a task appear to be to the character as an acceptable deduction.