I really want to describe things better to create more immersion. I just don't know how to do that. All we end up doing is saying, "I look for traps as I move down the corridor". DM says, "roll investigation(is that even the correct skill to use?)". I say, "I rolled a 14". DM says, "You find no traps".
I have read advice on how to do these thing yet none of them include examples. Examples are what I am looking for, so I can see it in action. Let me explain... No, there is too much. Let me sum up:
DM: Out of the forest edge you see the building you are looking for. What do you want to do? Me: Do I see an entrance from here?
DM: Yes, you see a double door entranceway. Me: Great. I want to hide here at the edge of the forest and watch for any patrols/gaurds.
DM: Make a stealth roll. Me: 17.
DM: You crouch down, believing you are hidden, and keep watch for any gaurds/patrols. About 2 minutes later you see a humanoid walking along the building. It stops, looks around while scrating its hand, then continues walking. What do you do? Me: Firstly, can I tell if it is human/orc/etc?
DM: Make a perception check. (is this the right skill to use?) Me: I got a 12.
DM: Because it is too far away and in dim lighting, you can't make out if it is human. Me: Okay. I wait for it to come around 3 more times. I want to get an idea how long it takes the humaniod to make it back around the building. Wait, can I tell if it is just one gaurd?
DM: No, with the dim lighting and your distance, you can't tell if it is the same humanoid that comes around again 2 minutes later. Me: Alright, I will cover the distance, which is how far, 10 seconds after he is out of site.
Dm: You estimate it to be 30 feet away. Are you sprinting? Me: No! I can move half my movement while stealthed. So I will use a double move action while stealthed. I rolled a 15.
Etc, etc, etc. This is something similar to what I am looking for, examples of using stealth because I am not exactly sure how to do it. I am also interested in how to do light: how does it effect the game and how to do it. And of course exploration: my character is going to search this 10 foot of wall for hidden panels, doors, and other secrets. My DM just tells us to make a roll for perception or investigation. I don't really understand which should be used for what exactly. Also I think there is a better way to 'search' for things but I am not sure how to do it. Any and all examples and help are appreciated.
I understand as long as we are having fun we are doing it right however, I think that if I can show a more (not sure of the phrase I should use here) realistic way to search, stealth, explore, etc. then it will help everyone be more immersed. Which is what I want. So if the other players and DM's don't do it, that is fine. I want to do it but I need examples so I can learn how to.
Well, “you find no traps” could have been relayed to you in a more descriptive manner but actually finding one would be more convenient. :p
“You move down the corridor, cautiously, eyes darting left and right, looking for signs of danger. Suddenly you notice a telltale glimmer close to the floor: there’s a tripwire 5 ft ahead of you, stretched between the two stone walls.” ”I kneel down as I slip my tools out of my belt pouch and run a finger - very carefully not to set anything off! - along the wire. Can I see a way of disarming the trap safely?” “There are some small clamps among your tools; if you use those to immobilize the wire left and right, where it enters the walls, you should be able to cut the wire without the trap springing. Roll a Thieves’ Tools check, using Dexterity.” Check result: 26 - success! ”I swiftly take care of business. I hold my breath for three seconds after snipping the wire, and when nothing bad happens I chuckle a little and wave for the rest of the party to join me. It’s going to take a better effort than that to defeat me!”
Perception is noticing things, Investigation is figuring things out. That means for Perception you’re typically not really looking for something specific - it’s things like signs of danger, people hiding, or a light in the distance, or someone doing something you didn’t know they were going to do, etc. For investigation you’re usually deliberately searching for something - documents in someone’s study, or a pattern on a tapestry that might tell you how to open a hidden door, or clues at the scene of a murder, things like that. There’s some overlap possible though, for tracking for instance DMs might go either way. Personally I let players use their best skill if it isn’t clearly one or the other.
Generally, just try to describe how you’re doing whatever it is you’re trying to do. If you’re trying not to be noticed, you could be crouching in the shadows, or hiding in the bushes, or blending in casually in the crowd. You might hold your breath, and take care to avoid stepping on dead branches. If you’re looking for hidden panels you could run your fingers along the wall feeling for protrusions, or you could detect drafts of air giving away a hidden passageway, or you could knock on surfaces in case it sounds hollow, etc. Consider the situation, the circumstances, the place you are, and try to think of something appropriate.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
DM: You finally make it to the edge of this damn forest. Man are you glad to be out of there, the bugs were eating you alive. Just beyond the edge is a dark stone building with the strange Prince Symbol you saw on the note. This could be the sacred Temple to the Red Beret. What do you want to do?
Me: Do I see any entrance from here?
DM: Yes, you see two intricately carved, metal bound hard wood doors. Somewhat spent a lot for those.
Me: Great. I want to hide here at the edge of the forest and watch for any patrols/gaurds.
DM: How stealthy are you - roll?
17
DM: You crouch down, believing you are hidden, and keep watch for any gaurds/patrols. About 2 minutes later you see a humanoid walking along the building. It stops, looks around while scrating its hand, then continues walking. What do you do?
Me: Firstly, can I tell if it is human/orc/etc?
DM: You stare carefully at his face. Make a perception check.
Me: I got a 12.
DM: It is too far away and in dim lighting, but you are absolutely certain it has skin. Anything else, not so much.
Me: Okay. I wait for it to come around 3 more times. I want to get an idea how long it takes the humaniod to make it back around the building. Wait, can I tell if it is just one gaurd?
DM: After 2 minutes, it comes around again, and this one ALSO has skin. But you are not sure if it is the same skin.
Me: Alright, I will cover the distance, which is how far, 10 seconds after he is out of site.
Dm: You estimate it to be 30 feet away, a short little dash will get you there with time to hit him. Are you sprinting?
Me: No! I can move half my movement while stealthed. So I will use a double move action while stealthed. I rolled a 15.
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I really want to describe things better to create more immersion. I just don't know how to do that. All we end up doing is saying, "I look for traps as I move down the corridor". DM says, "roll investigation(is that even the correct skill to use?)". I say, "I rolled a 14". DM says, "You find no traps".
I have read advice on how to do these thing yet none of them include examples. Examples are what I am looking for, so I can see it in action. Let me explain... No, there is too much. Let me sum up:
DM: Out of the forest edge you see the building you are looking for. What do you want to do? Me: Do I see an entrance from here?
DM: Yes, you see a double door entranceway. Me: Great. I want to hide here at the edge of the forest and watch for any patrols/gaurds.
DM: Make a stealth roll. Me: 17.
DM: You crouch down, believing you are hidden, and keep watch for any gaurds/patrols. About 2 minutes later you see a humanoid walking along the building. It stops, looks around while scrating its hand, then continues walking. What do you do? Me: Firstly, can I tell if it is human/orc/etc?
DM: Make a perception check. (is this the right skill to use?) Me: I got a 12.
DM: Because it is too far away and in dim lighting, you can't make out if it is human. Me: Okay. I wait for it to come around 3 more times. I want to get an idea how long it takes the humaniod to make it back around the building. Wait, can I tell if it is just one gaurd?
DM: No, with the dim lighting and your distance, you can't tell if it is the same humanoid that comes around again 2 minutes later. Me: Alright, I will cover the distance, which is how far, 10 seconds after he is out of site.
Dm: You estimate it to be 30 feet away. Are you sprinting? Me: No! I can move half my movement while stealthed. So I will use a double move action while stealthed. I rolled a 15.
Etc, etc, etc. This is something similar to what I am looking for, examples of using stealth because I am not exactly sure how to do it. I am also interested in how to do light: how does it effect the game and how to do it. And of course exploration: my character is going to search this 10 foot of wall for hidden panels, doors, and other secrets. My DM just tells us to make a roll for perception or investigation. I don't really understand which should be used for what exactly. Also I think there is a better way to 'search' for things but I am not sure how to do it. Any and all examples and help are appreciated.
I understand as long as we are having fun we are doing it right however, I think that if I can show a more (not sure of the phrase I should use here) realistic way to search, stealth, explore, etc. then it will help everyone be more immersed. Which is what I want. So if the other players and DM's don't do it, that is fine. I want to do it but I need examples so I can learn how to.
Well, “you find no traps” could have been relayed to you in a more descriptive manner but actually finding one would be more convenient. :p
“You move down the corridor, cautiously, eyes darting left and right, looking for signs of danger. Suddenly you notice a telltale glimmer close to the floor: there’s a tripwire 5 ft ahead of you, stretched between the two stone walls.”
”I kneel down as I slip my tools out of my belt pouch and run a finger - very carefully not to set anything off! - along the wire. Can I see a way of disarming the trap safely?”
“There are some small clamps among your tools; if you use those to immobilize the wire left and right, where it enters the walls, you should be able to cut the wire without the trap springing. Roll a Thieves’ Tools check, using Dexterity.”
Check result: 26 - success!
”I swiftly take care of business. I hold my breath for three seconds after snipping the wire, and when nothing bad happens I chuckle a little and wave for the rest of the party to join me. It’s going to take a better effort than that to defeat me!”
Perception is noticing things, Investigation is figuring things out. That means for Perception you’re typically not really looking for something specific - it’s things like signs of danger, people hiding, or a light in the distance, or someone doing something you didn’t know they were going to do, etc. For investigation you’re usually deliberately searching for something - documents in someone’s study, or a pattern on a tapestry that might tell you how to open a hidden door, or clues at the scene of a murder, things like that. There’s some overlap possible though, for tracking for instance DMs might go either way. Personally I let players use their best skill if it isn’t clearly one or the other.
Generally, just try to describe how you’re doing whatever it is you’re trying to do. If you’re trying not to be noticed, you could be crouching in the shadows, or hiding in the bushes, or blending in casually in the crowd. You might hold your breath, and take care to avoid stepping on dead branches. If you’re looking for hidden panels you could run your fingers along the wall feeling for protrusions, or you could detect drafts of air giving away a hidden passageway, or you could knock on surfaces in case it sounds hollow, etc. Consider the situation, the circumstances, the place you are, and try to think of something appropriate.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Try like this:
DM: You finally make it to the edge of this damn forest. Man are you glad to be out of there, the bugs were eating you alive. Just beyond the edge is a dark stone building with the strange Prince Symbol you saw on the note. This could be the sacred Temple to the Red Beret. What do you want to do?
Me: Do I see any entrance from here?
DM: Yes, you see two intricately carved, metal bound hard wood doors. Somewhat spent a lot for those.
Me: Great. I want to hide here at the edge of the forest and watch for any patrols/gaurds.
DM: How stealthy are you - roll?
17
DM: You crouch down, believing you are hidden, and keep watch for any gaurds/patrols. About 2 minutes later you see a humanoid walking along the building. It stops, looks around while scrating its hand, then continues walking. What do you do?
Me: Firstly, can I tell if it is human/orc/etc?
DM: You stare carefully at his face. Make a perception check.
Me: I got a 12.
DM: It is too far away and in dim lighting, but you are absolutely certain it has skin. Anything else, not so much.
Me: Okay. I wait for it to come around 3 more times. I want to get an idea how long it takes the humaniod to make it back around the building. Wait, can I tell if it is just one gaurd?
DM: After 2 minutes, it comes around again, and this one ALSO has skin. But you are not sure if it is the same skin.
Me: Alright, I will cover the distance, which is how far, 10 seconds after he is out of site.
Dm: You estimate it to be 30 feet away, a short little dash will get you there with time to hit him. Are you sprinting?
Me: No! I can move half my movement while stealthed. So I will use a double move action while stealthed. I rolled a 15.