Does posing as a guard use Deception or Stealth?
$begingroup$
A PC in my campaign that is tailing an NPC. She is basically posing as one of his body guards.
At some point I want him to suspect that maybe something is up, and I'm thinking she would either roll a deception check or a stealth check. I just don't know which.
dnd-5e skills
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A PC in my campaign that is tailing an NPC. She is basically posing as one of his body guards.
At some point I want him to suspect that maybe something is up, and I'm thinking she would either roll a deception check or a stealth check. I just don't know which.
dnd-5e skills
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A PC in my campaign that is tailing an NPC. She is basically posing as one of his body guards.
At some point I want him to suspect that maybe something is up, and I'm thinking she would either roll a deception check or a stealth check. I just don't know which.
dnd-5e skills
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
$endgroup$
A PC in my campaign that is tailing an NPC. She is basically posing as one of his body guards.
At some point I want him to suspect that maybe something is up, and I'm thinking she would either roll a deception check or a stealth check. I just don't know which.
dnd-5e skills
dnd-5e skills
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
edited Jan 6 at 1:22
SevenSidedDie♦
209k31668948
209k31668948
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
asked Jan 5 at 23:42
ElliotElliot
662
662
2
$begingroup$
I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04
2
2
$begingroup$
I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04
$begingroup$
I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Posing as someone else typically uses Deception checks.
In the situation you describe, the PC is posing as a bodyguard and doesn't want to be exposed. Whether this means maintaining a disguise, or hiding her motives, or keeping up a convincing guard persona, the Charisma (Deception) skill is probably most appropriate.
Deception. Your Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This Deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast- talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone’s suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie.
To determine the PC's success at posing as a guard while the NPC is observing her, you would probably have the PC and NPC roll contested skill checks. Typically the NPC would roll a Wisdom (Insight) check versus the PC's Charisma (Deception) check, although as the DM you have the liberty to choose which skill the NPC rolls, depending on the circumstances.
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's a fine line, but it comes down to "Is the player trying to be unseen right now?" or "Is the player trying to fool someone into thinking they're a guard right now?"
If the player's trying to sneak into the guard detail unseen, it's a stealth check against perception. If she is showing up and saluting and pretending to be a guard, it's a deception check against insight. If the NPC suspects something, the player can attempt to hide (stealth), or convince the NPC she's really a guard (deception)
Also keep in mind the difference between passive stats and checks.
-The guards will be actively looking for trouble, but the NPC will probably be distracted with business or his own thoughts and only passively paying attention.
-A guard who is keeping file and chatting with his neighbor may not actively pay attention to how she's marching or who she claims to be, but guard captain who's suspicious of her will be actively looking for incorrect information when she talks and studying her appearance.
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
Posing as someone else typically uses Deception checks.
In the situation you describe, the PC is posing as a bodyguard and doesn't want to be exposed. Whether this means maintaining a disguise, or hiding her motives, or keeping up a convincing guard persona, the Charisma (Deception) skill is probably most appropriate.
Deception. Your Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This Deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast- talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone’s suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie.
To determine the PC's success at posing as a guard while the NPC is observing her, you would probably have the PC and NPC roll contested skill checks. Typically the NPC would roll a Wisdom (Insight) check versus the PC's Charisma (Deception) check, although as the DM you have the liberty to choose which skill the NPC rolls, depending on the circumstances.
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Posing as someone else typically uses Deception checks.
In the situation you describe, the PC is posing as a bodyguard and doesn't want to be exposed. Whether this means maintaining a disguise, or hiding her motives, or keeping up a convincing guard persona, the Charisma (Deception) skill is probably most appropriate.
Deception. Your Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This Deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast- talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone’s suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie.
To determine the PC's success at posing as a guard while the NPC is observing her, you would probably have the PC and NPC roll contested skill checks. Typically the NPC would roll a Wisdom (Insight) check versus the PC's Charisma (Deception) check, although as the DM you have the liberty to choose which skill the NPC rolls, depending on the circumstances.
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Posing as someone else typically uses Deception checks.
In the situation you describe, the PC is posing as a bodyguard and doesn't want to be exposed. Whether this means maintaining a disguise, or hiding her motives, or keeping up a convincing guard persona, the Charisma (Deception) skill is probably most appropriate.
Deception. Your Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This Deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast- talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone’s suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie.
To determine the PC's success at posing as a guard while the NPC is observing her, you would probably have the PC and NPC roll contested skill checks. Typically the NPC would roll a Wisdom (Insight) check versus the PC's Charisma (Deception) check, although as the DM you have the liberty to choose which skill the NPC rolls, depending on the circumstances.
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
$endgroup$
Posing as someone else typically uses Deception checks.
In the situation you describe, the PC is posing as a bodyguard and doesn't want to be exposed. Whether this means maintaining a disguise, or hiding her motives, or keeping up a convincing guard persona, the Charisma (Deception) skill is probably most appropriate.
Deception. Your Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This Deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast- talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone’s suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie.
To determine the PC's success at posing as a guard while the NPC is observing her, you would probably have the PC and NPC roll contested skill checks. Typically the NPC would roll a Wisdom (Insight) check versus the PC's Charisma (Deception) check, although as the DM you have the liberty to choose which skill the NPC rolls, depending on the circumstances.
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
answered Jan 6 at 1:36
MikeQMikeQ
14.8k63388
14.8k63388
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
add a comment |
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
3
3
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
$begingroup$
Yep, I agree with this. Stealth might make sense for not being noticed, but if he knows you're there and you're just trying to act like a normal guard, then Deception probably makes the most sense.
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
Jan 6 at 2:22
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's a fine line, but it comes down to "Is the player trying to be unseen right now?" or "Is the player trying to fool someone into thinking they're a guard right now?"
If the player's trying to sneak into the guard detail unseen, it's a stealth check against perception. If she is showing up and saluting and pretending to be a guard, it's a deception check against insight. If the NPC suspects something, the player can attempt to hide (stealth), or convince the NPC she's really a guard (deception)
Also keep in mind the difference between passive stats and checks.
-The guards will be actively looking for trouble, but the NPC will probably be distracted with business or his own thoughts and only passively paying attention.
-A guard who is keeping file and chatting with his neighbor may not actively pay attention to how she's marching or who she claims to be, but guard captain who's suspicious of her will be actively looking for incorrect information when she talks and studying her appearance.
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's a fine line, but it comes down to "Is the player trying to be unseen right now?" or "Is the player trying to fool someone into thinking they're a guard right now?"
If the player's trying to sneak into the guard detail unseen, it's a stealth check against perception. If she is showing up and saluting and pretending to be a guard, it's a deception check against insight. If the NPC suspects something, the player can attempt to hide (stealth), or convince the NPC she's really a guard (deception)
Also keep in mind the difference between passive stats and checks.
-The guards will be actively looking for trouble, but the NPC will probably be distracted with business or his own thoughts and only passively paying attention.
-A guard who is keeping file and chatting with his neighbor may not actively pay attention to how she's marching or who she claims to be, but guard captain who's suspicious of her will be actively looking for incorrect information when she talks and studying her appearance.
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It's a fine line, but it comes down to "Is the player trying to be unseen right now?" or "Is the player trying to fool someone into thinking they're a guard right now?"
If the player's trying to sneak into the guard detail unseen, it's a stealth check against perception. If she is showing up and saluting and pretending to be a guard, it's a deception check against insight. If the NPC suspects something, the player can attempt to hide (stealth), or convince the NPC she's really a guard (deception)
Also keep in mind the difference between passive stats and checks.
-The guards will be actively looking for trouble, but the NPC will probably be distracted with business or his own thoughts and only passively paying attention.
-A guard who is keeping file and chatting with his neighbor may not actively pay attention to how she's marching or who she claims to be, but guard captain who's suspicious of her will be actively looking for incorrect information when she talks and studying her appearance.
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
$endgroup$
It's a fine line, but it comes down to "Is the player trying to be unseen right now?" or "Is the player trying to fool someone into thinking they're a guard right now?"
If the player's trying to sneak into the guard detail unseen, it's a stealth check against perception. If she is showing up and saluting and pretending to be a guard, it's a deception check against insight. If the NPC suspects something, the player can attempt to hide (stealth), or convince the NPC she's really a guard (deception)
Also keep in mind the difference between passive stats and checks.
-The guards will be actively looking for trouble, but the NPC will probably be distracted with business or his own thoughts and only passively paying attention.
-A guard who is keeping file and chatting with his neighbor may not actively pay attention to how she's marching or who she claims to be, but guard captain who's suspicious of her will be actively looking for incorrect information when she talks and studying her appearance.
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
edited Jan 6 at 4:40
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
answered Jan 6 at 4:27
Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger
3,854538
3,854538
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
1
1
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
$begingroup$
Also, it's worth considering how large and/or homogeneous the guard group is. Are they fully-masked Imperial Stormtroopers or do they show a lot of individuality? Is the group small enough that one person could be expected to get to know all of them personally, or are there hundreds of troops, or even part-time extras that hardly anyone but HR knows? Do the guards come from a specific background (e.g. maybe you are attempting to sneak a female elf into a body of male Dwarven bodyguards)?
$endgroup$
– Robert Columbia
Jan 6 at 13:02
1
1
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
$begingroup$
Indeed. These would all play into how high the DC would be for the deception check for blending in.
$endgroup$
– Miles Bedinger
Jan 7 at 0:28
add a comment |
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I see that you used a new account to post your edit. Give the system a bit of time to work through that, and we'll see if we can get an answer up shortly! You could expedite this by logging into the original account ("Elliot" not "Elliot Wren") to bypass the approval process (you can always edit your own posts)
$endgroup$
– Ifusaso
Jan 6 at 0:04