As you finish the final word of the lengthy monologue from an important NPC, you hear a shout from across the table: “INSIGHT CHECK!”. You roll your eyes as they proceed to roll their dice, add their modifier and tell you their score. The frequency of call-out skill checks really depends on the players at your table and your style as a Dungeon Master. In this case, we will examine how to lay a good foundation for skill checks at your table and how best to handle a player, or players, who don’t have great table etiquette when it comes to skill checks.
A good start to this investigation is looking at the foundation of your rules as a Dungeon Master. It all comes down to the explanation that you give to your players at the start. A good tip I give my players is to explain the actions they would like to take instead of calling out the specific skill. How do they want to make the insight check mentioned above? Ask the DM, “Do I believe them?”. Want to make an athletics check? Say: “I try to lift the boulder” or “Can I lift that?”. Have a question about a piece of lore your character may/may not know? Say “Do I remember anything about that topic?”. Asking for skill checks in this manner makes the game feel fluid and immersive. Set this expectation from the start and make sure to enforce it.
Enforcing rules at the table is about as fun as watching paint dry; and while it is dry and sometimes bland to do, ensuring the integrity of your game starts with the enforcement of your rules from day one. Modeling is a great way to introduce the rules to your party, and this one in particular. First off, do not make this a situation where you are pulling rank; talking down or acting passive aggressive toward the player will only lead to resentment. There are a lot of rules in D&D after all and we are all human; mistakes and accidents will happen over the course of your adventures. It is extremely likely they forgot the rule early on and may hold some resentment for the aggressive call out. Take the time to take a step back from the game and use these first couple instances as opportunities where a player just calls a check to remind all of your players of the rules and then model how that interaction should have gone.
After reinforcing and reteaching the table rules the behavior may still continue. If that is the case, start first by talking with them privately. This can range from asking them to come a few minutes early or staying a couple minutes after. It can even be over the phone if you need to. Tone is everything in this conversation. You want to go into the conversation as the Dungeon Master of the game, but more likely this will be a friend you have played with for a while. Give them a friendly reminder of the rules you all set at the start of gaming together and remind them that it is their responsibility to hold onto and respect them. Honesty and expressing how you feel about the behavior is also important. Make sure to be considerate of their view on the issue, but ultimately lead the conversation back to the expectations the party agreed on when you started this adventure. All in all, try to resolve things as best as possible. The player may be your friend, but they are also a member of the party at your table. They have a responsibility to follow the expectations you all agreed upon, just as you have the responsibility to enforce them.
Every group that I have played with has had different ways to go about talking with someone when they haven’t followed the rules. What works with the group I run now doesn’t always work with others and I often change rules to fit my players. In the end all you can do is what you think is best for your party and the rest will fall into place. Playing table-top games is about having fun, going on adventures, telling stories, and being with your friends. Making sure that is at the foundation of your game will ensure the longevity of the group and be the groundwork for all your adventures to come.
Meet the Blogger
Logan H. @dm_screening
Logan is a teacher from the Greater Philadelphia Area. A lifelong seeker of fantasy and adventure he spends his time writing campaigns and homebrews, going on adventures to local breweries, or reading all manner of tomes and scrolls to enhance his knowledge as a Dungeon Master.