Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Chaosmancer Feb 18, 2015 9:44:02	So I've been running a 5e game for a few months now and one thing I've run into time and again is someone trying to learn things about the "state of the town" to phrase it in general.   In 4e I could just have them use streetwise, but 5e removed that skill from the list. Instead I've been doing Investigation. Just curious if people think that is a good equivalent or if something else fits better.   Since I tend to forget things I also tend to let this be an Intelligence check most of the time, which feels okay to me, but I could easily do Investigation (charisma) if it felt more appropriate.
#2 iserith Feb 18, 2015 10:14:49	It depends on what the player says his or her character does to learn things about the state of the town. If they're talking to locals in the know, it might be a Charisma ability check. If they're walking the streets quietly observing the lay of the land, it might be a Wisdom ability check. A clear statement of the character's goal and approach by the player is required for the DM to adjudicate.   This assumes the action stated by the player has an uncertain outcome, of course. My inclination in most cases is to trade time and cost for information rather than ask for a check. Only if time is of the essence or there is some other circumstance complicating the search for information would I ask for an ability check.
#3 OoftaMeg Feb 18, 2015 11:11:38	As Iserith said, if it's information you want to give them, I just give them the info.   If it's something that I would have used streetwise for, I roleplay encounters and use skills and actions as appropriate.  I might throw in a mini skill-challenge-like encounter with a mix of perception and charisma (bluff or diplomacy) as appropriate.
#4 Chaosmancer Feb 18, 2015 11:16:20	Most of the time there are a few things being actively hidden, which may be of interest to the players if they discovered them, but there is little chance of hearing it out on the street.   I think the "clear approach" is good intellecutally but never comes up. If I pressed they would just "ask around" or "stop at the bar", they aren't established in these places so they don't know exactly who would know or what there is to know. Also, being college kids on a strict timetable, it's hard to delve deep and really get into details like that.   Anyway, that's sort of a tangent. Thanks for your thoughts
#5 iserith Feb 18, 2015 11:34:51	Chaosmancer wrote:
#6 Noon Feb 18, 2015 15:53:37	Unless you have an A to B to C structure in mind for play, having rolls and them not finding info or them not asking in the right spot is okay. It's okay for a GM to imagine parts of the game world the players don't - just don't expect them to interact with it. But there's nothing wrong with continuing to imagine those places.   You don't have to play by a model where the player is just vague and unmotivated in their investigation (ie 'I look around') but you have to spill your guts for that anyway.   Though if you play by an A to B to C structure, then maybe you do have to use that model.
#7 BRJN Feb 18, 2015 17:41:00	A combination of Insight and Deception can be used to figure out that somebody is lying or hiding something or not telling the full truth / keeping a secret. Insight because the description says so directly.  Insight also indicates the ability to get a hunch (as opposed to organized / rational / logical reasoning). Deception because, as a good liar and fake-out artist yourself, you can "reverse-engineer" your behavior and compare how the other person is behaving.   To replace Streetwise, ask for a group check against any one of: Insight, Persuasion, Investigate, Deception (each player's choice which).   If you have an all-physical character, ask him to make a roll against INT, WIS, or CHR.  (He probably will pick his Proficient Save stat.)  Even the novice / non-competent can get lucky from time to time.
#8 Undrhil Feb 19, 2015 1:54:55	Investigation (Charisma) works for Streetwise.
#9 jeff0 Feb 22, 2015 19:27:58	iserith wrote:
#10 Yunru Feb 23, 2015 2:15:55	The Urchin background feature may be what you're looking for iirc.