Does a character who believes what they're saying have to make Deception checks?












1












$begingroup$


I have a player character that got so good at bluffing as a child he doesn't realize he's doing it; as such, the player is wondering if this can let him avoid having to make Deception checks since he truly believes what he's saying.



Here's his backstory:



10 years ago, when Andrew was just a young lad, he went to a bar on not necessarily the best side of town for his kind. He was just a young street urchin who didn’ know anything. He got harassed by some older university students; they started asking him really hard questions. Then he was asked one question which stuck out: "What are your thoughts on the demise of the Georgian empire?" Eager to impress, Andrew gave an explanation using big words he didn’t understand; none of them understood the words either, but didn’t want to admit it, so they said, "Okay, cool." They then asked a much more difficult question, to which they got another response with a lot of difficult words. Still not wanting to admit they didn’t understand, they asked a much more difficult series of questions; they didn’t understand those insights. Little did they know Andrew didn’t understand either.



Many hours and drinks later, Andrew had finally earned their trust and friendship and was invited to sit in some classes with them, at which point he had become adept at giving nonsense answers that sounded realistic. A professor asked a really difficult question that no one could answer, then called on Andrew. Andrew gave the most bullshit answer ever, but the professor didn’t understand; not wanting to look a fool, the professor eventually hired Andrew as his apprentice, and through a series of events, Andrew later graduated with honors from that university.



And here's the request: He doesn't make Deception checks because he doesn't know that he's bluffing. Is this possible by the rules?



Does a character who believes what they're saying have to make Deception checks?










share|improve this question









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user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Why the rules-as-written tag?
    $endgroup$
    – Mark Wells
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    41 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
    $endgroup$
    – Zhuge
    39 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
    $endgroup$
    – Gandalfmeansme
    36 mins ago
















1












$begingroup$


I have a player character that got so good at bluffing as a child he doesn't realize he's doing it; as such, the player is wondering if this can let him avoid having to make Deception checks since he truly believes what he's saying.



Here's his backstory:



10 years ago, when Andrew was just a young lad, he went to a bar on not necessarily the best side of town for his kind. He was just a young street urchin who didn’ know anything. He got harassed by some older university students; they started asking him really hard questions. Then he was asked one question which stuck out: "What are your thoughts on the demise of the Georgian empire?" Eager to impress, Andrew gave an explanation using big words he didn’t understand; none of them understood the words either, but didn’t want to admit it, so they said, "Okay, cool." They then asked a much more difficult question, to which they got another response with a lot of difficult words. Still not wanting to admit they didn’t understand, they asked a much more difficult series of questions; they didn’t understand those insights. Little did they know Andrew didn’t understand either.



Many hours and drinks later, Andrew had finally earned their trust and friendship and was invited to sit in some classes with them, at which point he had become adept at giving nonsense answers that sounded realistic. A professor asked a really difficult question that no one could answer, then called on Andrew. Andrew gave the most bullshit answer ever, but the professor didn’t understand; not wanting to look a fool, the professor eventually hired Andrew as his apprentice, and through a series of events, Andrew later graduated with honors from that university.



And here's the request: He doesn't make Deception checks because he doesn't know that he's bluffing. Is this possible by the rules?



Does a character who believes what they're saying have to make Deception checks?










share|improve this question









New contributor




user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Why the rules-as-written tag?
    $endgroup$
    – Mark Wells
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    41 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
    $endgroup$
    – Zhuge
    39 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
    $endgroup$
    – Gandalfmeansme
    36 mins ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


I have a player character that got so good at bluffing as a child he doesn't realize he's doing it; as such, the player is wondering if this can let him avoid having to make Deception checks since he truly believes what he's saying.



Here's his backstory:



10 years ago, when Andrew was just a young lad, he went to a bar on not necessarily the best side of town for his kind. He was just a young street urchin who didn’ know anything. He got harassed by some older university students; they started asking him really hard questions. Then he was asked one question which stuck out: "What are your thoughts on the demise of the Georgian empire?" Eager to impress, Andrew gave an explanation using big words he didn’t understand; none of them understood the words either, but didn’t want to admit it, so they said, "Okay, cool." They then asked a much more difficult question, to which they got another response with a lot of difficult words. Still not wanting to admit they didn’t understand, they asked a much more difficult series of questions; they didn’t understand those insights. Little did they know Andrew didn’t understand either.



Many hours and drinks later, Andrew had finally earned their trust and friendship and was invited to sit in some classes with them, at which point he had become adept at giving nonsense answers that sounded realistic. A professor asked a really difficult question that no one could answer, then called on Andrew. Andrew gave the most bullshit answer ever, but the professor didn’t understand; not wanting to look a fool, the professor eventually hired Andrew as his apprentice, and through a series of events, Andrew later graduated with honors from that university.



And here's the request: He doesn't make Deception checks because he doesn't know that he's bluffing. Is this possible by the rules?



Does a character who believes what they're saying have to make Deception checks?










share|improve this question









New contributor




user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




I have a player character that got so good at bluffing as a child he doesn't realize he's doing it; as such, the player is wondering if this can let him avoid having to make Deception checks since he truly believes what he's saying.



Here's his backstory:



10 years ago, when Andrew was just a young lad, he went to a bar on not necessarily the best side of town for his kind. He was just a young street urchin who didn’ know anything. He got harassed by some older university students; they started asking him really hard questions. Then he was asked one question which stuck out: "What are your thoughts on the demise of the Georgian empire?" Eager to impress, Andrew gave an explanation using big words he didn’t understand; none of them understood the words either, but didn’t want to admit it, so they said, "Okay, cool." They then asked a much more difficult question, to which they got another response with a lot of difficult words. Still not wanting to admit they didn’t understand, they asked a much more difficult series of questions; they didn’t understand those insights. Little did they know Andrew didn’t understand either.



Many hours and drinks later, Andrew had finally earned their trust and friendship and was invited to sit in some classes with them, at which point he had become adept at giving nonsense answers that sounded realistic. A professor asked a really difficult question that no one could answer, then called on Andrew. Andrew gave the most bullshit answer ever, but the professor didn’t understand; not wanting to look a fool, the professor eventually hired Andrew as his apprentice, and through a series of events, Andrew later graduated with honors from that university.



And here's the request: He doesn't make Deception checks because he doesn't know that he's bluffing. Is this possible by the rules?



Does a character who believes what they're saying have to make Deception checks?







dnd-5e balance social-combat






share|improve this question









New contributor




user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 10 mins ago









V2Blast

21.2k361133




21.2k361133






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user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 1 hour ago









user51845user51845

191




191




New contributor




user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






user51845 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Why the rules-as-written tag?
    $endgroup$
    – Mark Wells
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    41 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
    $endgroup$
    – Zhuge
    39 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
    $endgroup$
    – Gandalfmeansme
    36 mins ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Why the rules-as-written tag?
    $endgroup$
    – Mark Wells
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    41 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
    $endgroup$
    – Zhuge
    39 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
    $endgroup$
    – Gandalfmeansme
    36 mins ago








1




1




$begingroup$
Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
Welcome to the site! Take the tour. You may want to edit this question so that it makes a clear distinction between the player and the character; as it stands, while context eventually makes it clear, initially it's not. Further, the story would benefit from using paragraphs. Finally, I'm not entirely sure of the overarcing question. Is the player seriously angling for a mechanical advantage for his character because his character's background saw the character surrounded by nincompoops? Are other players making similar requests? Anyway, thank you for participating and have fun!
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
1 hour ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Why the rules-as-written tag?
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
Why the rules-as-written tag?
$endgroup$
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago












$begingroup$
Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
41 mins ago




$begingroup$
Note the [rules-as-written] tag info: "For questions that are about the logical interactions of a game's rules under a strictly literal reading. Not for questions about normal clarifications of the written rules. Answering rules questions with house-rules and opinions will already be restricted by our site's rules."
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
41 mins ago












$begingroup$
So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
$endgroup$
– Zhuge
39 mins ago




$begingroup$
So perhaps this didn't occur to you, but why would "using words you don't know but pretending you do" not count in your mind as Deception? You are trying to convince people you are saying something meaningful when you aren't.
$endgroup$
– Zhuge
39 mins ago












$begingroup$
@Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
$endgroup$
– Gandalfmeansme
36 mins ago




$begingroup$
@Zhuge That's pretty much what my answer says.
$endgroup$
– Gandalfmeansme
36 mins ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















9












$begingroup$

Andrew knows he's bluffing



Your overall question is very interesting: does a person need to make a Deception check if they believe what they are saying is true? I would say "no." In that situation, the person would need to make a different check (likely Persuasion) to convince others of what they are saying, even if what they are saying is false. For example, an indoctrinated cult member who believes that a ritual which will summon his deity will bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world might use Persuasion to sell others on this idea (even though in reality, unbeknownst to him, the deity will destroy the world once summoned).



But "Andrew" in your example knows he's not telling the truth.



As you mentioned in your example, Andrew doesn't know what he's talking about. Andrew gave answers "using big words he didn’t understand", and gave "the most bullshit answer ever." He didn't know what his answers meant, and he knew that he didn't know what his answers meant. He may have believed that his answers turned out to be correct based on everyone else's responses, but at all times he knew that he didn't know what the answer was supposed to be.



Andrew may believe that he's so lucky his answers will always be right, but that's part of lying: believing that you are so slick you can convince anyone of anything. He may believe that everyone at the college is doing the same thing he is (and he may be right). But both of those things are different than saying he believes he actually knows the answers (which he doesn't: he doesn't even know what the words he's using mean).



Let's say that Andrew says something like "Applying any singular cause to the Georgian crisis is postmodernly reductionist, and the height of all antiquarian thinking." Andrew is being deceptive about something. He's not being deceptive about the truth or falsehood of his statement: in fact, he has no opinion on that matter (since he doesn't know what he's saying, he can't possibly have any belief about whether it's true or not). But he's still lying: his lie is that he understands what he's saying (and that if you don't, it's your own foolishness at fault). And for that, he needs a Deception check.






share|improve this answer











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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
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    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    9












    $begingroup$

    Andrew knows he's bluffing



    Your overall question is very interesting: does a person need to make a Deception check if they believe what they are saying is true? I would say "no." In that situation, the person would need to make a different check (likely Persuasion) to convince others of what they are saying, even if what they are saying is false. For example, an indoctrinated cult member who believes that a ritual which will summon his deity will bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world might use Persuasion to sell others on this idea (even though in reality, unbeknownst to him, the deity will destroy the world once summoned).



    But "Andrew" in your example knows he's not telling the truth.



    As you mentioned in your example, Andrew doesn't know what he's talking about. Andrew gave answers "using big words he didn’t understand", and gave "the most bullshit answer ever." He didn't know what his answers meant, and he knew that he didn't know what his answers meant. He may have believed that his answers turned out to be correct based on everyone else's responses, but at all times he knew that he didn't know what the answer was supposed to be.



    Andrew may believe that he's so lucky his answers will always be right, but that's part of lying: believing that you are so slick you can convince anyone of anything. He may believe that everyone at the college is doing the same thing he is (and he may be right). But both of those things are different than saying he believes he actually knows the answers (which he doesn't: he doesn't even know what the words he's using mean).



    Let's say that Andrew says something like "Applying any singular cause to the Georgian crisis is postmodernly reductionist, and the height of all antiquarian thinking." Andrew is being deceptive about something. He's not being deceptive about the truth or falsehood of his statement: in fact, he has no opinion on that matter (since he doesn't know what he's saying, he can't possibly have any belief about whether it's true or not). But he's still lying: his lie is that he understands what he's saying (and that if you don't, it's your own foolishness at fault). And for that, he needs a Deception check.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$


















      9












      $begingroup$

      Andrew knows he's bluffing



      Your overall question is very interesting: does a person need to make a Deception check if they believe what they are saying is true? I would say "no." In that situation, the person would need to make a different check (likely Persuasion) to convince others of what they are saying, even if what they are saying is false. For example, an indoctrinated cult member who believes that a ritual which will summon his deity will bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world might use Persuasion to sell others on this idea (even though in reality, unbeknownst to him, the deity will destroy the world once summoned).



      But "Andrew" in your example knows he's not telling the truth.



      As you mentioned in your example, Andrew doesn't know what he's talking about. Andrew gave answers "using big words he didn’t understand", and gave "the most bullshit answer ever." He didn't know what his answers meant, and he knew that he didn't know what his answers meant. He may have believed that his answers turned out to be correct based on everyone else's responses, but at all times he knew that he didn't know what the answer was supposed to be.



      Andrew may believe that he's so lucky his answers will always be right, but that's part of lying: believing that you are so slick you can convince anyone of anything. He may believe that everyone at the college is doing the same thing he is (and he may be right). But both of those things are different than saying he believes he actually knows the answers (which he doesn't: he doesn't even know what the words he's using mean).



      Let's say that Andrew says something like "Applying any singular cause to the Georgian crisis is postmodernly reductionist, and the height of all antiquarian thinking." Andrew is being deceptive about something. He's not being deceptive about the truth or falsehood of his statement: in fact, he has no opinion on that matter (since he doesn't know what he's saying, he can't possibly have any belief about whether it's true or not). But he's still lying: his lie is that he understands what he's saying (and that if you don't, it's your own foolishness at fault). And for that, he needs a Deception check.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$
















        9












        9








        9





        $begingroup$

        Andrew knows he's bluffing



        Your overall question is very interesting: does a person need to make a Deception check if they believe what they are saying is true? I would say "no." In that situation, the person would need to make a different check (likely Persuasion) to convince others of what they are saying, even if what they are saying is false. For example, an indoctrinated cult member who believes that a ritual which will summon his deity will bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world might use Persuasion to sell others on this idea (even though in reality, unbeknownst to him, the deity will destroy the world once summoned).



        But "Andrew" in your example knows he's not telling the truth.



        As you mentioned in your example, Andrew doesn't know what he's talking about. Andrew gave answers "using big words he didn’t understand", and gave "the most bullshit answer ever." He didn't know what his answers meant, and he knew that he didn't know what his answers meant. He may have believed that his answers turned out to be correct based on everyone else's responses, but at all times he knew that he didn't know what the answer was supposed to be.



        Andrew may believe that he's so lucky his answers will always be right, but that's part of lying: believing that you are so slick you can convince anyone of anything. He may believe that everyone at the college is doing the same thing he is (and he may be right). But both of those things are different than saying he believes he actually knows the answers (which he doesn't: he doesn't even know what the words he's using mean).



        Let's say that Andrew says something like "Applying any singular cause to the Georgian crisis is postmodernly reductionist, and the height of all antiquarian thinking." Andrew is being deceptive about something. He's not being deceptive about the truth or falsehood of his statement: in fact, he has no opinion on that matter (since he doesn't know what he's saying, he can't possibly have any belief about whether it's true or not). But he's still lying: his lie is that he understands what he's saying (and that if you don't, it's your own foolishness at fault). And for that, he needs a Deception check.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        Andrew knows he's bluffing



        Your overall question is very interesting: does a person need to make a Deception check if they believe what they are saying is true? I would say "no." In that situation, the person would need to make a different check (likely Persuasion) to convince others of what they are saying, even if what they are saying is false. For example, an indoctrinated cult member who believes that a ritual which will summon his deity will bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world might use Persuasion to sell others on this idea (even though in reality, unbeknownst to him, the deity will destroy the world once summoned).



        But "Andrew" in your example knows he's not telling the truth.



        As you mentioned in your example, Andrew doesn't know what he's talking about. Andrew gave answers "using big words he didn’t understand", and gave "the most bullshit answer ever." He didn't know what his answers meant, and he knew that he didn't know what his answers meant. He may have believed that his answers turned out to be correct based on everyone else's responses, but at all times he knew that he didn't know what the answer was supposed to be.



        Andrew may believe that he's so lucky his answers will always be right, but that's part of lying: believing that you are so slick you can convince anyone of anything. He may believe that everyone at the college is doing the same thing he is (and he may be right). But both of those things are different than saying he believes he actually knows the answers (which he doesn't: he doesn't even know what the words he's using mean).



        Let's say that Andrew says something like "Applying any singular cause to the Georgian crisis is postmodernly reductionist, and the height of all antiquarian thinking." Andrew is being deceptive about something. He's not being deceptive about the truth or falsehood of his statement: in fact, he has no opinion on that matter (since he doesn't know what he's saying, he can't possibly have any belief about whether it's true or not). But he's still lying: his lie is that he understands what he's saying (and that if you don't, it's your own foolishness at fault). And for that, he needs a Deception check.







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