Enriching Your DD Campaign with Creative Perception and Investigation Checks

Are you tired of the vanilla perception and investigation checks in Dungeons Dragons (DD)? Consider bringing in mechanics from other tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) to spice up your gameplay. One such innovative solution comes from the game Monster of the Week, where players are given a set number of questions based on their roll outcome. This method can be adapted and enhanced for DD, especially for 5th Edition (5e), making your sessions more engaging and interactive.

Using Monster of the Week Mechanics for DD

Another RPG, Monster of the Week, offers a unique approach to investigation and perception checks. In this game, players can roll to investigate or read a bad situation. The quality of their roll decides the number of questions they get to ask from a set list. By modifying this mechanic for DD, you can create more dynamic and immersive experiences.

This system can be adjusted for DD to fit your campaign better. If a player passes the Difficulty Class (DC) for a check, they start with one question and receive an additional question for every five points they exceed the DC. These questions can cover anything the players can reasonably ask with the tools and resources available to them.

Example Scenario: A Jailbreak Campaign

Imagine you're running a jailbreak campaign set on a floating island in a prison built across the elemental planes of water and air. The prison is guarded by a strict warden, an unethical wizard, and mindful monks of the Way of the Cosmic Hand. The interior of the prison is designed to confuse and deceive, with areas of magical darkness and special lock mechanisms.

During a scene where a player is being led from the recreation yard to their cell block, they notice an area of magical darkness ahead. Instead of using the traditional method, you can apply the modified investigation and perception system. The player rolls to investigate, and with a roll of 16, they surpass the DC 10 by five points, earning two questions.

Question 1:

"Is the darkness magical?"

"Yes, absolutely. In your mind, all light seems to hit an invisible wall and stop at the edge of this dark area." The answer could be simplified as: "Yes, it is magical."

Question 2:

"Can I tell how it got here?"

"You can tell that you haven't heard anyone casting these spells nor seen the monks using their spell scrolls, and they are always in the same spots. Your gut is telling you that it isn't a person keeping this darkness here."

By incorporating this system, you not only enhance the engagement of the game but also encourage players to think more critically about the details they want to explore, rather than being thrown a lot of unnecessary information.

Benefits of This System

One of the chief advantages of this method is the creative and satisfying approach to handling perception and investigation. It allows players to get the information they want out of the roll. It also challenges them to consider what questions are meaningful and aligned with their goals. Moreover, it keeps you from providing details that may not be of interest to the players, preventing them from feeling overwhelmed with information.

Conclusion

Modifying the investigation and perception checks from Monster of the Week for DD 5e can breathe new life into your campaigns. This system encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a more immersive experience. Try it out in your next session and see how it enriches your game.