Post by swordnut on Apr 26, 2016 10:25:11 GMT
Hi,
So research by Paul Ekman (and subsequently backed up) shows that normal people are only 54% accurate when it comes to being able to tell if someone is lying. With training, this can rise, but it involves being able to control the person and the space to establish patters and baseline behaviours.
Other recent research shows that people are only 40% accurate at telling whether someone is flirting with them.
Think about that for moment.
Need to know if someone is lying but cant fact-check them? flip a coin.
Want to know if someone is flirting with you? Make a guess, then change your mind because you are probably wrong.
Dr Ekman also identifies a type of person called a "truth Wizard" (hey, it was the 70's). Ive done the tests after struggling with problems for years and it turns out Im one. I think its about one in 4000.
So how does that apply to D&D?
Firstly, I operate a house rule that knowing someone is lying is a 20 DC for an insight check. 10-14 allows you to ask either "what are they feeling?" or "are they hiding something?". 15-19 is both questions.
Secondly, there are huge ramifications for this that can enrich your game:
1 - Everyone lies all the time about everything.
This seems counter intuitive. But think about it. If you voiced every thought in your head, you would find it hard to be in polite society. We have all known people who describe themselves as someone who "tell it like it is" and these people are universally rude, obnoxious, or worse: racist sexist etc.
Think about what you say when people ask how you are. Do you say "fine" or "good, how are you?" You almost certainly didn't answer truthfully, you might not really be interested in a full answer to your question, so you were disingenuous to ask.
Lies, or a lack of candour, hold society together. They paper over the cracks between people so we can operate effectively. Its not neccesarily evil or morally bankrupt.
So, yes, the NPC is hiding something. But it might be their opinion of the PC's. It might be that they stink after a long journey (and they always forget to wash) and the npc does not want to show how disgusted they are. They may be hiding an attraction to one of the party, or that the good they are selling were not made by them but bought in bulk. They may be lying about how they are feeling that day, putting on a happy face for business but really they just want to curl up on the sofa in a blanket and eat bad food.
2 - Being good at insight is a liability
A character who is good at insight is often depicted as wise, self confident etc. Why wouldnt you be if you could read people like a book? Because people lie. All the time. About everything.
Earlier I said I was a truth wizard and it cause me some problems.
Imagine growing up seeing every little expression on peoples faces. The anger when you step in front of where they wanted to be. The disgust when you want to talk but they are thinking about something else. The moment they check out of the conversation, but you have to keep going because if you stopped mid-sentence YOU would be he rude one.
Imagine feeling overwhelmed when there are more than 4 people in the room because you cant tune out all the emotions going on all over the place.
Imagine being labelled as anti-social because you avoid crowds and don't look people in the face (I was taken out of classes for remedial social education until I demonstrated why I shouldnt look people in the face - I asked the teacher why she was always looking ashamed and exited when certain people were around. turned out she was having an affair).
Then couple that with the fact that everyone thinks they can read people. But they cant. So you shut up, get your head down and pretend you cant see. but you can and it drives you crazy. Or you become a con artist.
3 - You can lie to the players.
My players roll against a DC to see how many questions they get. That doesnt mean they get true answers.
I roll a deception, persuasion or constitution (concentration) check against them.
Even if the NPC is trying to be honest, there could be mixed signals or more complex things going on. If the NPC is hungry, they could be projecting greed or impatience. If they are thirsty, they could read as sad or desperate.
People are confusing
Thoughts?
So research by Paul Ekman (and subsequently backed up) shows that normal people are only 54% accurate when it comes to being able to tell if someone is lying. With training, this can rise, but it involves being able to control the person and the space to establish patters and baseline behaviours.
Other recent research shows that people are only 40% accurate at telling whether someone is flirting with them.
Think about that for moment.
Need to know if someone is lying but cant fact-check them? flip a coin.
Want to know if someone is flirting with you? Make a guess, then change your mind because you are probably wrong.
Dr Ekman also identifies a type of person called a "truth Wizard" (hey, it was the 70's). Ive done the tests after struggling with problems for years and it turns out Im one. I think its about one in 4000.
So how does that apply to D&D?
Firstly, I operate a house rule that knowing someone is lying is a 20 DC for an insight check. 10-14 allows you to ask either "what are they feeling?" or "are they hiding something?". 15-19 is both questions.
Secondly, there are huge ramifications for this that can enrich your game:
1 - Everyone lies all the time about everything.
This seems counter intuitive. But think about it. If you voiced every thought in your head, you would find it hard to be in polite society. We have all known people who describe themselves as someone who "tell it like it is" and these people are universally rude, obnoxious, or worse: racist sexist etc.
Think about what you say when people ask how you are. Do you say "fine" or "good, how are you?" You almost certainly didn't answer truthfully, you might not really be interested in a full answer to your question, so you were disingenuous to ask.
Lies, or a lack of candour, hold society together. They paper over the cracks between people so we can operate effectively. Its not neccesarily evil or morally bankrupt.
So, yes, the NPC is hiding something. But it might be their opinion of the PC's. It might be that they stink after a long journey (and they always forget to wash) and the npc does not want to show how disgusted they are. They may be hiding an attraction to one of the party, or that the good they are selling were not made by them but bought in bulk. They may be lying about how they are feeling that day, putting on a happy face for business but really they just want to curl up on the sofa in a blanket and eat bad food.
2 - Being good at insight is a liability
A character who is good at insight is often depicted as wise, self confident etc. Why wouldnt you be if you could read people like a book? Because people lie. All the time. About everything.
Earlier I said I was a truth wizard and it cause me some problems.
Imagine growing up seeing every little expression on peoples faces. The anger when you step in front of where they wanted to be. The disgust when you want to talk but they are thinking about something else. The moment they check out of the conversation, but you have to keep going because if you stopped mid-sentence YOU would be he rude one.
Imagine feeling overwhelmed when there are more than 4 people in the room because you cant tune out all the emotions going on all over the place.
Imagine being labelled as anti-social because you avoid crowds and don't look people in the face (I was taken out of classes for remedial social education until I demonstrated why I shouldnt look people in the face - I asked the teacher why she was always looking ashamed and exited when certain people were around. turned out she was having an affair).
Then couple that with the fact that everyone thinks they can read people. But they cant. So you shut up, get your head down and pretend you cant see. but you can and it drives you crazy. Or you become a con artist.
3 - You can lie to the players.
My players roll against a DC to see how many questions they get. That doesnt mean they get true answers.
I roll a deception, persuasion or constitution (concentration) check against them.
Even if the NPC is trying to be honest, there could be mixed signals or more complex things going on. If the NPC is hungry, they could be projecting greed or impatience. If they are thirsty, they could read as sad or desperate.
People are confusing
Thoughts?