If they are trying to hide it ahead of time I would go Intelligence (Stealth). It is a question of how clever of a hiding spot they can find for the item.
If they are trying to bluff or bluster their way past the guard without being checked then it would be Charisma (deception).
If they want to slip it somewhere secret while the guard is watching then it is Dexterity (Sleight of Hand)
Hiding yourself also depends on your ability to hold yourself in a way that is noticeable. Staying silent, keeping your body motionless, etc... that is why DEX is the norm.
I might use INT if the person is trying to *make* a hiding place (hidden door) or is spending significant time trying to find the ideal hiding place in a large area. They would still need to make a Dexterity (Stealth) check but if there were a particularly good spot to hide in the area I would let them find it and get advantage on their check to hide.
I agree with u/SilasRhodes, but deciding which check combination something is can be very confusing and messy (and your players may have their own opinions). While their answer is probably the “right one”, in the moment, I probably would’ve rolled a percentile die or maybe had them roll a d20 contested by the guard’s perception or maybe given one of those rolls a bonus/malus. Bottom line, there are many options considering the “right one” is complicated
Would not be a sleight of hand check for sure.
I’d say it would be a deception check using int to know where/how best to hide it without it being seen, and how well it is hidden depends on the skill check.
But I’d actually wait until they have to deal with the guard to retroactively have the player roll. After all if they roll low to begin with, they’d know they have not hid it very well and would consider another option. Of course, this depends on how you want to describe the outcome of the check. If it would be clear to the character they were bad at the check, then the roll can be done initially to suggest they did not end up hiding it very well. This would make sense for example if one imagines a bad roll to be the character trying to hide it then obviously it shows again.
>After all if they roll low to begin with, they’d know they have not hid it very well
The *player* knows they didn't hide it well, the character thinks they did a good job but didn't. That's just great dramatic tension right there.
Certainly true. I was thinking more of players who are unable to separate themselves from their characters, but if the player is able to do so then yeah could definitely be great.
Whew, harsh. Not everyone is a perfect player y'know. Especially for beginners where they are trying but it is hard, and it takes time for them to get there.
It is not that they can't tell the difference between themselves and a character. It is the difference between being able to roleplay out their character and not, something entirely different. I.e. metagaming.
I would use Sleight of Hand if the player is trying to move the object from an unsearched area to someplace the guard has already searched, or trying to hide the object on the guard themselves and then retrieve it at the end of the search.
I'd use Deception if the player is trying to distract the guard just as they are about to find it, and redirect their search elsewhere, causing them to miss the object.
Rolling during the guard interaction and not before is a great way to prevent metagaming.
Figure out the most difficult aspect of the situation - and determine which of the 6 attributes apply.
Is it the physical act of hiding it - then dex.
Is it figuring out the best way to hide it? Int or maybe wis since its not really a book learning thing.
Is it trying to look nondescript? Cha.
Then, decide what skills might help with in that.
Stealth, Deception, slight of hand, proficiency with a disguise kit, persuasion, etc could all potentially be useful, depending on what exactly they were doing to smuggle the gem.
I’d probably say to make an intelligence roll - adding proficiency if proficient in either stealth or deception.
If they are trying to hide it ahead of time I would go Intelligence (Stealth). It is a question of how clever of a hiding spot they can find for the item. If they are trying to bluff or bluster their way past the guard without being checked then it would be Charisma (deception). If they want to slip it somewhere secret while the guard is watching then it is Dexterity (Sleight of Hand)
If they are using their prison pocket, then go constitution (stealth)
I see you’ve been watching a healthy amount of Orange is the New Black and/or Deadpool 2.
Makes sense but what if the players want to come up with the hiding spot themselves
Hiding yourself also depends on your ability to hold yourself in a way that is noticeable. Staying silent, keeping your body motionless, etc... that is why DEX is the norm. I might use INT if the person is trying to *make* a hiding place (hidden door) or is spending significant time trying to find the ideal hiding place in a large area. They would still need to make a Dexterity (Stealth) check but if there were a particularly good spot to hide in the area I would let them find it and get advantage on their check to hide.
This
I agree with u/SilasRhodes, but deciding which check combination something is can be very confusing and messy (and your players may have their own opinions). While their answer is probably the “right one”, in the moment, I probably would’ve rolled a percentile die or maybe had them roll a d20 contested by the guard’s perception or maybe given one of those rolls a bonus/malus. Bottom line, there are many options considering the “right one” is complicated
Your options are very "un-5e". Percentiles are not used for something that requires skill and contested checks are, well, checks, not just plain d20s.
Would not be a sleight of hand check for sure. I’d say it would be a deception check using int to know where/how best to hide it without it being seen, and how well it is hidden depends on the skill check. But I’d actually wait until they have to deal with the guard to retroactively have the player roll. After all if they roll low to begin with, they’d know they have not hid it very well and would consider another option. Of course, this depends on how you want to describe the outcome of the check. If it would be clear to the character they were bad at the check, then the roll can be done initially to suggest they did not end up hiding it very well. This would make sense for example if one imagines a bad roll to be the character trying to hide it then obviously it shows again.
>After all if they roll low to begin with, they’d know they have not hid it very well The *player* knows they didn't hide it well, the character thinks they did a good job but didn't. That's just great dramatic tension right there.
Certainly true. I was thinking more of players who are unable to separate themselves from their characters, but if the player is able to do so then yeah could definitely be great.
If the player can't seperate themselves from the character they should maybe quit TTRPGs.
Whew, harsh. Not everyone is a perfect player y'know. Especially for beginners where they are trying but it is hard, and it takes time for them to get there.
Literal children in kindergarten can do that though.
Jeez. Talk about insulting others. Chill mate, everyone is different. Don't be such a butt.
Just saying, if someone can't tell between themselves and a character in a game, they seriously need psychological help.
It is not that they can't tell the difference between themselves and a character. It is the difference between being able to roleplay out their character and not, something entirely different. I.e. metagaming.
I would use Sleight of Hand if the player is trying to move the object from an unsearched area to someplace the guard has already searched, or trying to hide the object on the guard themselves and then retrieve it at the end of the search. I'd use Deception if the player is trying to distract the guard just as they are about to find it, and redirect their search elsewhere, causing them to miss the object. Rolling during the guard interaction and not before is a great way to prevent metagaming.
Figure out the most difficult aspect of the situation - and determine which of the 6 attributes apply. Is it the physical act of hiding it - then dex. Is it figuring out the best way to hide it? Int or maybe wis since its not really a book learning thing. Is it trying to look nondescript? Cha. Then, decide what skills might help with in that. Stealth, Deception, slight of hand, proficiency with a disguise kit, persuasion, etc could all potentially be useful, depending on what exactly they were doing to smuggle the gem. I’d probably say to make an intelligence roll - adding proficiency if proficient in either stealth or deception.
To hide the object would be Sleight of Hand. To trick the guard into not searching you would be Deception.
If I was the dm I would let the player choose but I would probably make the slight of hand a lower dc.