Questions DMS asks in D&D and what they really mean

Dungeons & Dragons is a game that involves a lot of smoke and mirrors, where a person, dungeon, must maintain a poker face and keep a lot of secrets from their surrounding players. They must be cryptic and vague, maintain calm and neutrality all the time. Of course, this is not what usually happens at all.

In reality, they ask questions that immediately make players worried, and it does not help when an evil smile shows up afterwards. As a player, you know that it means that they are throwing their evil plan on you and your party members or that your lack of clues about what is happening entertains them. And let's realize it, it's the fun of the game.

10

Are you sure?

Translation: Stop what you do, please

Players sometimes have the most … interesting ideas. Sometimes the DM can predict that the consequences of these can be harmful to the player, the campaign or even both. If this happens, DM can ask this question just to give the player a moment to think about what they do.

It may not look like it from the player's perspective, but it is actually your DM that tries to ensure that you will not do anything with terrible consequences for you or your friends. Despite the subtle warning, many players still go for their bad ideas, and they can train, despite what DM thought. Just be aware that the efforts are high.

9

What are all march orders?

Translation: I need to know which of you are being screwed

When you and your friends are in a prison, it makes sense to keep some kind of march order. After all, the Squishy Spellcaster should not be in front of the group that runs the head first into the unknown, but they should not be the last either because of surprise attacks or flanks.

Yet, if the DM is about to beat, they must be aware of everyone's position, so they know which of you will meet. Basically, you know that something is happening when this question is asked. Stag for influence.

8

So, do you touch it?

Translation: Did you trigger the trap or not?

Another fun way DMS loves to mess with players is to add some traps here and there. Whether it is triggered by opening a door, drawing an object or through a damned magical article, there are many ways to challenge the party with traps.

In an attempt to be fair, DM will often ask for confirmation that you have touched what triggers the trap before their fun begins, which leads to the question that will start everything. Next time, maybe use stomach hand.

7

How many hit points do you have?

Translation: I have to see if I accidentally killed you

Some magic formulas and attacks are extremely powerful in D&D. Your DM may have used a powerful AOE attack during the fight where you have already taken many hits, or they decided to roll something like disintegration and rolled a little too well, so they want to know your health to see how bad things will be.

Depending on the DM, they can also ask for your own safety. Not all DMs will do this, but depending on the circumstances, campaign and players, a DM can be somewhat adjusted sometimes, if only that your character is impaired but not directly killed. Alternatively, they can stay for a second to think of a nice description of your imminent departure. Everything is possible in D&D.

6

Do one [Absurdly High Number] Hit you?

Translation: It's my time to have fun

Imagine this. Your powerful characters have been a tower on the side of the villains in several sessions now. DM saw their beloved creatures fall over and over again, and probably they made a power plant of a monster with a high bonus to hit to put you all in your place.

This rhetorical question is only DM that has the time in their life and shows you the real Bbeg they have wanted to use forever, since before the campaign even began. You should have to fight for the life of your character.

5

What is your passive view?

Translation: You take a surprise attack, mate

Whether it is because you fail when you try to label your surroundings or because you are too nonchalant to even look for traps or hidden enemies, your cold time is about to end. When asked this question, prepare to meet the consequences of your actions or perhaps lack of action.

Fortunately, for those who play with new rules, the 2024 player's manual has weakened the condition of the surprise, so all you will do is roll the initiative to a disadvantage. For others, you may be about to lose a whole fight to be sloppy. Still, always check the location first.

4

You see no traps

Translation: You rolled poorly

It's not a question, but it's still worth mentioning. When DM says you do not see any traps, or something that “this room seems to be empty”, they usually mean that your perception roll was terrible.

Now there is a real chance that the room is really empty, without traps nearby, and your DM just screws with you because you technically rolled too badly to tell. Anyway, support yourself for potential incoming damage. Or not Majame and cross the room safely, possibly to your disadvantage.

3

Can all roll [Insert A Skill Here]?

Translation: You don't take the hint and it annoys me

This is a way that a DM can force you to find plot hooks that are ignored or overlooked. There may be lots of information in the room you are currently in, and you do not notice it or maybe NPC clearly lies to you, and you are too naive to notice.

Anyway, DM only tells everyone to roll a random skill related to the situation, such as perception or insight, to see if they can give you some extra information to make you all realize what you miss. They just want to move the action forward.

2

Can I borrow your dice?

Translation: You are taking so much damage right now that I need more dice to keep track of the number

If you do not play online, it is quite good to have many repeated dice to keep track of spell damage, as you may need to roll multiple D6 or D8, and to have many of them is easier than rolling one of them over and over.

So if your DM needs extra dice, it means that they are about to use one of these high impact on one of you. Or worse, they will use these dice on all of you with something like Meteor Swarm.

1

You can safely try

Translation: Honestly, we don't know either

Our second exception is a complex meaning, perhaps the most complex here. This is because it means changes from DM to DM, the situation where they use it and their tone. Sometimes you just want to try something that is really worth trying, and they are honest about it.

Sometimes, however, it works in the same way as “Are you sure?”, But instead of wanting to stop you, DM wants to see the chaos that is happening. Or they don't want you to do something but use reverse psychology to prevent you from doing so. It really changes depending on the situation.