Challange ratings :(

[grant]

If you want to have a deceiving appearance, you can have it, if you don't, just make a regular description of how you really are and call it day.

Which completely misses my point and compliments it at the same time.

Your method also eliminates a case by case choice.

If I want that shady looking character inching his way up to me at the campfire to think twice about reaching into my pocket. I do not have a choice unless I write a description that makes me look weak.

Then if I want to look less imposing to another person 2 minuets latter I can not with out rewriting my description. Then you bring in OOC again... //please do not read my description rewriting it

AND in both cases they have to bother to read it, writing a description is not mandatory.

Which adds an entirely new point.

Even if you make writing a description mandatory, you can not make quality mandatory, we do not all have the same writing skill. What if I can not describe my 6th level fighter in terms that makes him seem 6ish level, and what noticeable changes are there between a 5th and 6th level fighter that a description should reveal?

[gbbishop]

oi vay!

[DireBadgerEntersRage]

Then if I want to look less imposing to another person 2 minuets latter I can not with out rewriting my description. Then you bring in OOC again... //please do not read my description rewriting it

I don't bring in the OOC, description is an IC tool one may opt to use or not. It's just the same as emoting descriptively or not at all. It's all up to the player. The only OOC thing about my suggestion is the option of requesting rolls on a case to case basis which some might call an immersion breaker when reading an otherwise engaging description, but I don't see anyone complainng about having to make rolls in DM events, so why not throw the dice for fellow players?

Even if you make writing a description mandatory, you can not make quality mandatory, we do not all have the same writing skill. What if I can not describe my 6th level fighter in terms that makes him seem 6ish level, and what noticeable changes are there between a 5th and 6th level fighter that a description should reveal?

I really can't see where I suggested anything mandatory. On the contrary..

This way it's all totally optional; if you want Sense Motive vs Bluff (and what not) in your life, you can have it, if you don't, you can just ignore it.

And sure, it's always better to get more descriptive information than less, but I honestly have no problem with anyone's writing skills, or roleplaying skills for that matter. There is a difference between being unable and unwilling though.

[grant]

My use of you was general, not personal. Other than giving direbadger. credit for extending my point, the rest of my post was directed at the forum in general.