Interpret another person’s intentions, emotions, or hidden agenda - even when they attempt to mask it.
Roll 1d100 + Sense Motive bonus vs DR 100 + modifiers
Opposed Roll vs:
Bluff, Deception, Persuasion, Diplomatic Pressure, Social Engineering, Glibness etc.
On success, you recognize that the person is:
- Hiding something
- Motivated by fear, greed, guilt, etc.
- Acting under external pressure
- Pushing a specific agenda
- Mentally influenced (including magical)
You don’t necessarily learn the truth, but you do learn that something is off and potentially what their emotional driver is.
–20 DR if the speaker is emotional, poorly prepared, or untrained
–10 DR if the speaker is nervous, rushing, or contradicts themselves
+10 DR if they are calm, well-practiced, or socially adept
+20 to +40 DR if they are trained manipulators, politicians, spies, or acting under magical/mental influence
+15 DR if attempting to evaluate someone you don’t know or can't see clearly
–10 DR if you’ve spent significant time observing the individual beforehand
A merchant seems evasive when discussing their supplier:
DR = 100 – 10 (nervous) = 90Roll = 104 → Success → You suspect the goods are stolen
Sense Motive is a subtle but vital skill in social interaction. It allows a character to pierce through surface-level appearances and evaluate deeper truths behind words, actions, or tone.
Used successfully, it can expose traitors, spot deceit in negotiations, reveal mental tampering, or determine whether someone is genuinely aligned with your cause—or just pretending.
This skill is crucial for anyone operating in diplomatic, covert, or high-stakes situations where trust is dangerous and motives aren’t always clear. It’s often paired with Insight, but while Insight reads emotions, Sense Motive dives into intent.
- Insight – Combine emotional reading with motive interpretation
- Lie Detection – Add confirmation to your suspicions
- Storytelling / Bluff – Create a contrast you can evaluate
- Public Speaking – Evaluate the real purpose of a speech
- Magic Lore / Detect Pressure – Suspect when motives are magically influenced
- Bluff / Deception / Glibness – Act with confidence and charm
- Diplomatic Pressure – Redirect focus and apply subtle influence
- Manipulate Perception – Shape how your actions are seen