When opposing skill checks roll the same result, which skill succeeds?

[Aniuś the Talewise]

As written, Bluff and Sense Motive are opposed skills.
Perception and Stealth are opposed skills.
Linguistics to write a forgery opposes a Linguistics to identify the same forgery.
There might be a few others that I'm not aware of.

Also as written, if the result of a skill check equals the DC, the skill succeeds.

Now, say Bluff and Sense Motive are rolled against each other, and they roll the same result. Which skill succeeds?

Or say Perception and Stealth are rolled against each other, and they roll the same result. Which skill succeeds?

[Nigrescence]

Bluff and Stealth, when rolled, set the DC for those trying to Sense Motive or Perceive them, respectively. Both Bluff and Stealth are not skills that have to meet a DC. They establish the level of difficulty for those attempting to overcome their ability.

At least for the uses you are describing.

Bluff has other uses which are explicitly listed in its description which DO have a DC which you have to meet. For example, feinting, or conveying a secret message (which also has an opposed against Sense Motive if someone wishes to detect it).

In short, for Sense Motive or Perception to work against an opposed Bluff or Stealth, respectively, it is meet or exceed.

[Aniuś the Talewise]

I see, so if I am understanding you correctly, if someone rolls to bluff, the opponent cannot successfully sense motive if the sense motive meets the bluff?

[DM Sothal]

the other way around.

Bluff sets the DC that sense motive must meet or exceed.

[DM_Blake]

Aniuś the Talewise wrote:

I see, so if I am understanding you correctly, if someone rolls to bluff, the opponent cannot successfully sense motive if the sense motive meets the bluff?

Actually, yes they CAN successfully Sense Motive if they exactly meet the DC set by the Bluff check.

Like all d20 rolls in this game, you roll a d20 and add your modifiers and then compare to some value to see if you succeed. If you equal that value or exceed it, your d20 roll was a success. That value could be an Armor Class, a CMD, a Saving Throw DC, a Skill Check DC, etc. Whatever the value is, you just need to be equal or higher.

In the case of opposed checks, one person is trying to DO something (Bluff, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, etc.) - this is the action that determines the value by setting the DC. The other person is trying to OPPOSE that first person's action (Perception, Sense Motive, etc.) - this is the D20 roll plus modifiers that simply needs to equal or exceed the DC value set by the first guy.

[Claxon]

Simple answer is almost always "Defender Wins".

A person making a bluff basically sets the DC equal to his bluff check. The person using sense motive must meet or beat it. Usually, and thankfully, they're rarely the same value so it doesn't come up often. But in the event of a tie, the "defender" wins.

The main notable exception to this that I can think of is attack rolls. If an attack roll meets AC it is successful. In every other case that I can think of the "defender" wins in the event of a tie.

[Aniuś the Talewise]

I understand now. That makes it quite clear. Thanks!