variant
Adventurer
Okay. Do you set the DC based on the approach the player gives to the goal? Or the obstacle has a set DC no matter what anyone does to overcome it? Will there always be a roll to overcome it?
Also, in your games, who decides they are making an ability check, the DMs or the players? Or do the players ask with the expectation the answer will be "Yes?"
If something would lower the DC, it would lower the DC. Such as lighting up a darkened room to avoid a trap. Just as players could accidentally avoid it or intentionally avoid it if they are aware of it or are smart enough to come up with a plan to circumvent it.
That would depend on the ability check. The player decides if they want to climb a wall, they don't decide if the floor starts to collapse under them.