2 Part Skill Challenge

[jeffnesh]

I'm curious about structuring a 2-part Skill Challenge.

Let's say I want an encounter that is a skill challenge that overall requires 8 successes before 4 failures.

The first part of the challenge involves a negotiation. During the negotiation, PCs can earn information and ultimately an escort to a hideout.

If the negotiations fail, the NPC makes a break for it through crowded streets and the PCs make chase. Catching the NPC forces him to lead the PCs to the hideout. Failing to catch the PC results in seeing the hideout, but a surprise round awaits the PCs when they enter.

Question: Can this be structured in two parts, where Success at Part 1 leads straight to the hideout with full XP, but failure kicks off part 2 where success also earns full XP, but failure earns none? If so, how do I 'account' for the successes/failures from one to the next?

Or is this two separate skill encounters.

-Thanks much!

 

[Tale]

Make it so that partial success on the first task (but failure) gives them a general idea of where he's going to go, but not the specific location. That way it'll be easier to follow him, but they still need to follow him. They won't have to follow as closely, so they don't need to meet as many following challenges.

 

[OgreBane99]

I'm doin' it!

I just set one of these up in the adventure I'm writing. Basically, it requires 8 successes before 4 failures. The first three successes are the party talking to villagers trying to find a certain person. Once they succeed on those first 3 checks, they "find" the man they're looking for and then need to speak to him, requring another 5 skill check successes to understand him.

I guess I could make it two seperate skill challenges, but whatever.