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Weekly Wrecana - Social Challenges (another 6 part)
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7063551" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>My takeaway from this, and what I really like, is articulating the obstacles clearly. It's not a coincidence that the # of obstacles presented for each challenge equals the number of successes "required" to complete the challenge successfully. What's great about that is it ties the rolls to the narrative, minimizing a common issue of "narrative dissonance"/"abstraction" that can creep in to skill challenges run by an inexperienced GM (or just a tired/surprised GM).</p><p></p><p>I wish I had an old file which I lost when my old laptop died. It was my take on a social skill challenge involving negotiating with a corrupt baron in order to get his aid against a group of rebellious fey. A lot more to it, but that's the TL;DR version.</p><p></p><p>Basically, I designed it like this...</p><p></p><p>The Baron would pose about 8 questions for the PCs to answer. Depending on how they answer each question, that may count as a success, a failure, or neither. If they have 6 successes by the end of the Baron's questioning, then the Baron agrees to aid them. Each failure means the Baron demands a concession or unfavorable change in terms. If they fail to gain 6 successes, the Baron either turns them away with a humiliating offer to pay them 1 silver piece a day each as mercenaries OR feigns an alliance but really plans to betray them to the rebellious fey to advance his own scheming.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>1. Why should I trust you? None of you have sworn fealty to my house. None of your forefathers helped my family when they were in need.</em></strong></p><p>You can score a success on this question of the Baron's by...</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Making a convincing argument that appeals to the Baron's ambitious nature, having "brought himself up by his bootstraps", and plays up the PCs' past glorious deeds.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Making a DC 15 History check to recall information about the Baron's banner that you can use to make an emotional appeal. However, failing this check means yours and the Baron's view of historical events doesn't line up, and you score a failure; move on to the next question.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Making a DC 15 Intimidate check implying that if the Baron doesn't enter negotiations with them, they're liable to go to one of his rivals. However, failing this check not only scores a failure but also means the Baron thinks the PCs are just mercenaries trying to browbeat him and decides to teach them a lesson during or immediately after the negotiations. He has an especially vicious cunning streak, so this might be paying them in copper ingots guised by his court illusionist to look like gold, asking for a demonstration of the weakest looking PC's combat ability against his best mercenary Ser Saldigott the Black Knight, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If they saved the scout with the peryton heraldry tabard in the woods, they may call him in to report the PCs returning him safely to his unit and speaking on their behalf. The scout happens to be the Baron's nephew! This grants a success, provided the scout was well-treated by the PCs.</li> </ul><p></p><p>And so on for each question.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7063551, member: 20323"] My takeaway from this, and what I really like, is articulating the obstacles clearly. It's not a coincidence that the # of obstacles presented for each challenge equals the number of successes "required" to complete the challenge successfully. What's great about that is it ties the rolls to the narrative, minimizing a common issue of "narrative dissonance"/"abstraction" that can creep in to skill challenges run by an inexperienced GM (or just a tired/surprised GM). I wish I had an old file which I lost when my old laptop died. It was my take on a social skill challenge involving negotiating with a corrupt baron in order to get his aid against a group of rebellious fey. A lot more to it, but that's the TL;DR version. Basically, I designed it like this... The Baron would pose about 8 questions for the PCs to answer. Depending on how they answer each question, that may count as a success, a failure, or neither. If they have 6 successes by the end of the Baron's questioning, then the Baron agrees to aid them. Each failure means the Baron demands a concession or unfavorable change in terms. If they fail to gain 6 successes, the Baron either turns them away with a humiliating offer to pay them 1 silver piece a day each as mercenaries OR feigns an alliance but really plans to betray them to the rebellious fey to advance his own scheming. [B][I]1. Why should I trust you? None of you have sworn fealty to my house. None of your forefathers helped my family when they were in need.[/I][/B] You can score a success on this question of the Baron's by... [list][*]Making a convincing argument that appeals to the Baron's ambitious nature, having "brought himself up by his bootstraps", and plays up the PCs' past glorious deeds. [*]Making a DC 15 History check to recall information about the Baron's banner that you can use to make an emotional appeal. However, failing this check means yours and the Baron's view of historical events doesn't line up, and you score a failure; move on to the next question. [*]Making a DC 15 Intimidate check implying that if the Baron doesn't enter negotiations with them, they're liable to go to one of his rivals. However, failing this check not only scores a failure but also means the Baron thinks the PCs are just mercenaries trying to browbeat him and decides to teach them a lesson during or immediately after the negotiations. He has an especially vicious cunning streak, so this might be paying them in copper ingots guised by his court illusionist to look like gold, asking for a demonstration of the weakest looking PC's combat ability against his best mercenary Ser Saldigott the Black Knight, etc. [*]If they saved the scout with the peryton heraldry tabard in the woods, they may call him in to report the PCs returning him safely to his unit and speaking on their behalf. The scout happens to be the Baron's nephew! This grants a success, provided the scout was well-treated by the PCs.[/list] And so on for each question. [/QUOTE]
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