Although I have been playing 4E for some time now, I have yet to run a game. This is about to change as I am planning a one-shot game a couple weeks from now. As a part of this one-shot I have been studying and trying to plan a skill challenge.
After thinking things over I have a plan forming in my mind how I would like this SC to go, but since there are so many people in these forums who have much more experience running SCs than I do I would really appreciate advice and feedback including ways to implement and improve my plan along with pitfalls to avoid. Help me make this better!
I guess the way I would describe how I envision the SC unfolding would be to call it a progressive skill challenge. By this I mean that I envision the SC unfolding in two stages and that each stage has a compartmentalized list of applicable skills. Once the correct number of successes in the first stage are met this triggers the second stage opening up a new compartmentalized list of skills.
The challenge revolves around a treasure map the PCs are trying to follow through a dense jungle ultimately leading to a lost temple of a dead and forgotten god.
After arriving at the remote lagoon which corresponds to a starting point on the treasure map the PCs will have a combat encounter with the creature currently inhabiting the lagoon after which the SC should begin.
Stage 1 where did the trail go: Beyond the lagoon things on the map do not appear to match the existing terrain.
(1 good) History (moderate): success detects that this map though well preserved is incredibly old and that the jungle has changed significantly covering or destroying some of the landmarks.
(1 good) Nature (difficult): predict how the passage of time will alter the terrain as marked on the map.
(Aid another) Athletics: Climbing a tall tree and look for signs of the landmarks on the map.
Stage 2 moving out: The PCs head out to blaze their own trail through the jungle.
(1 good) Nature (easy): Maintain the correct general direction.
(1 good) Nature (moderate): detect and avoid natural hazards.
(2 good) Endurance (moderate): resist the effects of wandering through the jungle.
Zero failures results in the PCs achieving their objective with little difficulty. 1-2 failures will cause the PCs to face an environmental difficulty and 3-4 failures will result in an additional combat encounter. 5 or more failures will result in the combat encounter happening simultaneously with the environmental difficulty.
After thinking things over I have a plan forming in my mind how I would like this SC to go, but since there are so many people in these forums who have much more experience running SCs than I do I would really appreciate advice and feedback including ways to implement and improve my plan along with pitfalls to avoid. Help me make this better!
I guess the way I would describe how I envision the SC unfolding would be to call it a progressive skill challenge. By this I mean that I envision the SC unfolding in two stages and that each stage has a compartmentalized list of applicable skills. Once the correct number of successes in the first stage are met this triggers the second stage opening up a new compartmentalized list of skills.
The challenge revolves around a treasure map the PCs are trying to follow through a dense jungle ultimately leading to a lost temple of a dead and forgotten god.
After arriving at the remote lagoon which corresponds to a starting point on the treasure map the PCs will have a combat encounter with the creature currently inhabiting the lagoon after which the SC should begin.
Stage 1 where did the trail go: Beyond the lagoon things on the map do not appear to match the existing terrain.
(1 good) History (moderate): success detects that this map though well preserved is incredibly old and that the jungle has changed significantly covering or destroying some of the landmarks.
(1 good) Nature (difficult): predict how the passage of time will alter the terrain as marked on the map.
(Aid another) Athletics: Climbing a tall tree and look for signs of the landmarks on the map.
Stage 2 moving out: The PCs head out to blaze their own trail through the jungle.
(1 good) Nature (easy): Maintain the correct general direction.
(1 good) Nature (moderate): detect and avoid natural hazards.
(2 good) Endurance (moderate): resist the effects of wandering through the jungle.
Zero failures results in the PCs achieving their objective with little difficulty. 1-2 failures will cause the PCs to face an environmental difficulty and 3-4 failures will result in an additional combat encounter. 5 or more failures will result in the combat encounter happening simultaneously with the environmental difficulty.