Very nice!
Let's get into the rules. This is what I'm thinking about going with; any suggestions for changes are very much welcomed. If everything's cool, try and let me know too, okay?
1. The DM declares the goal of the skill challenge to the group for open negotiation. The group discusses if the goal is acceptable. The DM has final authority over what the goal is going to be. He decides what the DC for the skill challenge is, and how many successes are needed before a set number of failures for overall success in the skill challenge.
2. The DM sets up the initial opening scene with a masterful display of prose.
Then he asks for initiative checks.
3. Players, in initiative order, role-play the actions their characters are taking. Players can choose to delay their turn, like the normal Delay action from 3.5.
- The active player states, out-of-character, the skill they are going to roll.
- The DM can object to the skill if he feels it doesn't match up with the role-played description. He gives the player another chance to pick another skill or change his character's action. If the player is stuck, he can decide to Delay.
- Once the skill has been approved, the player makes a skill check.
4. The DM determines if the task (the described action + skill check) is Easy, Normal, or Hard. He then compares the result of the skill check to a set DC and determines failure or success.
Success:
- Easy and Normal - a success is added to the tally.
- Hard - a success is added, and another skill check gets a +2 bonus to the roll.
Failure:
- Easy - two failures are added to the tally.
- Normal and Hard - one failure is added to the tally.
The DM reveals failure or success for the task. Someone narrates what success at that task means in the game world. Doesn't have to be the DM, or even the player who rolled the skill check. The DM has final authority over what is narrated.
Success or failure is added to the tally, and if the success or failure threshold for the overall skill challenge has been reached, the DM reveals this. Someone narrates the outcome of the skill challenge, with the DM having final authority:
- A full success (no failures) means the stated goal comes to pass.
- A partial success (some failures) means that the stated goal comes to pass, but there is some sort of complication; or, the stated goal is only partially completed.
- A partial failure (some successes) means that the stated goal does not come to pass, but there is some sort of concession.
- A full failure (no successes) means that the goal does not come to pass, and there is no concession.
Any thoughts?