Any New Info on Skill Encounters?

[ThirdWizard]

I'm writing up a 4e adventure I'm going to run this weekend, and I've got three of these extended skill encounters in mind.

The first is going to be the PCs negotiating a continuation of an alliance with a dwarven lord. The PCs will have to convince him that it is in his best interest to at least go into talks with the human alliance. He's got an open mind toward it, but the humans are at war, and he isn't sure he wants to send his troops into battle. If they succeed 5 times, he will begin talks, if they fail 4 times, he will send them on his way. It will be free form, with the PCs deciding which skills to use and how to use them. (I'm still considering the consequences of capsizing.)

The second will be riding a boat through an underground river. The PCs will have to make set checks as they come up to keep the boat from capsizing. There will be five checks and three failures (a majority) will mean it capsizes. It will be athletics, acrobatics, perception, and two endurance checks. All PCs will have to roll, and there will have to be 2 successes or I'll mark off a failure. As an added trick, the PCs are having to carry the boat down the tunnels to the river and if they drop it or throw it down (they have to take a standard action to place it down safely), it will have to make a save or take a tick of failure before they even get wet (due to damage).

The third challenge will be convincing the black dragon to allow them to pass. They should be used to skill encounters by then, and they have to make 3 successes. One failure indicates the dragon attacks. If they succeed it will agree to let them pass in exchange for their magic items (which they should have at this point in the adventure). I made this one purposely difficult, 'cause its a freakin' black dragon.

 

[Kraydak]

While I am not enthused by the mechanics described (not all skills are equally useful in a given situation, and players dictating aspects of the world annoys me), I do find myself wishing someone had decided to use a Cleave (or other attack) to-hit roll as their "skill" check, and fled Sembia by using sharp pointy death as cover. Heck, it makes a lot more sense than sitting around playing performing acrobat while the guard catches up.

 

[LostSoul]

(I'm still considering the consequences of capsizing.)

I would suggest using the things the players say to determine the result of failure.

While I am not enthused by the mechanics described (not all skills are equally useful in a given situation, and players dictating aspects of the world annoys me), I do find myself wishing someone had decided to use a Cleave (or other attack) to-hit roll as their "skill" check, and fled Sembia by using sharp pointy death as cover. Heck, it makes a lot more sense than sitting around playing performing acrobat while the guard catches up.

I think that, as DM, you will have the authority to determine what makes sense and what doesn't. If you don't think playing acrobat will help them succeed, tell the player to do something else.

 

[keterys]

Going up and meleeing them would have basically been an autofailure in this case - the characters just aren't _that_ cool

 

[Kraydak]

Going up and meleeing them would have basically been an autofailure in this case - the characters just aren't _that_ cool

Ah, but remember the players get to dictate reality, to wit, 2 stupid (and weak, minions for the autokill) guards who split off from the main group!

Maybe to investigate a thrown stone.

Without telling anyone else.

Because they forgot to read the Evil Overlord list thingy.

 

[hong]

Ah, but remember the players get to dictate reality, to wit, 2 stupid (and weak, minions for the autokill) guards who split off from the main group!

Pish tosh. Consensus reality includes the DM.

 

[glass]

Ah, but remember the players get to dictate reality

No they don't!

Seriously, the idea that players can dictate reality to the DM was Derren's nightmare, not anything actually supported by the previews we have seen.


glass.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

While I am not enthused by the mechanics described (not all skills are equally useful in a given situation, and players dictating aspects of the world annoys me), I do find myself wishing someone had decided to use a Cleave (or other attack) to-hit roll as their "skill" check, and fled Sembia by using sharp pointy death as cover. Heck, it makes a lot more sense than sitting around playing performing acrobat while the guard catches up.

Remember, it is a colloborative effort. If the chosen skill doesn't make sense, explain the player, or just don't count the result. What exactly you do depends on the situation at hand...

 

[Derren]

No they don't!

Seriously, the idea that players can dictate reality to the DM was Derren's nightmare, not anything actually supported by the previews we have seen.


glass.

Actually the examples of the cleric using religion to gather a crowd (still ok) or get a priest to smuggle you out of the city do indicate that the player can dictate reality.

But probably the adventure was written (or the DMs instructed) so that the players succeed no matter what they do to keep the adventure on track and to show of all the "cool" moves.

 

[cwhs01]

No they don't!

Seriously, the idea that players can dictate reality to the DM was Derren's nightmare, not anything actually supported by the previews we have seen.

i'm sorry, but are you implying that derren was wrong in assuming that pc's can conjure up +5 holy avengers any time they want to?