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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7800228" data-attributes="member: 97077">I think it's important to note it's not the "skill check that can alter an important scene," but rather actions or tasks that can do that. The ability check just resolves any uncertainty as to the outcome when there's a meaningful consequence for failure. This is an important distinction that some folks do not understand and bears repeating in my view.In general, I think it's okay for DMs to sketch this out in their prep, that specific tasks which may commonly be declared in the context of the situation are uncertain and carry a meaningful consequence for failure. It's rife with opportunity for that prep to be wasted by virtue of being a contingency the players never actually choose but if it helps the DM, then it's fine as I see it. It's the DM's time to "waste," after all.However, it's good in my view that, in the doing, to take care not to preordain certain solutions as being the only viable ones. As the DMG says in the context of a broader discussion of the role of the dice (p. 236), "this approach can also slow the game if the DM focuses on one 'correct' action that the characters must describe to overcome an obstacle." The same holds even for tasks the DM predetermines has an uncertain outcome and a meaningful consequence for failure while putting together his or her game prep.</blockquote>