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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 9857552" data-attributes="member: 82106">In terms of analysis in 4e I think level isn't critically necessary to nail down. The framing of scenes (encounters or maybe technically a short sequence of encounters) is structurally identical across all levels. The fiction will reflect different scales of concerns within the milieu is all. Honestly, if you consider radically different levels, low heroic tier vs high epic, say, the higher level PCs will naturally be able to justify more degrees of freedom in terms of actions in a way that might make you want to frame things differently, but 4e is pretty unique in D&D terms in really being fundamentally the same game at all levels in a way no other edition is.Imagine a level 10 rendition of this scenario. The 2 PCs have spent several levels on this quest to recover the Lotus Blossom. They are worn but have withstood harsh tests and become the most accomplished Ranger and Fighter operating today within the 2 kingdoms. But their foe, Ansillia, is a mighty and deadly opponent, greatest of living Necromancers. Mechanically she is a level 12 Elite opponent. I won't delve into stat block details or anything like that, but she commands 3 level 12 undead standard skirmishers. This makes a combat encounter with her, for 2 level 10 PCs extremely difficult, but we can mitigate that somewhat via the SC mechanics.Should the PCs decide to attempt a diplomatic solution, then they can try to approach Ansillia. In this case her tactical position will be favorable to her, and she will have all her servitors. The PCs would presumably be attempting to either intimidate her into surrender, or negotiate an outcome in which they get the Lotus. I would also consider this a Complexity 2, level 10 encounter. In essence it is mechanically similar to the first option, except total success results in Ansillia surrendering the goods, while failure puts the party in even more of a hard situation (IE the PCs are tricked and get surprised). So it represents a bit more risky path with higher stakes and a bigger payout.This second SC obviously will have primary skills of Diplomacy, Intimidate, and perhaps Streetwise (to describe the bad effects of the Lotus being removed). History, Arcana, and Religion could be secondaries.Finally, should the combat commence, the players could decide to do something like simply attempt to steal the Lotus and abscond, since they don't really have to defeat Ansillia to achieve their quest. In this case such an attempt would be a Complexity 1 level 12 SC. The first 2 checks can be made using Minor actions to do things like figure out where the Lotus is. If a character can spot it, using Perception, or Insight, the player gets to describe its location (on Ansillia, concealed about the location, carried by a servitor, etc.). The second success allows deception, using Bluff, or surprise using Stealth. Success here allows the player to either reposition a servitor, or their PC in such a way as to facilitate the last 2-4 checks (obviously within reasonable fictional parameters). Note that since this SC is happening within combat, the map state and terrain will apply constraints on what is possible at any given moment. The last 2 checks will be Athletics, Acrobatics, and/or Thievery attempts to obtain the item.Note that once the item is obtained, escape is presumed. Ansillia, if able, will probably follow and further action may be based on whatever attempts to rectify the situation are made, vs anything the PCs do to foil pursuit. This probably justifies another SC, although there's no compelling reason why escape cannot be assumed. I would base the approach from here on out on pacing and other factors (IE do the PCs have sufficient XP to reach Paragon? Perhaps just cut it off here, and have them return to base, get their reward, and advance).</blockquote>

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