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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 4911395" data-attributes="member: 82106">Hmmmm.OK, it is certainly a good practice for the DM to allow players to resolve situations in a variety of ways, use their heads, benefit from skills, etc. On the other hand it is up to the player to analyze the situation, come up with a plan, state what skill he's trying to use and how he's trying to use it and what the object of using that skill is. It is inarguably and entirely with within the purview of the DM to decide whether or not that skill is appropriate and if there is or is not ANY chance of success.Consider, you wouldn't let the player claim his character was going to use Athletics to swim over the hobgoblins. The conditions under which that would be possible simply don't exist. Likewise the DM is under no obligation to allow any form of diplomacy at all. It may simply be a non-viable option. An impossible DC could be set, but it is really rather irrelevant.Personally I see nothing whatsoever wrong with the DM simply saying "A group of armed hobgoblins defending their stronghold can't be negotiated past". The conditions simply don't exist for this skill to be used in this situation. Not all plans are feasible and not all skills are automatically relevant. Is someone actually suggesting that the diplomacy skill is some sort of uber skill that can be used in every situation? Sorry but as a DM I'd find that not only inappropriate but vastly boring. Even if its going to take a skill challenge to get past the hobgoblins, maybe that simply isn't an option. They just aren't going to move. OTOH I'm all for the DM to create situations where its appropriate or to consider if most encounters might potentially be won using skills instead of combat and there's certainly nothing wrong with the PCs using a skill roll with a plan to get a minor advantage in the following combat as other people have suggested. Its just not at all reasonable or good DMing to simply have certain skills be so awesome that they can always get the job done.</blockquote>

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