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Message: <blockquote data-quote="HeavenShallBurn" data-source="post: 4206541" data-attributes="member: 39593">That all depends on how much you get him to fear you.  You want something out of him, threatening him into giving it to you is as viable as schmoozing it out of him.  He may not like you for it later but intimidation can absolutely get people to do things for you when you are in a position to strike fear into them.Taking steps to protect his family and ask the court mage to whip something up is entirely reasonable, it's the sort of thing the Duke would do.  But doesn't preclude giving in to the PCs demands, in fact it's more likely to occur as a hedge because he's successfully intimidated by the PCs.  Arresting or betraying, betraying is entirely likely if he thinks he can get away with it.  Arrest?  This is a level based game.  What level are his guards and how many does he have, for that matter what level is he?  This is a game where the PCs could very well be able to lay waste to his entire territory singlehandedly.  If they intimidate him that much he isn't going to consider arresting them because they would likely just massacre his guards and precious family and take his land for themselves.It would in RL but in a world described by the mechanics of D&D, not nearly.  What the PCs would rather persuade out of him could be gained from brute force, or magic domination, or a ritual that binds his will to theirs.  Diplomacy and persuasion in a D&D world appear only when neither side is stronger or wishes to go to the effort to compel obedience through other means.The bold part is the problem, D&D is not RL.  If I go to my mayor and threaten him he has the police arrest me.  In D&D if you threaten the mayor he has to consider whether his police CAN arrest you or will just be mowed down like lawn ornaments.  Whether imposing the will of the state is even possible.  He may or may not attempt to have you arrested depending on how he judges your personal power.  But if you can intimidate him into doing something for you the "police" are likely not a viable option, nor any similar direct action.  The most hindrance he could hope to bring to bear is weak sauce consisting mainly of ill-will and backstabbing betrayal to an enemy of greater power.  Even then he has to consider the possibility of discovering leading to the PCs just purging suspicious elements related to his plan.This is right, it's why even though the reasoning doesn't match a D&D world the assessment is on target.  The Skill Challenge mechanic is not like previous skill systems, it's a conflict resolution device not a task resolution device.  Previous editions you set a task and then rolled for success at it.  Here there's a goal and the result is either a good solution or an non-solution, either of which can be narrated whatever way seems most appropriate.  It doesn't matter what exactly was done just that it resulted in a non-optimal solution.  Which may even include getting the forces the party needs but being betrayed and having to kill them all and assassinate the Duke in retribution afterwards and there isn't much more non-optimal than destroying the powerbase you were looking to utilize.</blockquote>

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