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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 4206740" data-attributes="member: 32164">On the issue of intimidate (which I can't believe is still going), I understand what both sides are saying. I do think we are caught up in the difference between whether it's possible to intimidate someone and whether intimidating that person will accomplish the goal you're after.Yes, you probably can intimidate the Duke into doing a small thing. However, attempting to intimidate someone into providing long-term aid can only get you a result ranging from grudging assistance to outright revolt.You want the signet ring? No problem. You want a batallion of troops to assist you in taking out the gnolls of the High Forest? They probably have secret orders to murder you in your sleep. Or maybe they're utterly worthless conscripts.There's nothing wrong with designing challenges so that certain avenues of approach don't work at all. It's up to the DM to provide multiple options, but you don't have to say "yes" to every single approach the characters try. "I'm sorry Bob, the dragon just isn't interested in swapping dirty limericks with you to decide whether you get its treasure."As others have said, restrictions like this sound like an excellent way to build personality into a roleplaying encounter. Similarly, the notion of "unlocking" some skills with others sounds like an excellent way to make an interaction more interesting. For example, I'm reminded of the Canim from Jim Butcher's Codex Alera. The Cain are roughly 8-foot tall lupine humanoids, and they don't respect weakness - at all. Before you can "negotiate" with a Cain, you must first demonstrate strength. In other words, you must successfully intimidate a Cain before diplomacy can work. Attempts to negotiate without first showing strength are worthless. That would be characterized by a skill challenge where a successful intimidate check unlocks diplomacy as an option.I'm intrigued by the possibilities inherent in the system, and I can see making adventures that involve purely skill encounters or, better yet, adventures that have skill challenge encounters alternating with combat encounters.Hmmm...potentially very interesting.</blockquote>

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