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<blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 7512001" data-attributes="member: 6696971">The 5e basic set has Fail Forward embedded in its GMing section on noncombat action resolution in the same way that 13th Age does. Given that 5e draws some inspiration from 13th Age, the easiest thing to do is just follow 13th Age advice for 5e noncombat action resolution failure:This is a skill that must be honed by GMs but most times it begins with a Yoda lesson; &quot;you must unlearn...what you have learned.&quot; So to begin, this means undoing their internal and cultural-inflicted programming whereby they have been conditioned to perceive every moment of action resolution as a binary event constrained by 1st order causal logic interpretation of the micro-task at hand:You attempt to climb a treacherous face; you climb it or you fall.You attempt to convince a chamberlain to grant you audience with the king; he's convinced or you're rebuffed.Action resolution (particularly noncombat action resolution) doesn't have to be governed by 1st order complications, or tight causal logic of the micro task.&nbsp; Failure can be interpreted as 2nd or 3rd order complications, on the grounds of genre logic, or in consideration of the macro goal.You don't fail to climb the face.&nbsp; You lose something precious (perhaps a divining rod falls from your hip and clatters down the face, coming to rest in a wyvern nest which is full of eggs) that has future or immediate implications on your greater goal and now you're faced with an interesting decision-point that adds new conflict.You don't get rebuffed by the chamberlain.&nbsp; He agrees and then casually walks you through the receiving hall while you're assailed with the horrific specter of a bloody orgy where demons are simultaneously feasting upon and mating with the king's court.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Manbearcat, post: 7512001, member: 6696971"] The 5e basic set has Fail Forward embedded in its GMing section on noncombat action resolution in the same way that 13th Age does. Given that 5e draws some inspiration from 13th Age, the easiest thing to do is just follow 13th Age advice for 5e noncombat action resolution failure: This is a skill that must be honed by GMs but most times it begins with a Yoda lesson; "you must unlearn...what you have learned." So to begin, this means undoing their internal and cultural-inflicted programming whereby they have been conditioned to perceive every moment of action resolution as a binary event constrained by 1st order causal logic interpretation of the micro-task at hand: You attempt to climb a treacherous face; you climb it or you fall. You attempt to convince a chamberlain to grant you audience with the king; he's convinced or you're rebuffed. Action resolution (particularly noncombat action resolution) doesn't have to be governed by 1st order complications, or tight causal logic of the micro task. Failure can be interpreted as 2nd or 3rd order complications, on the grounds of genre logic, or in consideration of the macro goal. You don't fail to climb the face. You lose something precious (perhaps a divining rod falls from your hip and clatters down the face, coming to rest in a wyvern nest which is full of eggs) that has future or immediate implications on your greater goal and now you're faced with an interesting decision-point that adds new conflict. You don't get rebuffed by the chamberlain. He agrees and then casually walks you through the receiving hall while you're assailed with the horrific specter of a bloody orgy where demons are simultaneously feasting upon and mating with the king's court. [/QUOTE]

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