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<blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 5510246" data-attributes="member: 12037">I would say that the main problem is the lack of defined options. In KarinsDad's example, there are many ways to deal with a PC at 0 hit points in combat. In a skill challenge its a Heal check with a set DC. Beyond that, in combat restoring the PC has non-tangible (or at least not readily defined) benefits. Now that PC can attack, block an incoming enemy, pull a lever, etc. In a Skill Challenge, you get a tick next to the success line instead of the fail line. If a Skill Challenge were to have the same depth, then one option would have to lead to more options.It can work like that. But it doesn't have to. Some of my most successful Skill Challenges have been flowcharts, with one success not giving a tick on a column, but opening up more options that can be used in a process. But, there's still the problem of the skill limitation. Not that it has been an impediment to my games, but if you're trying to open it up to a complete system like above, that will be a real limiting factor.Perhaps that's how they should have been defined in the books, but I think people would have been even more lost. If I recall correctly, the concept of the skill challenge was difficult for some people to really and truly grasp when it was first presented. It probably was not in WotC's best interests to further complicate it. ENWorld is not exactly their target audience.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ThirdWizard, post: 5510246, member: 12037"] I would say that the main problem is the lack of defined options. In KarinsDad's example, there are many ways to deal with a PC at 0 hit points in combat. In a skill challenge its a Heal check with a set DC. Beyond that, in combat restoring the PC has non-tangible (or at least not readily defined) benefits. Now that PC can attack, block an incoming enemy, pull a lever, etc. In a Skill Challenge, you get a tick next to the success line instead of the fail line. If a Skill Challenge were to have the same depth, then one option would have to lead to more options. It [i]can[/i] work like that. But it doesn't have to. Some of my most successful Skill Challenges have been flowcharts, with one success not giving a tick on a column, but opening up more options that can be used in a process. But, there's still the problem of the skill limitation. Not that it has been an impediment to my games, but if you're trying to open it up to a complete system like above, that will be a real limiting factor. Perhaps that's how they should have been defined in the books, but I think people would have been even more lost. If I recall correctly, the concept of the skill challenge was difficult for some people to really and truly grasp when it was first presented. It probably was not in WotC's best interests to further complicate it. ENWorld is not exactly their target audience. [/QUOTE]

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