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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 4758505" data-attributes="member: 3424">It's a very common take, though. I would go so far as to say that the rules as written have focused too much on ensuring a reasonably appropriate level of challenge, and not enough on explaining how to achieve in-game consistency while doing so. The monster manual does it better. If the DM wants to run an encounter with devils, he can pick imps at low levels and pit fiends at high levels. However, the DMG doesn't really go into why a low-level negotiation challenge has low DCs while a high-level negotiation challenge has high DCs. It basically leaves it up to the DM to come up with the explanation: perhaps at higher levels, the PCs need a bigger favor, the party they are negotiating with is more stubborn or less favorably disposed towards them, etc.Again, this is an area that could do with more explanation in the DMG. The DM really ought to come up with a plausible reason why the PCs no longer have a realistic chance of succeeding (at least, through the use of non-violent means) when a skill challenge is failed, e.g. the bear is so infuriated that it attacks, the boat sinks, the Duke is angered and orders the PCs out of his presence, the PCs run into a patrol and are discovered, etc. If the PCs can just keep trying until they succeed, then the DM probably shouldn't be using the skill challenge mechanic in the first place!I think this point is a trifle over-stated, though. Even in the sample negotiation skill challenge in the DMG, attempts to persuade the Duke through the use of Bluff, Diplomacy and Initmidate have varying results. A DM who wants to differentiate the skills further may also do so. Perhaps the Duke is particularly canny and Bluff checks have Hard DCs. Perhaps the Duke has a strong religious streak and a successful Religion check either earns the PCs a success or grants a bonus to subsequent Bluff and Diplomacy checks.</blockquote>

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