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<blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7290963" data-attributes="member: 97077">I always put PCs into initiative for skill challenges in 4e (could always Delay in 4e as well) chiefly as a way to manage the spotlight and ensure participation from all the characters. I always felt like sitting out of skill challenges went against the spirit of 4e what with its team-based tactical rules. At a minimum they could Aid Another on their turns with only a slim chance of failure. My players joked that they had begun to fear skill challenges way more than a deadly combat. I saw a marked drop in skill specialists back then and the choosing of utility powers and the like that helped in skill challenges. It seemed like a net positive in the play experience.In 5e, I tend to be less rigorous about it. But it might be worth trying some kind of initiative order and a general agreement that everyone is expected to participate just to see how it goes. That's easier if the players actually care as much about the stakes of the skill challenge as they would a combat. It's odd that few seem to care if someone sits out an exploration or social interaction challenge, but I suspect many would be annoyed if someone decides to sit out a combat.4e had some good advice about how many Primary and Secondary Skills to include in the skill challenge. I believe it was the number of PCs plus two. I think that was good for getting DMs to think a little bigger about how many ways the PCs might approach a given challenge. In my experience, this was what allowed more participation in skill challenges since in theory you could have stuff in there for both the toughs and the talkers. It's advice probably worth considering for 5e skill challenges as well.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="iserith, post: 7290963, member: 97077"] I always put PCs into initiative for skill challenges in 4e (could always Delay in 4e as well) chiefly as a way to manage the spotlight and ensure participation from all the characters. I always felt like sitting out of skill challenges went against the spirit of 4e what with its team-based tactical rules. At a minimum they could Aid Another on their turns with only a slim chance of failure. My players joked that they had begun to fear skill challenges way more than a deadly combat. I saw a marked drop in skill specialists back then and the choosing of utility powers and the like that helped in skill challenges. It seemed like a net positive in the play experience. In 5e, I tend to be less rigorous about it. But it might be worth trying some kind of initiative order and a general agreement that everyone is expected to participate just to see how it goes. That's easier if the players actually care as much about the stakes of the skill challenge as they would a combat. It's odd that few seem to care if someone sits out an exploration or social interaction challenge, but I suspect many would be annoyed if someone decides to sit out a combat. 4e had some good advice about how many Primary and Secondary Skills to include in the skill challenge. I believe it was the number of PCs plus two. I think that was good for getting DMs to think a little bigger about how many ways the PCs might approach a given challenge. In my experience, this was what allowed more participation in skill challenges since in theory you could have stuff in there for both the toughs and the talkers. It's advice probably worth considering for 5e skill challenges as well. [/QUOTE]

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