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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Argyle King" data-source="post: 5738823" data-attributes="member: 58416">I'm saying that "let's just bash it" is usually the best option for most problems due to the power level PCs are usually at and the numbers they can generate versus the numbers that 4E uses to build the rest of the world.An easy example is having a trap as part of an encounter.  One of the early 4E suggestions for how to mix skill challenges into an encounter was by including a trap which had a Disarm The Trap skill challenge.  In theory, it sounds like a cool idea, but, in practice; unless there's something which prevents them from doing so or the DM says it's not possible, it's far easier, faster, and safer for the PCs to just attack the trap and destroy it.Why?Generally, the person who has the best chance at disabling the trap is probably going to be a Rogue or similar class.  In the specific example of the Rogue, that's also your Striker - damage dealer.  So the option of trying the skill challenge means that you're not only down a member of the party for 3-4 rounds, but that you're also missing one of the key damage dealers from the party.  Even if somebody else is making the attempt, that means you are still missing a member of the party for a few rounds.There's also the possibility of failure and making the encounter worse.  Let's say that somehow the skill challenge is failed.  Well, now you've just wasted however many rounds of actions for no benefit.  Worst case scenario, the encounter now becomes more difficult because you've activated something else.Now look at the damage output that some characters can do with even just an at-will attack, and compare it to what the DM advice given by 4E says HP should be for objects; also compare it to the listed HP and such for traps and objects which are listed.  It's easily within the realm of possibility for the PCs to destroy the trap in one round and get on with the rest of the encounter.  Why spend 3-4 rounds instead of just breaking it in one?My point is that while other options are a available to deal with problems, they are often subpar options unless there is a set of special circumstances which makes them more viable.  Even then, just beating on a problem until it goes away tends to be the best solution to a lot of problems in 4E due to the numbers a PC can easily generate with an attack or ability versus the numbers that the system uses to build the world that the PCs are part of.</blockquote>

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