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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bumbles" data-source="post: 4805004" data-attributes="member: 83457">See, I think rather the opposite.  Skill challenges are a mechanic that fosters role-playing by giving the DM some way to set up parameters for non-combat interaction instead of just declaring things by fiat.That means the player has an incentive to do things besides hit stuff with his sword.  And as the DM I can encourage that, since I can point out that they do have those skills when appropriate.Obviously if you've primarily dealt with things as a DM in a more open manner, then these kinds of rules may seem more limiting to you, but to me, who has had DM's who really can't grasp that sort of thing without a system...well, it's a plus.  As a player, I know I get damned tired of DM's who just declare that the NPC doesn't believe your story or who don't let things happen...and while having this system won't change that, it will let me as the player know pretty quickly that I should either A) have a conversation with the DM or B) Walk away from the table.  And as the DM, well, I know I can just say "Oh, so you're doing a check for X?  Roll a die."  and even if I haven't planned it, I can decide something happens, good or bad.   Yay for not having to always think on my feet.Yeah, but I don't think it was changed enough to matter, as the Dragons themselves are pretty much behaving as they always have.  So it's a non-event.And in my game, Dragons can be agents of the mechanical systems that keep the world from breaking down, unicorns can be non-existent except when somebody is looking for one and I'm feeling nice, devils and demons can be remnants of the viral infection that caused the collapse of the main planetary system, or just rogue programs out for fun, and angels can be tools of the remaining system elements that are worshipped as Gods.</blockquote>

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