Milestones and skill challenge

[Silverwave]

The PHB says : every two encounter, you reach a milestone.

So the question is : does skill challenge normally count toward a milestone ?

 

[vic20]

If they don't have the chance to burn an action point, they shouldn't get to earn one either...

 

[Hypersmurf]

The PHB says : every two encounter, you reach a milestone.

So the question is : does skill challenge normally count toward a milestone ?

Every two encounters.

Encounters (PHB p258-259) include Combat Encounters and Non-Combat Encounters. Non-Combat Encounters "include dealing with traps and hazards, solving puzzles, and a broad category of situations called skill challenges."

DMG p120 includes Non-Combat Encounters in its discussions of rewards.

If you've completed two encounters without an extended rest - whether they're combat or non-combat, whether they're traps and hazards, solving puzzles, skill challenges, or killing a bunch of orcs - you reach a milestone.

-Hyp.

 

[keterys]

APs can be used during skill challenges potentially, too. Same with healing surges, some powers, etc.

 

[Starglim]

Yes. It's a non-combat encounter.

 

[Wepwawet]

APs can be used during skill challenges potentially, too. Same with healing surges, some powers, etc.

How's that?
I don't recall reading anything about that...

 

[keterys]

You can use APs in any encounter to get an extra action. This is useful in any timed skill challenges (or any in which you have a limited number of rounds, like a Stalker style one), and potentially useful in any that have no failure number depending on the setup. Many skill challenges cost surges - in fact I've seen a skill challenge that cost a skill challenge for every single failure, plus an extra 2 if you bombed out the entire thing. Players can use combat powers potentially in skill challenges up to whatever limit the DM imposes, but I know DMs that will allow expenditure of a daily to greatly assist a skill challenge. Finally, daily utility powers that help with skills are obviously expended by a skill challenge.

 

[Silverwave]

But skill challenges (not tied to a trap or inside a combat) don't get to expand has many ressources as a combat encounter, ergo the benefit of winning the challenge can't be as rewarding, no?

 

[Hypersmurf]

But skill challenges (not tied to a trap or inside a combat) don't get to expand has many ressources as a combat encounter, ergo the benefit of winning the challenge can't be as rewarding, no?

They might not be worth as many XP, or result in treasure, for example (depending on how the DM has designed the encounters). But they are still a non-combat encounter, which means they are an encounter, which means they count towards the "two encounters without an extended rest" requirement of a milestone.

-Hyp.

 

[Griogre]

There is no doubt that a skill challenge is an encounter and would normally count towards a milestone. However, if the skill challenge is trivial, then like a trivial combat encounter the DM is under no obligation to count it as progress towards a milestone. If the complexity of the skill challenge is lowered enough to make it two to three levels below the level of the party, then the skill challenge is too easy, and like a too easy combat encounter also, IMO, fails to qualify towards a milestone.