FireLance
Legend
So, the thread about the importance of non-combat rules in an RPG got me thinking about non-combat challenges in general, and I've reached the somewhat tentative conclusion that there are only four broad categories of non-combat challenges.
Before I delve more deeply into the subject, I'd like to run through some of the terminology I'll be using:
Learn Challenges
Before I delve more deeply into the subject, I'd like to run through some of the terminology I'll be using:
A category is a broad grouping of non-combat challenges that are related in some way.
An element is a specific way in which skills and other non-combat abilities can be used in challenges of that category, or specific types of challenges in that category. A typical non-combat challenge would comprise one or more elements.
Sub-challenges are ways in which elements of other categories can be used in a non-combat challenge. This can be useful for DMs who want to allow a broader variety of non-combat abilities to contribute to overcoming a specific challenge.
As mentioned, I think there are four broad categories of non-combat challenges: Learn challenges, Move challenges, Survive challenges and Persuade challenges.An element is a specific way in which skills and other non-combat abilities can be used in challenges of that category, or specific types of challenges in that category. A typical non-combat challenge would comprise one or more elements.
Sub-challenges are ways in which elements of other categories can be used in a non-combat challenge. This can be useful for DMs who want to allow a broader variety of non-combat abilities to contribute to overcoming a specific challenge.
Learn Challenges
Learn challenges typically involve finding an object, a creature, or a piece of information. Learn challenges can be broadened to include more than one PC by requiring successful checks in a variety of skills to obtain a complete picture. Learn challenges are also very easy to incorporate as sub-challenges in the other categories - almost any task can be made easier with the right information, or by finding something or someone helpful nearby.
Elements
Knowledge: Whether a PC already knows the necessary information.
Observation: Whether a PC notices something hidden or discerns an NPC's intent.
Tracking: Discovering the location of a creature or object through observing physical clues.
Research: Creating or discovering new information. This may be broadened to include invention or solving puzzles.
Learn challenges can even be broadened to include any application of PC knowledge or skill, including performing rituals, working at a profession, or crafting an object.
Sub-Challenges
Move challenges may be made part of a larger Learn challenge if being in a particular location makes it easier (or is necessary) for the PCs to observe or discover something.
Survive challenges may feature in a Learn challenge if some information may only be discovered in a dangerous location.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Learn challenge if the knowledge sought by the PCs is possessed by an NPC.
Move ChallengesElements
Knowledge: Whether a PC already knows the necessary information.
Observation: Whether a PC notices something hidden or discerns an NPC's intent.
Tracking: Discovering the location of a creature or object through observing physical clues.
Research: Creating or discovering new information. This may be broadened to include invention or solving puzzles.
Learn challenges can even be broadened to include any application of PC knowledge or skill, including performing rituals, working at a profession, or crafting an object.
Sub-Challenges
Move challenges may be made part of a larger Learn challenge if being in a particular location makes it easier (or is necessary) for the PCs to observe or discover something.
Survive challenges may feature in a Learn challenge if some information may only be discovered in a dangerous location.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Learn challenge if the knowledge sought by the PCs is possessed by an NPC.
Move challenges typically involve getting to a location. Move challenges can be easily broadened to include two or more PCs if they are all required to be in a particular place. Move challenges can be incorporated as sub-challenges in the other categories if being in a specific location confers some advantage on the PCs.
Elements
Obstacle Course: The PCs are required to traverse obstacles to reach their destination. This could involve climbing, jumping, swimming, balancing, and even opening locks.
Sneak: The PCs must evade discovery while travelling.
Handle Transport: The PCs are required to pilot a vehicle, control a mount, activate a portal, or use some other means of transport. This is one simple way to add sub-challenges to a Move challenge.
Race/Chase: The PCs must arrive at a location before another party or continuously stay ahead of them.
Move challenges can be broadened to include moving objects or creatures instead of or in addition to the PCs, e.g. clearing a pile of stones, or guiding a group of pilgrims.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Move challenge if the PCs can find a short cut, an easier way to travel or similar objects or information that would be useful to them.
Survive challenges may feature in a Move challenge if the PCs are required to travel through a dangerous area.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Move challenge if the PCs are required to handle mounts, convice NPCs to allow them to pass, or if they are required to move NPCs.
Survive ChallengesElements
Obstacle Course: The PCs are required to traverse obstacles to reach their destination. This could involve climbing, jumping, swimming, balancing, and even opening locks.
Sneak: The PCs must evade discovery while travelling.
Handle Transport: The PCs are required to pilot a vehicle, control a mount, activate a portal, or use some other means of transport. This is one simple way to add sub-challenges to a Move challenge.
Race/Chase: The PCs must arrive at a location before another party or continuously stay ahead of them.
Move challenges can be broadened to include moving objects or creatures instead of or in addition to the PCs, e.g. clearing a pile of stones, or guiding a group of pilgrims.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Move challenge if the PCs can find a short cut, an easier way to travel or similar objects or information that would be useful to them.
Survive challenges may feature in a Move challenge if the PCs are required to travel through a dangerous area.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Move challenge if the PCs are required to handle mounts, convice NPCs to allow them to pass, or if they are required to move NPCs.
Survive challenges typically involve the PCs being in danger until the challenge is overcome. Survive challenges can be easily broadened to include two or more PCs if the danger affects them all. Survive challenges can be incorporated as sub-challenges in order to increase the level of danger to the PCs, or as optional components that would give the PCs an advantage if they overcome the Survive challenge.
Elements
Trap: This is probably the classic Survive challenge.
Environment: Dangerous weather, natural disasters, extremes of temperature, poisonous gases, inimical energies and other hazards.
Health: Recovering from diseases, long-term poisons, curses and other afflictions.
Survival challenges can be broadened to include protecting or helping objects or creatures, or removing a potential danger even if it is currently passive, e.g. negating a ritual which will summon a demon.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Survive challenge by giving the PCs advance warning of the danger, knowledge of how to counter it, something they can use to mitigate the threat, or similarly useful objects or information.
Move challenges may feature in a Survive challenge if they allow the PCs to reach a safe area.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Survive challenge if an NPC is able to help the PCs.
Persuade ChallengesElements
Trap: This is probably the classic Survive challenge.
Environment: Dangerous weather, natural disasters, extremes of temperature, poisonous gases, inimical energies and other hazards.
Health: Recovering from diseases, long-term poisons, curses and other afflictions.
Survival challenges can be broadened to include protecting or helping objects or creatures, or removing a potential danger even if it is currently passive, e.g. negating a ritual which will summon a demon.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Survive challenge by giving the PCs advance warning of the danger, knowledge of how to counter it, something they can use to mitigate the threat, or similarly useful objects or information.
Move challenges may feature in a Survive challenge if they allow the PCs to reach a safe area.
Persuade challenges may be part of a Survive challenge if an NPC is able to help the PCs.
Persuade challenges tend to be quite specific as they involve interaction with an NPC. When broadening Persuade challenges to require more than one PC, it is probably better to use sub-challenges unless there is a plausible reason why a particular mode of persuasion will not work on the NPC beyond a certain point. Persuade challenges can be incorporated as sub-challenges if the PCs need to interact with NPCs for any reason.
Elements
Although there may be a number of modes of persuasion, the end objective of such challenges tend to be very similar. Persuasion challenges can be broadened to include handling animals and other creatures, or mediating between two or more parties.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Persuade challenge by allowing the PCs to discover an NPC's preferences, state of mind, and other facts that would be useful to them.
Move challenges may feature in a Persuade challenge if success entertains or intimidates an NPC.
Survive challenges may be part of a Persuade challenge if the PCs are able to help the NPC or someone that he cares about.
Thoughts? Any key sub-challenges, elements or categories that I have left out?Elements
Although there may be a number of modes of persuasion, the end objective of such challenges tend to be very similar. Persuasion challenges can be broadened to include handling animals and other creatures, or mediating between two or more parties.
Sub-Challenges
Learn challenges may be made part of a larger Persuade challenge by allowing the PCs to discover an NPC's preferences, state of mind, and other facts that would be useful to them.
Move challenges may feature in a Persuade challenge if success entertains or intimidates an NPC.
Survive challenges may be part of a Persuade challenge if the PCs are able to help the NPC or someone that he cares about.
