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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chrone" data-source="post: 5225135" data-attributes="member: 91820">Hello everybody. I'm a newbie (and I mean it) DM from ex-soviet republic Belarus (sorry for my poor english). I've never played D&D before. But I've heard about it a lot and have listened the PA podcast, which inspired me to play D&D with my friends, who have never played before either.I've run about a dozen sessions so far. And in couple of days there will be my first skill challenge. (laughs)Currently I'm hosting 4ed "Slaying Stone" 1st lvl adventure and (spoilers?) the challenge is "SNEAK INTO GORIZBADD".I've read all theory info on challenges in DMG and DMG2, but still don't clearly understand how to run it best.My biggest question is about challenge presentation to players. I would rather not tell them: Here is the challenge, those are skills, go for it! Before this day we were roleplaying everything. I presented the conflict or an obstacle or variety of choices to make or just described the scene. And I dont' know what to do with this challenge.There are 3 branches of it - 3 ways to enter Gorrizbad. (I think I can post one part of it without having legal troubles?)I see how I can run this part of adventure by improvising as usual and using this info above only as a structure guide. I would just ask players what would they like to do, and count some skill checks failure and successes and then depend the exit point on it. (The more successes, the closer they will stealth to the goal.But I feel that it's not how the challenge designer wanted it to be. I mean how do I present structure to players. How do I explain that they should stick to it (or otherwise challenge will break, right? and becomes just a guide, just tips, not structured challenge). I mean how to tie this challenge into regular gameflow without limiting their freedom and sticking to certain game mechanic structure? OK so before I'm lost completely here are more specific questions:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How to present challenge structure without breaking the suspense, the illusion of a game?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why would they want to use those skills? Should I invent obstacles for them? Should I simply prevent them from getting into the city before they reach 4 successes?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How to make them swim the river on their 2nd skill check (if I understand challenge correctly)?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They navigate forest, they swim the river, they pass the guard - thats 3, I need 6 situations max to make room for skill checks? or how should I run it?</li> </ul>So if anyone can show me examples (like adventure log of some sort) that will help me to do it correctly I will be very appreciated. Examples of how to describe situation to players, of how their natural choices ties into presented skills and structure of challenge.Fhew... Yes, I'm confused. I understand that there is not only one right way to run this, but still... You can ask me questions, if I express myself not clearly enough.Thank you, roleplaying comunity!</blockquote>

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