D&D 5E Non-Combat Encounters & Skill Challenges

[LordEntrails]

Has anyone seen good examples of skill challenges or non-combat encounters that reward XP?
I can't find a discussion of such in the PHB or DMG. Maybe I missed something? Or perhaps one of the modules has a good example?

4E has skill challenges, has anyone used that system or seen an adaptation of it for 5E?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Tony Vargas]

4e had Skill Challenge rules, and they were mathematically functional by the end of it's short run, but they were never explored or developed much. 4e also introduce the 'group skill check,' which 5e hasn't done away with, and works nicely for all sorts of tasks where the whole party could be expected/required to participate.

5e expects the DM to resolve any actions the players declare, so a 'skill challenge' in 5e would just be an unstructured process of players trying various things and the DM deciding the results or calling for die rolls to determine success.

 

[Rhenny]

That's it. Use skill checks, skill contests and group checks.

Some DMs make certain tasks require multiple checks to complete specific tasks - for example in Critical Role with Matt Mercer, he broke down an arm wrestling competition so that the first win in a skill contest (strength) led to nearly winning, a 2nd consecutive win was required to win, or it would go back to start position (like tennis scoring - duce, advantage, game).

Since you brought up the whole non-combat encounter idea, I linked an excel sheet I made with possible non-combat encounters just for fun.