I get the feeling the designers are still coming to grips with Skill Challenges. It certainly seems odd to me that a group could fail an SC and find themselves gaining more experience through a combat. A perverse incentive if you will.
I've had good luck with Stalker0's Obsidian rules, and I endorse them. I DM. Last time we played, the PC's were trying to convince a dissolute noble to do them a favor. I asked the first two players what they wanted to say and had them roll appropriate checks (diplomacy and bluff). When the third player said, "this is something that might be a good skill challenge" I was happy to reply, "it is, and you're half through the first round."
A question for folks using the WotC system. How do you deal with skills that "unlock" other skills? If an adventure says that a successful insight check will unlock the use of the streetwise skill, what do you tell your players?
I've had good luck with Stalker0's Obsidian rules, and I endorse them. I DM. Last time we played, the PC's were trying to convince a dissolute noble to do them a favor. I asked the first two players what they wanted to say and had them roll appropriate checks (diplomacy and bluff). When the third player said, "this is something that might be a good skill challenge" I was happy to reply, "it is, and you're half through the first round."
A question for folks using the WotC system. How do you deal with skills that "unlock" other skills? If an adventure says that a successful insight check will unlock the use of the streetwise skill, what do you tell your players?