Skill challenge run down

[Sadrik]

I was wondering if someone can concisely tell me what the difference is between all of the different skill challenge house rules that were put up on the boards offer. Coming from the perspective of, "The current system is broken" I want to adopt one of the HRs developed here. But I don't want to read a myriad of pages of posts to determine the system I am going to adopt. So, please authors and followers of the skill challenge systems please I (and I am sure others) are looking for what the systems do without the major analysis attached.

What I want in a system is elegant simplicity. That means little need for DM and player lookups.

I would love a system that was something like (DC 5 + 1/2 level/10 + 1/2 level15 + 1/2 level) for the three different challenges and then pulls in rules from PHB already established like Aid other and other rules.

 

[GnomeIllusionist]

I have been following Stalker0's various skill challenge house rules and their are two main options on that front:

Obsidian: This is a complete rethink of the rules and my favourite. The players have 3 rounds or 'phases' to act and the system is designed to be very stable, simple mechanics, and solve the problem where a low skill character hurts the party by making a roll. It is a big departure from what is in the PHB however.

v1.8: The original house rules were designed to just change the DCs, complexities and add some additional elements that fixed the math. This is less of a change from the PHB but doesn't address the flaw of players hurting the party and IMHO is a bit complicated.

I have just playtested a couple encounters with the Obsidian system and the players loved it. I hope Stalker0 doesn't mind but I will attach the Obsidian PDF in case you are interested.