Skill Challenges: Bringing the Awesome

[Crosswind]

Here is how I will bring the awesome.

1.) The statement "You have begun a skill challenge" will never be used. It is up to the players to decide when they want to solve a problem.
2.) When the players want to solve a problem, they can announce what they want to do. Each of them can roll against static DCs to try to accomplish what they want (If part of the plan is "climb a wall", I would hope there is a DC for wall-climbing in the PHB).
3.) Each success or failure will have unique and appropriate consequences. Depending on how much they succeed by, and how much they fail by, consequences will vary.
4.) If, on the whole, it makes sense that the consequences of their individual actions result in them achieving their goal, they will.

I am not sure if this is a "Skill Challenge", or not. But this is how I plan to bring the awesome.

-Cross

 

[Storm-Bringer]

There is a middle ground, oh mathematically challenged one. DM veto power to stop one outlandish use of a skill is not the same as vetoing every use of every skill except the one allowed solution.

Since I said nothing of the sort, you will probably find your strawman more enjoyable to argue with, o logically challenged one.

 

[hong]

Since I said nothing of the sort, you will probably find your strawman more enjoyable to argue with, o logically challenged one.

Oh, I do apologise. I thought that when you said

If the DM vetos the use of a skill, then they can veto the use of any skill. We are back to 'pixel-hunting' for the 'correct' answer, as determined by the DM. Which is what this system is designed specifically to address.

you were indeed talking about pixel-bitching. Clearly you were in fact talking about something else. Maybe postcount.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Why is it that being completely wrong about something doesn't change your conclusions?

And can you add anything positive to any part of the conversation?

PS

Hmm. Storm-Bringer reminds me of someone.

So, Storm-Bringer, what do you think about Dragons without spells?

 

[Storminator]

Hmm. Storm-Bringer reminds me of someone.

So, Storm-Bringer, what do you think about Dragons without spells?

PS

 

[Storm-Bringer]

Of course you can. Skills still describe what they are capable of. Skill challenges are negotiations over how those capabilities might apply to solving the larger problem at hand.

I thought we were talking about 4e.

A PC that's good at climbing a rope is still good at climbing a rope under the skill challenge system.

Except when they aren't. Because the skill challenge system doesn't track what skills you use, just how many. So, climbing a rope, talking to a stablehand, recalling trivia, or any other skill has the exact same value. It doesn't matter how or where you climb the rope, just that you do or don't so the appropriate tally can be marked. A player could use any other skill interchangeably for any particular part of a skill challenge. Outside of a skill challenge, climbing a rope has a direct effect, ie my character is higher up on the rope. Inside a skill challenge, it is a tally towards "win", but being higher on a rope has no further effect on the skill challenge overall. If the DM awards a bonus for the next roll because of it, we are back to 'pixel-hunting' (albeit more a more limited form), and it directly contravenes the stated problem of 'one player in the spotlight' this whole system is designed to prevent. You will still have the Diplomacy guy sweeping in to make their roll to give everyone else the bonus.

 

[Mallus]

I thought we were talking about 4e.

I am.

Because the skill challenge system doesn't track what skills you use, just how many.

The skill challenge system assumes that a group of non-idiot players will negotiate which skills are relevant to the given challenge. Some people go so far as to believe these negotiations might be fun. With non-idiots, of course...

A player could use any other skill interchangeably for any particular part of a skill challenge.

If the DM is an idiot, yes.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I thought we were talking about 4e.

We are.

Because the skill challenge system doesn't track what skills you use, just how many.

Yes, it does. In the form of the narrative.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Storm-Bringer]

Oh, I do apologise. I thought that when you said

you were indeed talking about pixel-bitching. Clearly you were in fact talking about something else. Maybe postcount.

You missed the 'if' part. Maybe postcount doesn't mean what you think it means.

 

[hong]

You missed the 'if' part.

Ah, I think I see where the problem lies. Unfortunately, you appear to have missed the "then" part.

Maybe postcount doesn't mean what you think it means.

Is this another postcount thing?