D&D 5E Skill Challenges in 5e?

[txshusker]

I've converted a couple of 4e adventures one short, one long and both had skill challenges in them - which I kept after changing the DC to be more in line with the lesser bonuses of 5e. I thought skill challenges in 4e were an unusual and interesting thing to DM and role-play and broke up the monotony of either combat or role-play for the players. It invested something tangible in the roleplaying part, which I guess was what I like about them. Therefore, I kind of miss them in 5e. Certainly, anytime you run a puzzle or role-play, you're basically doing a skill challenge, but I liked the way it helped keep score and keep things on track.

Anyone else care?

 

[Eric V]

I like the idea.

 

[MechaPilot]

I enjoyed the skill challenge format from 4e. It is one of those previous edition things that can be ported almost directly into 5e, and I plan to do exactly that.

 

[Michael Morris]

Skill challengers, poison tracks, and artifact purposes where the only things I liked out of 4e.

 

[Quickleaf]

Skill challengers, poison tracks, and artifact purposes where the only things I liked out of 4e.

Wow, usually people pick monster design for their first "I only liked XYZ about 4e" posts. Nice to see you lead with skill challenges!
[MENTION=6785841]txshusker[/MENTION] I just ran an Insult Arm Wrestling skill challenge in 5e using my DM instincts and eyeball, and it went rather well. Definitely an easily convertible concept. I think the main issue is actually about probabilities...at some point us fans need to work out the probabilities of success against target DCs in 5e (they're different than 4e), given group size and number successes requires / failures allowed / rounds permitted. That hard math will give a clearer picture of how to design the specifics of skill challenges in 5e.

 

[nomotog]

I liked the idea of skill challenges. I just didn't like the execution (I also didn't stick with 4ed long enough to see if they really fixed that.) I would like to see another stab at them in 5ed. I wouldn't want to carry over the x successes vs y fails disconnect thing though.

 

[Psikerlord#]

I always hated skill challenges. I greatly prefer winging it and letting the scene unfold more organically. On the other hand, a bit of planning rarely goes astray, and skill challenges made you plan.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

I really liked the idea of skill challenges but thought the implementation was really boring in play. I'm hoping WoTC introduces new-and-improved skill challenges at some point.

 

[sidonunspa]

is there a "big book of skill challenges?"

you know something to help you produce and design a good skill challenge?

 

[trentonjoe]

I really like the idea of incorporating skill challenges in Combat.

Things like:

Can a player disable the repeating crossbow that is firing every round during the fight?
Can a couple players push the table in front of the hole so the dire rats can't come in anymore?
Can the summoning circle be disrupted before the demon appears?

A lot of these can be handled as single skill checks but they become more interesting when they are done collectively as a group.