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<blockquote data-quote="Saeviomagy" data-source="post: 5389933" data-attributes="member: 5890">Part of a skill challenge is supposed to be that everyone takes their turn. If you're running a challenge then it's obvious mechanically. You even roll initiative. People don't get to sit out.What surfarcher describes doesn't, to me, fit what a skill challenge is. It's a series of linked encounters plus some time tracking. You don't have rounds, you don't have initiative and you're likely to end up with the scenes dominated by classes who have lots of skills or who's powers are classified as 'magic' simply due to the fact that they're the people with the most straightforward solutions, and therefore the people who act on those solutions and resolve the scene first.To me the entire point is to go around the table and actively encourage people to join the narrative. No, your cha 8 fighter can't sit out of the negotiations: think of a way to contribute! No, your 20 cha bard can't do the entire scene: let the others engage in it too!I don't really see how saying &quot;this is a skill challenge&quot; suddenly devolves the entire thing into dry mechanics any more than &quot;roll your X skill&quot; (followed by 4 cries of &quot;I assist!&quot;) does.From my point of view, my least sucessful skill challenge was when I tried to conceal the challenge. Half the party basically sat back (with an air of resignation) and let the half with obviously and directly applicable skills solve it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Saeviomagy, post: 5389933, member: 5890"] Part of a skill challenge is supposed to be that everyone takes their turn. If you're running a challenge then it's obvious mechanically. You even roll initiative. People don't get to sit out. What surfarcher describes doesn't, to me, fit what a skill challenge is. It's a series of linked encounters plus some time tracking. You don't have rounds, you don't have initiative and you're likely to end up with the scenes dominated by classes who have lots of skills or who's powers are classified as 'magic' simply due to the fact that they're the people with the most straightforward solutions, and therefore the people who act on those solutions and resolve the scene first. To me the entire point is to go around the table and actively encourage people to join the narrative. No, your cha 8 fighter can't sit out of the negotiations: think of a way to contribute! No, your 20 cha bard can't do the entire scene: let the others engage in it too! I don't really see how saying "this is a skill challenge" suddenly devolves the entire thing into dry mechanics any more than "roll your X skill" (followed by 4 cries of "I assist!") does. From my point of view, my least sucessful skill challenge was when I tried to conceal the challenge. Half the party basically sat back (with an air of resignation) and let the half with obviously and directly applicable skills solve it. [/QUOTE]

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