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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 5404287" data-attributes="member: 16069">I think what helped me was the first time round it started to look like a huge flowchart, and all of a sudden I didn't like that- so I narrowed it down to a dozen things the PCs had to learn to get to the bad guy.Then I provided alternatives for each point on the flowchart, I don't want to do too many details here as my players sometimes visit but as an example-PC A completes social skill challenge and learns that NPC B is up to no good.PC B completes burglary skill challenge and discovers that NPC B owes money to NPC C.PC C Completes physical skill challenge and learns that they guy he is fighting is NPC B and is being backed by NPC C.I also planned the challenge to take at least five days investigation, and floated in some timed events as they get closer.So when I looked at my flowchart I realised that the opening entries were about PCs getting to know people, so the first day is about just that- lots of meet and greet which also allows the players to sell their treasure from their last adventure. At some point in day one each of the PCs finds someone they can trust enough to ask their opening questions 'where is...', now each PC has a patron/friend (although they may not all turn out to be friends) or contact. That contact isn't going to tell the PC the answer, so using Resolute from previous...'You wanna know about X do ya? Well, I'll tell you what- you're a big guy, looks like you could handle yourself [points to the fighting ring], fancy a crack at the title champ?'Now I already know that the player is going to love this in advance, it's in his backstory.So the guy sends Resolute to work out with the Smith for a day- cue Rocky Music and Skill Challenge involving shifting pig-iron, hammering etc. Failures and he loses Healing Surges (why not). Finally he gets done with his work at the gym/forge- the guy who runs the forge does however know something about his opponent (like who he is- NPC B above).Next stage of the training is to go and prove himself with some actual slaying, cue slighty bent watch man that has a bit of undercover work- a local gang (whatever) that need straightening out, it's not all skill challenges. The combat encounter can involve all PCs, or just Resolute- that's what Minions are for. At the end of it the guardsamn doesn't tell him anything but a note he finds in the gangs HQ, or beats out of an opponent- well that fits the puzzle.And remember the Skill Challenges are tailored to each PC, so there are various challenges-Research at the guild, town hall, temple, records office or wherever Arcane, History, Religion, Endurance (long hours) and a few social skills to get help etc.Physical Training- Endurance, Athletics, Acrobatics, Strength Checks, Con Checks, actual To Hit rolls. (Don't just use skill checks, if you have a fighter with a hammer in his hand and a bunch of red hot metal that needs to be a spear blade- get them to roll damage, impose time limits). And if they fail, it requires more checks to convince NPC to give them another go.Social Challenge- Diplomacy, Bluff, Insight etc.Breaking & Entering Skill Challenge- Stealth, Thievery, Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, Bluff. etc.In the challenge I've cooked up then as well as the Skill Challenge there are at least combat encounters each day (that involve all the PCs), some PCs have a few solo affairs also.So back to Resolute, in one day he could-6-12 AM training in Forge (Skill Challenge Physical)) for 6 hours.12-1 PM Meeting at Inn with other PCs to convince NPC C to... (Skill Challenge- Social, lead by a different PC)1-3 PM With other PCs investigate a broken open Tomb in the town Catacombs (Combat).3-5 PM Help another PC break into a shop (Skill Challenge- Physical).5-7 PM Meet with other PCs to gather clues.7-8 PM Meet (with all PCs) at Inn for drinking and gambling with NPC D- they've all had invites delivered to them during the day- strange, they don't even know who NPC D is (Skill Challenge (maybe) but more likely Mini-Game with Cards and Gambling).8-10 PM Help another PC smuggle item X into city and to drop off point *(Skill Challenge maybe with a little Combat).10-12 PM Quiet drink, except another NPC is attacked by... (Combat)12 PM Resolute in Cage Fight (One-on-one mini-game with Combat), while other PCs bet on the outcome.Again, be creative, so I have a Romance Skill Challenge (which initially plays out over the five or so days), one of the PCs working as a Rat Catcher (killer) Challenge and associated combat, (nervous) Holy dude delivering a Sermon (challenge, with audience arriving/leaving to indicate success) & getting X number of converts, a Smuggling operation with challenge and combat, Wizard using his alchemy and rituals to cure NPC- with skill challenge and if things go badly- Wizard vs Imp, Cage Fighting (of course), Joining the Guild challenge, one of the PCs discovering things about his parents, Burglary Skill Challenge (with possible combat) and all manner of other stuff.Basically I intro 20 or so NPC, a mix of good guys and bad, play through some pretty simple skill challenges (particularly the solo ones), when I say simple I mean by design. Have a bunch of consequences at the ready should PCs fail badly. Play out a bunch of combats- with two or three delve style adventures thrown in... until finally it all comes together and the guy they are looking for is...And off they go.The other bonus is en route I also feed them tidbits about what's coming next adventure wise, and what's happening in the land- the big picture.Hopefully you can see this in action in my Sig Commentary when we get out of HS1, which shouldn't be too long from now.Goonalan</blockquote>

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