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<blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 6977141" data-attributes="member: 6775031">I don't really see it as a problem, because talking your way past the guard is rarely the only obstacle in your path. Sure, you do need to deal with the guards somehow (through diplomacy or intimidation, or maybe stealth); but then you need to get through a locked door (by picking it, or kicking it down, or using magic); and then find the thing you're looking for (by searching for clues, asking for directions, or asking one of the rats); and so on. Combat is where everyone shines together, so it's important that everyone can contribute there. Exploration is where everyone shines independently, so it's important that characters have different skill sets.You could abstract the whole mission into one extended skill challenge if you really wanted to, requiring X numbers of successes between Y relevant skills before accruing Z failures, but then you're left trying to puzzle together what all of that means. In the exact same way that saying &quot;I use investigation&quot; is not sufficient to let you find the thing - you actually need to say where you're looking, and how, in order for the DM to figure out what you find - simply saying that you use a certain combination of skills and abilities to succeed at your task is not sufficient for the DM to narrate what happened there. Maybe it's fine if you enjoy abstraction, and you're good at reassembling a series of skill checks into an over-arching narrative, but that's ... let's just say that's an acquired taste. Personally, I prefer to take each task one at a time, so I have more detail to work with on how everything is resolving.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="The Crimson Binome, post: 6977141, member: 6775031"] I don't really see it as a problem, because talking your way past the guard is rarely the only obstacle in your path. Sure, you do need to deal with the guards somehow (through diplomacy or intimidation, or maybe stealth); but then you need to get through a locked door (by picking it, or kicking it down, or using magic); and then find the thing you're looking for (by searching for clues, asking for directions, or asking one of the rats); and so on. Combat is where everyone shines together, so it's important that everyone can contribute there. Exploration is where everyone shines independently, so it's important that characters have different skill sets. You [I]could[/I] abstract the whole mission into one extended skill challenge if you really wanted to, requiring X numbers of successes between Y relevant skills before accruing Z failures, but then you're left trying to puzzle together what all of that [I]means[/I]. In the exact same way that saying "I use investigation" is not sufficient to let you find the thing - you actually need to say where you're looking, and how, in order for the DM to figure out what you find - simply saying that you use a certain combination of skills and abilities to succeed at your task is not sufficient for the DM to narrate what happened there. Maybe it's fine if you enjoy abstraction, and you're good at reassembling a series of skill checks into an over-arching narrative, but that's ... let's just say that's an acquired taste. Personally, I prefer to take each task one at a time, so I have more detail to work with on how everything is resolving. [/QUOTE]

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