Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aberzanzorax" data-source="post: 5467182" data-attributes="member: 64209">This is a fascinating discussion.  I do think there is a parallel to rolling for random encounters and random treasure in other editions. I mean, yes, the narrative must follow the mechanics in a skill challenge. However, that has been the case for the above as well.  But here's my question: does the narrative then inform the future mechanics? E.G.: I roll a random encounter while my players are travelling through a swamp. It's a black dragon. They then decide they want to find its treasure hoard. So then the adventure becomes to find the hoard and I develop an adventure related to that (large or small). Skill challenge version: The players are attempting to, say, gain entrance to a forbidden city. First roll is to use stealth to sneak in, the roll is botched (first failure). The narrative says the guard catches the player. Now, the player was clearly sneaking in. Is the DC higher for the next roll when a player attempts to use bluff or diplomacy against the already suspicious guard? Might it even be impossible to do this at this point? If so, then the mechanics do follow the narrative. If not, then it seems more like the mechanics are the sole contributor to the situation, and the narrative is more "dressing up" of the mechanics.</blockquote>