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<blockquote data-quote="Fanaelialae" data-source="post: 5065989" data-attributes="member: 53980">I'm aware.I assume you are aware that speaking is a free action and therefore can be performed even when it isn't your turn?So what did you do when, before the advent of skill challenges, the mayor said something and the Wizard turned to you and said, &quot;Sounds like BS.&nbsp; Can I get a History check to verify what he just said about the Miner Rebellion?&quot;&nbsp; Didn't that break the flow of roleplaying just as much?&nbsp; When you were playing 3e did a player never interrupt dialogue to declare that he wanted to roll a Sense Motive regarding an NPC's statement?&nbsp; Those checks disrupt the flow of roleplaying and yet are, in my experience, a necessary part of the game (and were around long before SCs ever made the scene).When I run skill challenges, I don't approach them from an artificial standpoint.&nbsp; I let players speak as they will.&nbsp; The checks will often flow naturally from the dialogue.&nbsp; Every now and then I'll call for a check, keeping the action flowing around the table by prodding players who haven't said much with an either in or out of character &quot;what are you doing?&quot;I should also mention that I don't use the base SC mechanic for scenarios where I feel spreading the action around would engender an artificial atmosphere.&nbsp; That means that I usually don't use it for conversations, unless the conversation is something I believe the entire party is passionate about (such as negotiations with an NPC the entire group detests).&nbsp; Not everything needs to (or even should) be a skill challenge.&nbsp; There are plenty of situations where one or more skill checks (or even none) outside the framework are just as good or better.&nbsp; SCs are intended for when the entire team is forced to work together (escaping a heist with the city watch on their heels) or they will want to work together (the aforementioned negotiation with a hated NPC).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Fanaelialae, post: 5065989, member: 53980"] I'm aware. I assume you are aware that speaking is a free action and therefore can be performed even when it isn't your turn? So what did you do when, before the advent of skill challenges, the mayor said something and the Wizard turned to you and said, "Sounds like BS. Can I get a History check to verify what he just said about the Miner Rebellion?" Didn't that break the flow of roleplaying just as much? When you were playing 3e did a player never interrupt dialogue to declare that he wanted to roll a Sense Motive regarding an NPC's statement? Those checks disrupt the flow of roleplaying and yet are, in my experience, a necessary part of the game (and were around long before SCs ever made the scene). When I run skill challenges, I don't approach them from an artificial standpoint. I let players speak as they will. The checks will often flow naturally from the dialogue. Every now and then I'll call for a check, keeping the action flowing around the table by prodding players who haven't said much with an either in or out of character "what are you doing?" I should also mention that I don't use the base SC mechanic for scenarios where I feel spreading the action around would engender an artificial atmosphere. That means that I usually don't use it for conversations, unless the conversation is something I believe the entire party is passionate about (such as negotiations with an NPC the entire group detests). Not everything needs to (or even should) be a skill challenge. There are plenty of situations where one or more skill checks (or even none) outside the framework are just as good or better. SCs are intended for when the entire team is forced to work together (escaping a heist with the city watch on their heels) or they will want to work together (the aforementioned negotiation with a hated NPC). [/QUOTE]

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