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Post by Sidera on Oct 13, 2016 18:49:17 GMT
Just watched Matt Colville's new video on skill challenges and I was curious if anyone had actually used them in 5e, what the players thought and how you went about it? Or even if you like the idea how you think your would use them in the future?
Le video is below.
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Post by lasersniper on Oct 14, 2016 0:17:33 GMT
I love the skills check challenge. I was introduced to it from the podcast Critical Hit, who also introduced me to D&D itself. I thought it was a cool mechanic to go through epic & high octane scenes like movies, without slowing the game down. I actually used one in a session 2 weeks ago. Basically my players got into a REALLY bad place where they pissed off something they shouldn't have and they were trying to outrun a literal wave of infectious spores. They needed 8 Success and got 3, so I had them make a number of Con saving throws equal to the amount of success the still needed in order for them to resist infection because the spores had caught up with them.
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DM Diggy
Commoner
Posts: 13 
Favorite D&D Class: Cleric
Favorite D&D Race: Halflings
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Post by DM Diggy on Oct 14, 2016 0:23:52 GMT
As someone who was first acquainted with D&D through 4th edition, I am familiar enough with them, and have used them in 5th edition.
My players are fine with them, and I vary how I use them in different situations so as to allow different class types to shine, much like Matt recommends in his video.
One point I had to disagree with Matt on his video is keeping the amount of failures to only three before the skill challenge ends negatively for the party. The DM should scale the number of failures so it is at a 1:2 ratio. For example, one short skill challenge would require 4 successes or 2 failures to end, and a much longer one would require 10 successes or 5 failures to end the skill challenge. Limiting it to three failures is a bit much and asks quite a bit from the party as the number of successes required to pass a skill challenge goes up.
He does mention he allows his players to suggest other skills during skill challenges aside from those three or four he named so long as they can come up with a plausible reason as to why it might work in a given situation. Naming the initial three or four skills that will be "accepted without question," sets the wrong precedence. Instead you as the DM should describe the scenario, how many successes and failures are needed, and go from there. Of course if it is the party's first skill challenge, do not hesitate to help them along until they grasp the concept.
Personally, I do not allow a PC to use the same skill twice in a row, rather than not allowing them to use the same skill ever again in the challenge.
He does not mention it, but do not hesitate to use a skill challenge in social situations either. The party is trying to persuade a noble to finance an expedition? Run a skill challenge. The Bard talks up the party's achievements (Performance), the Fighter displays some feat of strength (Athletics), the Wizard knows this particular noble's family has a long military tradition (History).
You can choose to roll for initiative for the skill challenge, or just take turns as the party desires so long as everyone acts before coming back to the player who went first, continuing in the same turn order. Not all skill challenges have to involve every PC, but you should encourage everyone to participate regardless. Though, I will admit some might just suit the roleplay for certain PCs. Solving a brain teaser of a puzzle to unlock the door? I would not force the Fighter of low Intelligence and Wisdom into participating.
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Post by DM_tonofbricks on Oct 14, 2016 5:54:01 GMT
Refuse to watch video. Beard too intimidating.
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Post by Lexurium on Oct 14, 2016 8:21:08 GMT
I like the idea. I haven't used them myself, since I'm a rather fresh DM that only knows 5e, however I did try the chase-rules from the DMG, and that left me deeply unsatisfied, so if I end up in a similar situation again I will try out skill challenges. They seem like fun. Will updeate if I actually get some first-hand experience  |
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Post by friartook on Oct 17, 2016 16:51:49 GMT
I'm not familiar with 4e skill challenges, but I've been told I used them in a scenario I described here on the forums.
Players were in a deadly situation, stuck at the top of 2000ft tall tree that was collapsing. Question I asked myself was, "How do I show the seriousness of this situation, while not just killing everyone as should really happen here?"
I ended up asking each player to tell me how they intended to survive. Then I had them do skill checks based on what they told me. We went around in initiative order, each person making a check each round. I took a cue from 5e death saves: if a player failed 3 checks, their attempt to survive failed and they were dead. If they succeeded in 3 checks, they made it safe to the ground. One check per character per round.
In the end, everyone survived despite come critical failures and crazy moves. It was absurdly tense and dramatic. To this day it remains one of those "Remember that time when..." sessions.
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