D&D Skill Challenges How to Create and Run

[Outlawstar257]

What about when 3 out of 4 of your players have NO SKILLS... (no joke, they asked "do we have to take part in it, i dont have any skills")

[YourDungeonMaster]

@Outlawstar257 They have no skills,lol? They still roll the DC, they just have no bonus to add to the roll

[Outlawstar257]

@YourDungeonMaster I think you misunderstand. They have base skills (for instance, Arcana) which, in this case, is INT. 3 out of 4 of the people in my group have 0 intelligence, charisma, wisdom, and only one has a dexterity over 12. So whenever i give them a skill challenge (such as, interrogating a prisoner) they will do everything in their power to OPT OUT of the skill challenge, because there is no chance they will get 4 success before 3 failures if the DC is over 10.

[inlife9]

I really enjoy your vids! Thanks for sharing.

[JDizzleton1]

Thx for the video! You should do one where you actually play out a challenge with rolls and everything, seeing the challeneges in action would be most beneficial :)

[woodwwad]

Good job with explaining this topic.

[YourDungeonMaster]

@woodwwad thank you

[Audioepics]

This was very helpful. I'm still learning how to make each skill challenge different and unique. Thanks!

[TheFisher1973]

what if a player picks a different skill to use besides the ones you want?

[YourDungeonMaster]

@TheFisher1973 Great question. If the player can get creative enough and explain how the skill would be relevent to the challenge and what he plans to do,allow it at a hard DC. Encourage creativity as much as possible

[gaytar1]

that encounter was really fun

[unrealjill]

Thanks for these videos - I'm just starting out in the world of D&D and DMing. I'm running Slaying Stone and have been reading up on skill challenges a lot this week. A very timely and helpful video :)

[YourDungeonMaster]

@unrealjill I loved running the Slaying Stones ;)



[unrealjill]

@YourDungeonMaster Yeah I watched your mini review. Having read through it, it seems like a really good story. You planning on any more review vids? Or do you use mainly your own adventures?

[YourDungeonMaster]

@unrealjill I mainly create my own adventures, but Im getting ready to run a line of modules to take a break. So,yes, I should have more review vids.

[abeheron]

Great video...one thing I wanted to know is how you treat the 'suspense of disbelief' for skill challenges... what I mean is (and Robert Schwalb has put some posts about it too on his blog), is do you say "you are at a skill challenge"? do you give indication on success/failures?...I guess if you could give more indication on how you would run the RP aspect of skill challenges (rather than the pure mechanical one - which you done great job!)

[YourDungeonMaster]

@abeheron Hmm maybe I'll make a follow up vid to address some of these questions. IMO there is nothing wrong with saying you are in a skill challenge. Yes I either say you have earned a success or a failure, but Its your choice. There doesnt have to be RP in a skill challenge, especially if its going on during a battle, but again its up to you. Dont make it harder than it really is, just have fun with it and do it your way. In time you will learn to run them in a way that suits you best

[Birthblade]

very easy to understand! great stuff!

[Ashenda296]

Yay, a video over 10 minutes. I'm all for these, keep up the great informative videos. I love them. :D

[bonbagrum]

Great video :), Im just starting to dm and this is so helpful!