Skill Encounters
As you travel throughout the world of D&D you will be put up against many non-combat encounters. These types of obstacles are called skill encounters and are unique in that the players are the ones who present the challenge they want to overcome. For this reason, given DM approval, any skill can be used in a skill challenge. Once the challenge and the skill are established the DM determines the DC of the check, and any involved players roll the appropriate skill check. Any amount of players can engage in a skill challenge as explained below.
As an example, if a party encounters a Skill Challenge a player may decide they want to use Athletics to solve it. They tell the DM that on their journey along the path a log has fallen and they use their great strength to move it. The party has been traveling through heavy forest all day so the DM allows the check and decides the DC is 20. The player rolls a 23 and successfully moves the log out of the way, opening the road to be traveled upon. Further examples are given in the Skill Challenge Examples table.
If this player were to fail this check then another player may attempt to solve the same challenge but must use a different skill. The log was too heavy to lift, so how do you circumvent the log that blocks your path? Survival to find a different path? Tinkers tools to create a pulley to move the log? The player's creativity is their best ally here.
Generally this continues until the challenge is succeeded, the party gives up, or every player has taken a chance at solving the problem but has failed, whichever happens first. In the latter two instances the party takes whatever detriment was agreed upon at the beginning of the encounter. Once a skill encounter is complete, mark a tick next to any skills that were used during the skill encounter. Those skills cannot be used for skill encounters again until the party reaches their destination (if they have one), or until all skills have been used, at this point all skills refresh and are able to be used again.
Players may be tempted to try to solve skill challenges using spells. This can be possible but if you are going to allow this you may have some things to consider. In my experience two methods have seen success. The first being that the spell auto succeeds on the skill check if applicable. If you intend to go this route you may want to consider changing how long it takes to take a short or long rest so that expending the spell slot actually matters. If you like resting the way it is the other method I have found works well is allowing advantage on a skill check if a spell is cast to aid.
The best part of this ruleset is allowing the players to take the mantle of narration for once, they often come up with fun and memorable encounters that take no more prep as a DM and helps them feel like a deeper part of the story being told. Encourage their creativity and you are sure to see success with skill challenges!
| Skill | Example |
|---|---|
| Acrobatics | We come across a river we are unable to cross. I jump across the rocks to tie a rope to help us ford it. |
| Animal handling | The horses are spooked by a storm, I calm them so that they don't slow our travel. |
| Arcana | You activate ancient elven ruins that illuminate a path before you. |
| Athletics | A mischievous satyr tells us he'll show us a secret path if we can beat him in an arm wrestling competition. |
| Deception | A group of bandits waylays us, I lie and say we're with the shepherds to try and scare them off |
| History | This trail was the sight of a famous ambush, from the tale I can deduce a secret path |
| Insight | While traveling through a ghostly fey graveyard, I correctly answer the riddle of the spirit guarding the graveyard, who grants us passage. |
| Intimidation | A group of would be bandits flees after your bloodcurdling threat. |
| Investigation | I spend a moment to look around the trail and find a secret path |
| Medicine | The Oxen are sick, you make a poultice to make them feel better |
| Nature | Just before we are about to lose our way I find plants that only grow north, allowing us to reorient ourselves |
| Perception | I notice large tracks going the same way as the party and usher the group to change course |
| Performance | An enraged dire boar charges us, I play my instrument to attempt to calm it |
| Persuasion | I convince a roaming caravan to let us hitch a ride with them |
| Religion | A dangerous cult has marked its borders with wooden effigies, I notice the markers and avoid their territory |
| Sleight of Hand | A freak fey storm passes over momentarily, I grab a rope and secure our belongings |
| Stealth | A group of orcs guard the way, I lead the group stealthily around them. |
| Survival | We've run out of water, I create several rain catching devices to refill our stock |