This relates to a 4E adventure I am developing for my group.
At one point, the group has to cross a suspension bridge across a chasm. The bridge is old and has been further weakened by recent use. There is a % chance that it will collapse with each PC that crosses (the % is modified by weight, how many PCs are on the bridge at once, etc.).
My question concerns adjudicating what happens if the bridge does collapse.
Seems like the easiest way to resolve would be a series of Athletics checks:
Once to grab the ropes as the bridge starts to collapse (though this might be better tied to a skill with Dex as the ability - can't find a good one);
Once when the rope bridge slams against the wall of the chasm (to hang on);
Once or more to climb up the bridge to the lip of the chasm.
I'd like to change it up a bit though, rather than have the same check three of more times.
Suggestions?
I'd wonder if you could not turn the whole thing into a skill challenge involving things like perception (to notice the bridge is not doing so good) etc.
I'd detail the idea out more but this is just too advanced for me until I have had a little more time with the DMG.
I'd wonder if you could not turn the whole thing into a skill challenge involving things like perception (to notice the bridge is not doing so good) etc.
I'd detail the idea out more but this is just too advanced for me until I have had a little more time with the DMG.
Yeah, that's a good idea. I don't know why I didn't think of setting it up as a skill challenge. I need to go read that section of the book a little better :)
I'd wonder if you could not turn the whole thing into a skill challenge involving things like perception (to notice the bridge is not doing so good) etc.
I'd detail the idea out more but this is just too advanced for me until I have had a little more time with the DMG.
I agree completely. Most encounters like this in 4E are skill challenges. You could even have this happening during combat and have a skill challenge coincide with the combat with each person taking their skill challenge turn in addition to their combat turn.
This relates to a 4E adventure I am developing for my group.
At one point, the group has to cross a suspension bridge across a chasm. The bridge is old and has been further weakened by recent use. There is a % chance that it will collapse with each PC that crosses (the % is modified by weight, how many PCs are on the bridge at once, etc.).
My question concerns adjudicating what happens if the bridge does collapse.
Seems like the easiest way to resolve would be a series of Athletics checks:
Once to grab the ropes as the bridge starts to collapse (though this might be better tied to a skill with Dex as the ability - can't find a good one);
Once when the rope bridge slams against the wall of the chasm (to hang on);
Once or more to climb up the bridge to the lip of the chasm.
I'd like to change it up a bit though, rather than have the same check three of more times.
Suggestions?
Let's see if we can get some ideas out here on this one. Mainly because I am trying to figure skill challenges out as well.
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1) Perception or Dungeoneering to recognize the impending collapse. If they fail, the suffer a negative penalty to their next skill roll as well as picking up a failure. If they roll over a specific score, they gain a positive modifier to their next roll.
2) Once the bridge collapses, best to be an Athletics or Acrobatics roll. Failure in this case is a bad thing, as you will fall (although this doesn't really work with the skill challenge idea of success before failure system). Maybe they catch themselves on a failure, but take damage from the hit and a negative penalty. A success takes half damage from the fall, and a great success takes no damage. This way, you kind of throw together both the fall and impact into the same mix.
3) To climb the bridge could be either an Athletics or Dungeoneering roll. Failure is having to make another immediate roll or lose a success. A great success adds an extra success level. Keep rulling Athletic or Dungeoneering until you gain the proper number of successes.
Ok. Now, setting the levels...
4 successes to escape, 2 failures to fail? Failure means falling, success means escaping.
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I know this is not completely correct, but I have only glanced over the Skill Challenge section for the moment. I'll be reading through it correctly tonight. But, let's discuss and see what we can come up with as a group ^_^
Good ideas Belirahc.
A couple of issues regarding skill challenge. If I understand properly, the skill challenge is for the entire party. But I suspect that many parties, when they come to this bridge, will send only one PC across at a time, at least if they notice the weakness of the bridge.
So say the send the first PC across. The skill challenge starts, and on each PCs turn they could try to do something to help stabilize the bridge or direct the PC or whatever. But when they get the needed number of successes, they've only got one PC across the bridge. It wouldn't make sense to suddenly transport the whole party across at this point.
So I'm thinking the skill challenge would have to be repeated as each PC crosses (unless they go in a group, in which case you repeat the challenge once for each group of PCs cross).
Does that sound right?
OK. Going with the idea of individual party members trying to cross.
5 party members, each needing two successes to cross equals 10 successes total, making it 5 failures against. As each member crosses, begin a round table of rolling, with each player using the skill they think will help in the crossing (Diplomacy to keep the player moving, Perception to help watch for weaknesses, Athletics to miss a broken board). The character is not considered across until two successes are thrown, with each 2 failures adding a -1 to future skill checks to show the weakening of the bridge.
At 5 failures, the bridge breaks and takes whoever is on the bridge with it for a ride. Acrobatics roll to grab the bridge (with similar failure and success ideas from my previous post) and an Athletics roll to climb the bridge back to the surface.
Now, half the party is on one side, the other half on the other, and they have to find another way around the problem.
This is fun ^_^
OK. Going with the idea of individual party members trying to cross.
5 party members, each needing two successes to cross equals 10 successes total, making it 5 failures against. As each member crosses, begin a round table of rolling, with each player using the skill they think will help in the crossing (Diplomacy to keep the player moving, Perception to help watch for weaknesses, Athletics to miss a broken board). The character is not considered across until two successes are thrown, with each 2 failures adding a -1 to future skill checks to show the weakening of the bridge.
At 5 failures, the bridge breaks and takes whoever is on the bridge with it for a ride. Acrobatics roll to grab the bridge (with similar failure and success ideas from my previous post) and an Athletics roll to climb the bridge back to the surface.
Now, half the party is on one side, the other half on the other, and they have to find another way around the problem.
This is fun ^_^
Wow! That's actually pretty good! Well done guys!
Wow! That's actually pretty good! Well done guys!
Yeah. See, I like to work with others like this to come up with ideas. It helps me work through the rules while I am learning a new system.