I am just throwing some thoughts together on a skill challenge involving the possible events that occur during a town festival and which skills could apply. To me, this is a pretty open ended skill challenge that is only limited by the player's imaginations as to how apply the skills and to which events they want to partake in.
This could be a good way for characters to meet, pick up some extra gold, or just have a little R&R. Plenty of plot hooks could stem from successes or failures.
But it would be neat to think up some scenarios beforehand, so feel free to share an event or two and the related skills. Here's a few.
Gambling: Cards/Dice
Bluff, Insight, Perception, Thievery
Swordfighting Contest
Acrobatics, Athletics; bonus to DC if proficient
Healer's Tent: treating ill patrons and injured contestants
Heal
Pickpocketing
Stealth, Streetwise, Thievery
Arm Wrestling
Athletics, Endurance, Intimidate
Jousting Competition
Actobatics, Athletics, Endurance; Mounted Combat feat grants a bonus to the roll against the DC
A Competition of Cantrips
Arcane
Religious Services
History, Religion
Archery Competition
Athletics; bonus to roll against the DC if proficient in the appropriate weapon
Various Storytelling
Bluff, Diplomacy, History, Intimidate, Religion
For now, I'll say that I ran an event that I found in a blog. My group loved it and I thought it was good to show them the brighter side of life. My dark brooding druid (it's apparently the only character he can play: dark and brooding) didn't enjoy it though because he doesn't trust anyone.
Here is that event: thedungeonsdragon.blogspot.com/2010/02/e...
Primary: Endurance, Athletics, Heal? (to take a digestive aid before the competition)
Secondary: Theivery? (sneak the pie under the table, or to a familiar?)
I'll come up with more. Right now I have to finish getting ready for my session tonight.
I intend to contribute. I'll probably go over each that you've posted to try to add more detail because this sounds fun.
For now, I'll say that I ran an event that I found in a blog. My group loved it and I thought it was good to show them the brighter side of life. My dark brooding druid (it's apparently the only character he can play: dark and brooding) didn't enjoy it though because he doesn't trust anyone.
Here is that event: thedungeonsdragon.blogspot.com/2010/02/e...
Thanks, Darklyte. I look forward to your contributions and the blog looks good. I'll go through it more thoroughly when I can (I'm at work).
Yeah, I do intend to flush out a lot of the successes and failures and provide more options for those. I just wanted to get the ball rolling. My thought was that a festival would make a great "open-ended" skill challenge that provides infinite potential. It is also how I am starting my new campaign, as this will build up some local reputation for the characters so they take notice of each other. There are also some detailed plot elements thrown in, of course.
As a part of the festival there is a parade of religious relics from various temples in the town -- clerics and other divine types are expected to accompany their deity's contingent and work wonders in order to gain new contributors and disciples
The town possesses a strange metallic ring which Arcane users can manipulate to produce illusions -- two or more magicians put their hands on the ring at the same time and compete to overpower each other's illusions in the most creative and crowd-pleasing way
Thieves' guild sponsors rooftop races and pocket-picking contests (either in good fun -- with cooperative "marks" stuffing their pockets with fresh flowers -- or the real thing!)
Also consider the personalities and agendas of the PCs' competitors; someone who's destined to become a campaign villain could show up here as an arrogant, blustering jerk or a sly cheater, etc.
Some of the contests may have another layer, being used as a screen for a crime caper or demon summoning, etc. Or a monster's lair may be accidentally disturbed by contest activity.