Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 OgreBane99 Sep 11, 2010 11:12:55	Hey all. I'm currently converting City of the Spider Queen to 4e.  I'm working on the Wailing Cliff section (for those that remember or are familiar) and I'm looking for ideas on a skill challenge here. For those not familiar, the encounter area takes place in a cliff 300-feet tall.  The party must scale this cliff (I'm going to enforce the max-altitude rules for characters, so no flying) while also fighting off a few encounters.  My idea is to have the party engage in a skill challenge to scale the cliff and then interrupt it with combats between the two wings of kir-lanans there.  Once they reach the top of the cliff, they face the shadow dragon. Any ideas to make this unique and interesting?  The party will be level 20 while doing this, if it matters.  I'd like the combat to take place on the cliff, but I feel that may be too difficult.  Maybe create some small ledges the PCs can fight from?  I don't know. I did a quick search of skill challenges (criticalhits.com and skillforge.com) but didn't see anything that seemed to fit for a "scaling the cliff" skill challenge. Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated!
#2 atomicbanana Sep 14, 2010 12:32:53	ledges are a good idea, but because no cliff is really uniform, each "ledge" should only be able to handle a certain number of PCs (2, 3 max) or a certain weight limit, so the goliath and the dwarf can't stand on a ledge that will fit 2 people without ominous cracking sounds, followed by a long drop, sudden stop (/cliche). The skill challenge can involve the characters attempting to scale the cliff to reach the ledges before they are attacked again.  With clear view you can see your attackers coming pretty easily, so let the players know "you have one turn before the harpys get close enough to attack."  Not sure if that works underground though... Another idea would be to have the shadow dragon somewhat present during the climb, mostly through flavor text.  Huge wings beat and blast you with stale air, a shrill roar breaks your concentration for a moment as an enormous shadow darts just beyond your vision, etc.  Build up to the fight.