Intrigue: more than a Skill check - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Pyrate_Jib Jul 21, 2010 11:07:55	How are you adding intrigue to your 4E D&D games. How can you make the interaction more than just a series or die rolls with a Skill Checks?
#2 insanityv2 Jul 21, 2010 21:43:09	Intrigue as in involvement and curiosity? Or intrigue as in plotting and and scheming? Sometimes, when its particularly important or high stakes skill, I have my players in some way act out the actions associated with the roles. They say what their PC's say to the NPC's (and if I find their statements or actions convincing, I may give bonuses to the rolls) Once, I had some PC's try to talk down a angry mob while and while an opposing NPC is trying to stir them up. I did dice rolls to see how well received their arguments were. I gave bonuses for particularly dynamic arguments, but the dice rolls were necessary because there are times where a crowd will outright ignore what they don't want to hear. Other than that, engagement can be fostered with some good plotting. I'll try and create a mystery the Players want to solve. (There's a reason why the waking up with amnesia and people are trying to kill me plot has become a cliche in video-games. It works) Implicate them in a power struggle. Have a good villain. There's something to the tired complaints that 4E primarily a combat engine. But so what? Half-Life2, while amazing, was just a shooter with an engine meant to handle only combat. But the Source engine powered one of my favorite CRPG's (VtM: Bloodlines), which trust me, had plenty of intrigue.
#3 Pyrate_Jib Jul 22, 2010 10:00:08	I'm looking for rules and campaign flavor. Techniques on how to add intrigue to a D&D game.
#4 FlashbackJon Jul 22, 2010 12:57:46	Preface: How comfortable/familiar are you with the use of skill challenges?
#5 Pyrate_Jib Jul 23, 2010 11:42:02	Preface: How comfortable/familiar are you with the use of skill challenges? I like them! I use them perhaps a little more 'free form".

Sometimes, when its particularly important or high stakes skill, I have my players in some way act out the actions associated with the roles. They say what their PC's say to the NPC's (and if I find their statements or actions convincing, I may give bonuses to the rolls)

Once, I had some PC's try to talk down a angry mob while and while an opposing NPC is trying to stir them up. I did dice rolls to see how well received their arguments were. I gave bonuses for particularly dynamic arguments, but the dice rolls were necessary because there are times where a crowd will outright ignore what they don't want to hear.

Other than that, engagement can be fostered with some good plotting. I'll try and create a mystery the Players want to solve. (There's a reason why the waking up with amnesia and people are trying to kill me plot has become a cliche in video-games. It works) Implicate them in a power struggle. Have a good villain.

There's something to the tired complaints that 4E primarily a combat engine. But so what? Half-Life2, while amazing, was just a shooter with an engine meant to handle only combat. But the Source engine powered one of my favorite CRPG's (VtM: Bloodlines), which trust me, had plenty of intrigue.