The complete podcast of Sly Flourish, the Lazy Dungeon Master. Building the better D&D dungeon master and RPG game master.
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episode 264: Ability Checks, Failing Forward, and Succeeding with a Cost
Mike gives a short talk about ability checks, failing forward, and succeeding with a cost.
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Podcast Contents:
- 00:00 Intro
- 00:38 The core mechanic of D&D
- 01:35 You don't need an ability check for easy stuff
- 02:02 Easy steps to choose a DC
- 03:04 DCs don't change based on the character's abilities
- 03:52 The power of improvising ability checks
- 04:32 Ability checks in complicated situations
- 07:08 Understand the in-world situation instead of focusing on mechanics
- 09:09 Asking for a check without a DC to see if they succeed at a cost
- 10:45 The improvisational power of ability checks, succeeding at a cost, and failing forward