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Ability Checks, Failing Forward, and Succeeding with a Cost
Episode 264

Ability Checks, Failing Forward, and Succeeding with a Cost

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish · slyflourish

April 7, 202112m 5s

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Show Notes

Mike gives a short talk about ability checks, failing forward, and succeeding with a cost.

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