The 4e skill list is very functional, and there are some great ideas for tying it to powers, but sometimes you just want to stretch the bounds of what a skill can do, or as a GM you want to create challenges that might be a little bit more creative than just using skills by the numbers. For folks in that situation, I present the following list that I started pulling together when I was trying to write some non-typical skill challenges.

Unexpected Things Skills May Be Useful For
Acrobatics – Catching spilled drinks, making a dramatic entrance, dancing with style.

Arcana – Droning on and on and on, make fake magic look authentic, repairing old magical widgets.

Athletics – Flexing of muscles or otherwise generally putting on a show, dancing without embarrassing yourself

Bluff – Sincere sounding compliments, pretending you’ve met someone before.

Diplomacy – Insult someone without them being able to call you on it, say the right thing about someone’s outfit.

Dungeoneering – Find exits, talk about architecture.

Endurance – Look attentive through intensely boring conversations, drink all night.

Heal – Discuss hangover cures, spot a limp.

History – Recognize someone’s name, explain politics.

Insight – Read the subtext of a work of art, judge who is really important in a room.

Intimidate – Exude subtle menace, make someone angry, escalate to a superior

Nature – Cook, get along with someone’s dog.

Perception – Judge the quality of someone’s clothes, spot a cheater.

Religion – Give a sermon, discuss philosophy at great length.

Stealth – Escape a conversation, cut into a line.

Streetwise – Know the odds on a horse race, know who’s on an invitation list.

Thievery – Entertain small children, repair small knick-knacks, slip something into someone’s drink.

Feel free to add your own!