Just another option here, the 'slow-burn' simple contest :) I know a few people have written about the idea of making a simple contest more dramatic by having rounds of augmenting, before the final die roll. It does not have the same back and forth as an extended contest does, but it does give an opportunity to bring in some interesting augments (say in one session the trader uses his cultural 'customs' skill to make the round of their equivalent of Christmas parties--basically being a good bloke who belongs and who can be trusted, while the council augments with their 'closeminded.'
Overall not as dramatic as the slow burn extended contest, but it might save the frustration of figuring out the counter-bids.
--Bryan
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