I love what 5th edition has done with skills and I don't want many changes.
I didn't even notice that the Cleric with high wisdom was better at finding traps than the Rogue.
People on ENWorld are saying it is a poorly designed Rogue and I agree, but it does point out something we need to keep talking about.
There needs to be a template of skills, about 30 that people new to the game can study so they'll have an idea of how to turn anything into a skill challenge with the 5th edition rules given.
I don't think that skills that every party member needs to survive should be be skills. I think they should be ability rolls.
All 4E Athletics and Endurance Skills should be Strength or Constitution rolls.
All Perception/Listen/Spot/Detect/Initiative Skills shouldn't be connected to just wisdom, dexterity, or intelligence. They should be an average of them all. Perhaps Perception can be the average of wisdom and intelligence and initiative can be the average of dexterity, wisdom and intelligence.
Other skills that every party member should have.
Climb Skill, Stealth.
So sure. Known skills should grant +3. But let's add that to a relevant ability score.
To address the cleric with the high wisdom, perhaps the cleric doesn't know how to find traps even with a high wisdom. He should not be allowed. Only the rogue who was trained by other experienced rogues should be allowed the attempt. Having a high wisdom does not indicate you know anything about traps or where to look for them. Wisdom should only be added to your skill in finding traps.
Does this negate the solo adventure? Maybe. But we could make a rule. If there is no character with the appropriate skill -- then abilities may be rolled instead. The cleric can then try to find traps.
I didn't even notice that the Cleric with high wisdom was better at finding traps than the Rogue.
People on ENWorld are saying it is a poorly designed Rogue and I agree, but it does point out something we need to keep talking about.
There needs to be a template of skills, about 30 that people new to the game can study so they'll have an idea of how to turn anything into a skill challenge with the 5th edition rules given.
I don't think that skills that every party member needs to survive should be be skills. I think they should be ability rolls.
All 4E Athletics and Endurance Skills should be Strength or Constitution rolls.
All Perception/Listen/Spot/Detect/Initiative Skills shouldn't be connected to just wisdom, dexterity, or intelligence. They should be an average of them all. Perhaps Perception can be the average of wisdom and intelligence and initiative can be the average of dexterity, wisdom and intelligence.
Other skills that every party member should have.
Climb Skill, Stealth.
So sure. Known skills should grant +3. But let's add that to a relevant ability score.
To address the cleric with the high wisdom, perhaps the cleric doesn't know how to find traps even with a high wisdom. He should not be allowed. Only the rogue who was trained by other experienced rogues should be allowed the attempt. Having a high wisdom does not indicate you know anything about traps or where to look for them. Wisdom should only be added to your skill in finding traps.
Does this negate the solo adventure? Maybe. But we could make a rule. If there is no character with the appropriate skill -- then abilities may be rolled instead. The cleric can then try to find traps.