D&D 5E Bard Expertise and Tools

[Tigit]

Does Bard's Expertise apply to tools as well or just to skills? I cannot find a clarification anywhere.

 

[JohnF]

It’s just skills: At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies.

Tool proficiency is its own thing.

 

[DEFCON 1]

That being said... there would be absolutely nothing unbalanced by letting the Bard take Expertise in a tool rather than a skill if they wanted.

 

[Blue]

Does Bard's Expertise apply to tools as well or just to skills? I cannot find a clarification anywhere.

It says what is says.

Bard Expertise: At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies.
Rogue Expertise: At 1st level, choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency with thieves’ tools.

Is there something about the Bard listing that would make you think it applies to tools? We don't normally look for clarifications for things that aren't written in the rules at all.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Unfortunately, as a general rule, you can't get expertise with a tool proficiency. Rogues have a special carve-out for it, and it only applies to Thieves' tools.

It's pretty clear at this point that if they wanted expertise with tools to be a thing, there would be a way to do it. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't one (other than the aforementioned Rogue exception.) That doesn't mean you can't do it, but it's definitely something they're keeping tightly controlled.

 

[Umbran]

That being said... there would be absolutely nothing unbalanced by letting the Bard take Expertise in a tool rather than a skill if they wanted.

Especially if the tool is a musical instrument.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Unfortunately, as a general rule, you can't get expertise with a tool proficiency. Rogues have a special carve-out for it, and it only applies to Thieves' tools.

It's pretty clear at this point that if they wanted expertise with tools to be a thing, there would be a way to do it. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't one (other than the aforementioned Rogue exception.) That doesn't mean you can't do it, but it's definitely something they're keeping tightly controlled.

Artificers get tool expertise with all tools at level 6.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Artificers get tool expertise with all tools at level 6.

Ah, totally forgot to check Artificer. Alright then, that's how one does it.

 

[Shiroiken]

That being said... there would be absolutely nothing unbalanced by letting the Bard take Expertise in a tool rather than a skill if they wanted.

I might object to Thieves Tools, only because it steps on the Rogue. Otherwise, I completely agree.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I might object to Thieves Tools, only because it steps on the Rogue. Otherwise, I completely agree.

True. Although if there's no Rogue in the party, then there's no worry. Or if the game is one involving lots of traps-- like a dungeoncrawl-- and the expectation is the group might be split up for whatever reason... having a second PC skilled in Thieves' Tools would not necessarily be a bad thing.

Basically check with the game and group and see if an Expertise in TTools would be useful. Otherwise, Expertise in an instrument, as @Umbran mentioned above, would possibly be a good way to go.