"If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill or tool) instead" (PHB 125).
This rule appears specifically in the context of backgrounds, but I am wondering about its general applicability. (I understand this is easily house ruled in any case; but I'm trying to get a sense of the original intention.) I see two ways it can be read:
1. Narrow reading: it applies only to backgrounds. Because character generation has players select backgrounds after class, this is a sensible rule that is in fact only a specific application of the "customizing a background" rule on the same page.
2. Broad reading: it applies in other contexts where you gain a skill or tool proficiency. There's not many of these. The main case would be when you gain proficiencies from class levels: e.g. at Rogue 3 (Assassin); If you multiclass into rogue, you would get Thieves' tools (which you might already have from your previously-chosen background); if you reincarnate into a half-orc (and already have intimidation) or and elf (and already have perception), you would get a skill you already have. Are there any other circumstances that this might arise? (Note it doesn't arise if you multiclass into bard, since even if you are already proficient in a musical instrument, there are always more available; the same is true of artisan's tools for the Fighter's Student of War ability.)
My sense is that the narrow reading is correct: that outside of multiclassing the situation doesn't arise often enough that the game worries about it, and in all of the examples I gave under the "broad" reading, the player can lump it.
* Am I missing obvious cases where this situation might arise?
* Are there reasons to think the broad ruling is likely to be the intended result?
The only other situation I can see right now is the "Blessings of Knowledge" (level 1 ability for Knowledge clerics), which is actually quite powerful. you gain double proficiency in two knowledge skills (cool), and as a level 1 ability it makes sense to fudge the order of selection of class skills and knowledge skills so that the player gets double proficiency in the skills she wants. That's harder to fudge if the character has multi classed into Cleric -- they might have proficiency in Religion from another class, but (RAW) not be able to leverage that with the bonus skills of Blessings of Knowledge. (This is trivially solved, of course: you gain proficiency in any two of the listed skills, and you may choose any two of the skills in which you are proficient to gain double proficiency).
Thanks for your thoughts!
EDIT: also relevant possibly is the wording for the Light Cleric's bonus cantrip: "When you choose this domain at first level, you gain the light cantrip if you don't already know it" (PHB 61, italics added). Again, the only time I think this would come up is if you are m-cing int Cleric, since a first-level cantrip choice happens more or less at the same time as the domain choice.
This rule appears specifically in the context of backgrounds, but I am wondering about its general applicability. (I understand this is easily house ruled in any case; but I'm trying to get a sense of the original intention.) I see two ways it can be read:
1. Narrow reading: it applies only to backgrounds. Because character generation has players select backgrounds after class, this is a sensible rule that is in fact only a specific application of the "customizing a background" rule on the same page.
2. Broad reading: it applies in other contexts where you gain a skill or tool proficiency. There's not many of these. The main case would be when you gain proficiencies from class levels: e.g. at Rogue 3 (Assassin); If you multiclass into rogue, you would get Thieves' tools (which you might already have from your previously-chosen background); if you reincarnate into a half-orc (and already have intimidation) or and elf (and already have perception), you would get a skill you already have. Are there any other circumstances that this might arise? (Note it doesn't arise if you multiclass into bard, since even if you are already proficient in a musical instrument, there are always more available; the same is true of artisan's tools for the Fighter's Student of War ability.)
My sense is that the narrow reading is correct: that outside of multiclassing the situation doesn't arise often enough that the game worries about it, and in all of the examples I gave under the "broad" reading, the player can lump it.
* Am I missing obvious cases where this situation might arise?
* Are there reasons to think the broad ruling is likely to be the intended result?
The only other situation I can see right now is the "Blessings of Knowledge" (level 1 ability for Knowledge clerics), which is actually quite powerful. you gain double proficiency in two knowledge skills (cool), and as a level 1 ability it makes sense to fudge the order of selection of class skills and knowledge skills so that the player gets double proficiency in the skills she wants. That's harder to fudge if the character has multi classed into Cleric -- they might have proficiency in Religion from another class, but (RAW) not be able to leverage that with the bonus skills of Blessings of Knowledge. (This is trivially solved, of course: you gain proficiency in any two of the listed skills, and you may choose any two of the skills in which you are proficient to gain double proficiency).
Thanks for your thoughts!
EDIT: also relevant possibly is the wording for the Light Cleric's bonus cantrip: "When you choose this domain at first level, you gain the light cantrip if you don't already know it" (PHB 61, italics added). Again, the only time I think this would come up is if you are m-cing int Cleric, since a first-level cantrip choice happens more or less at the same time as the domain choice.
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