D&D 5E First Level Proficiency Bonus of +2

[Melkor]

Hi all,

I wasn't aware of the starting +2 proficiency bonus change from the final playtest document until I saw the sample Fighter character from the boxed set. Seems like I missed out on some info at some point.

Was this discussed at length anywhere, or can anyone provide some insight into why this was changed?

From looking at the character sheet for the fighter, it seems like it is +2 from levels 1 through 4, but when you hit level 5, it goes to +3. That being the case, if I prefer +1 at first level, or first and second level, I don't think it would be too hard to house rule without throwing off the math in a significant way.

Just curious about the change, really.

Thanks

 

[thalmin]

I think it is to create a more meaningful difference between proficient and non-proficient.

 

[Remathilis]

Someone (Mearls?) claimed the +1 bonus was fairly minor and didn't seem like a giant step up for proficiency. +2 feels a little more hefty without skewing the math.

For example, at low level you have a wizard and a fighter. Both of them pick up a longsword, despite only the fighter being proficient in it. For sake or argument, they have similar strength scores. (14).

The Wizard would smack a goblin with his sword with a +2 to hit, the Fighter a +3. In this case, the fighter only has a slight edge, but for practical purposes its alike.

The wizard now smacks a goblin with his sword for a +2, but the fighter has a +4. Its easier to see the gulf between "proficient" and "non-proficient" in a weapon. Its small, but significant enough to say "wow, the fighter is the better warrior with his sword".

 

[Boarstorm]

An out of combat example would probably be slightly better there, since (at least as of the last playtest), the non-proficient wizard would also suffer Disadvantage. But switch the example to, say, an Arcana check and you're golden.

So... what Remathilis said, but with a little more splitting of hairs.

 

[MoonSong]

It was changed around february or march I think. But after experimenting I noticed a +1 isnvery fiddly to handle and not meaningful enough to matter, +2 is not only easier to remember, it has a more significant effect in rolling than a +1

 

[jodyjohnson]

This was done at the same time they switched expertise to double the proficiency bonus instead of +5.

Skill +6 (+1+5) expertise at level 1 Rogue or Level 3 Bard (although 3rd was +2 before)
or
Skill +4 (+2+2) expertise at level 1 Rogue or Level 3 Bard

Max is +12 versus the old +11.

 

[Melkor]

Thanks folks. That makes sense.

I guess the alternative to upping the bonus to +2 would have been to flat out penalize everything you were not proficient with Disadvantage (like weapon proficiencies), and that would have been way too heavy handed to apply to all saves and non-proficient skills.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I saw some implication that it was also changed to a +2 to +6 to accomodate a "roll lots of a dice" module in the DMG. So on a skill check, instead of a +2, you could roll a D20 + Attribute + D4. Similarly: +3 (d6). +4(d8) +5(d10) and +6(d12)

It is a half point difference in favor of rolling, but if you are doing contested skill rolls, it would be a wash although it does push possible rolls above the fixed CR regime, it makes the results both swingier and more consistent. Expertise would allow you to roll 2 or take the max on 1 die.

Earlier versions of the playtest used Skill Dice to do something nearly identical, but it evidently was one of those things that people either loved or hated. This makes it easier for a DM to pick what their group likes best where a +1 is harder to accommodate and +1 probably isn't a big enough bonus to show proficiency anyway except on really high CRs relative to the group where failure is going to happen a lot anyway.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I am very much a fan of the change. It wasn't needed for combat, but for skills it is a lot better this way. When being proficient in a skill at first level only gave you a +1, it felt virtually meaningless. Whoop. De. Doo.

+2 actually feels like your character is better than someone who isn't proficient, as intended.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I liked the skill die, but I understand it was controversial. It will probably return in the DMG as an option. I might actually use it.