D&D 5E L&L Sept 16th . The Latest on Skills

[variant]

I don't think I like the +5 bonus for expert. That gives a +16 for a level 20 in a skill which is just too much and breaks bounded accuracy.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I'd generally prefer nouns than verbs for skills names, as in "make a Persuasion check" rather than "make a Persuade check".

In a skill based system, I would agree. But I think verbs work better in D&D Nexts ability score focused system. Instead of Persuasion check, you roll a Charisma check to persuade. Though, it does sound funny to say, "I'm proficient in pursuade", so you may have a point.

 

[Sadrik]

I approve of the skill direction.

The skill list is a little off for my tastes but it is really close.

The only thing I would recommend is removing the ability modifier per Mearls post. Wisdom for Athletics to spot the best way to climb the cliff. By doing this he might see that some of the skills are redundant because they are flip sides of the coin. Also the key to making this system work is, clearly defining along with the skills what can be accomplished without a skill bonus. It sounds like that is the case. We shall see though.

 

[the Jester]

I immediately thought this philosophy should be expanded to armors.

Every additional bonus gets us further away from the flattened math that is so crucial to the concepts behind 5e. I don't think applying proficiency bonus to armor is a good idea at all.

Obviously, YMMV, and in a system that was more completely skill/proficiency based, I'd be interested to see such a setup.

 

[TwoSix]

In a skill based system, I would agree. But I think verbs work better in D&D Nexts ability score focused system. Instead of Persuasion check, you roll a Charisma check to persuade. Though, it does sound funny to say, "I'm proficient in pursuade", so you may have a point.

"Gerund, somebody is on the phone for you!"

 

[Falling Icicle]

Which is one reason I'd rather have a skill give advantage to the attribute check, rather than add to it.

No offense, but I think that's a bad idea. If skills granted advantage, then skilled players would have no reason to try and get circumstances in their favor since advantage doesn't stack.

 

[Szatany]

Every additional bonus gets us further away from the flattened math that is so crucial to the concepts behind 5e. I don't think applying proficiency bonus to armor is a good idea at all.

Who said anything about multiple bonuses

Have proficiency bonus dictate your AC if you're in armor, while the armor itself will grant additional benefits, but not AC bonus.

 

[variant]

No offense, but I think that's a bad idea. If skills granted advantage, then skilled players would have no reason to try and get circumstances in their favor since advantage doesn't stack.

I agree. Giving blanket Advantage to every player like that is just a bad idea.

 

[Szatany]

Heck, expand it to include weapons. Then you can get rid of stats on all the weapons and armor and grant those things through proficiencies.

I like my weapons with stats and bonuses, but I agree the weapons could use some standardization.

 

[Falling Icicle]

"Your skill bonus equals your proficiency bonus. Your proficiency bonus is based on your total level and applies to skills, weapons, and tools that you are proficient with. For this reason, we don't have a Craft skill. Instead, you can become proficient with the appropriate set of tools needed to conduct a craft or make an object."

This part puzzles me. So if you have a skill, you get your proficiency bonus to those checks. If you have proficiency in something, like blacksmith tools, you likewise get your proficiency bonus to those checks. So... why have proficiency as something that's different than a skill? What is the functional difference between being trained in blacksmithing as a skill and being proficient with blacksmith tools? In either case, you're getting a +2 to +6 with checks related to that craft. Am I missing something, or is there really no difference? It seems to me like they just don't want certain things to be skills for some reason, like crafting and opening locks. But why?