D&D (2024) No Skills

[Reynard]

One should just pull the trigger and drop skills entirely. When you are doing a thing that requires a check, your get proficiency if your race, heritage, culture, background, or class says you should for that specific thing. The skill system is already so loose and subject to fiat it isn't actually that big of a change -- and it has the benefit of making characters good at the things they should be good at. The half-baked skill system is probably my least favorite thing in 5E, especially compared to 3.x/PF. Just dump it and make it about who the character is.

 

[DND_Reborn]

One should just pull the trigger and drop skills entirely.

We have in one group as the 5E DMG already has an option for it: Ability Check Proficiency.

You get an Ability for class and one for background, and I wouldn't mind adding a third for race.

Anyway, FWIW, we like it.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Yeah, I'd treat it like general proficiencies, much like in Shadow of the Demon Lord.

You decide with your DM is any of your character's components gives you an edge on an ability test.

 

[Reynard]

We have in one group as the 5E DMG already has an option for it: Ability Check Proficiency.

You get an Ability for class and one for background, and I wouldn't mind adding a third for race.

Anyway, FWIW, we like it.

I don't like that because it reduces the character to a couple of abilities. Proficiency by Identity (I just made that up) leans on who the character is in the world they inhabit. It means one character can have Proficiency when trying to chat up the local tough to find out where a good fence is, while another gets Proficiency gossiping at Court. Both would be Charisma persuasion checks otherwise, even though they are very different.

Also, everyone would automatically get Perception Proficiency.

 

[payn]

Yeap, 5E has my least favorite skill system. I like that idea as a base, but wish something could be added to make the game more interesting. Like some way of expanding game play so its like other editions. You know a way to dial it up or down based on D&D's long history of options and sub-systems. The word for it escapes me.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Also, everyone would automatically get Perception Proficiency.

If you have proficiency in Wisdom checks, then yes. But, so far that certainly has not been the case IME.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

If you have proficiency in Wisdom checks, then yes. But, so far that certainly has not been the case IME.

...i think he meant in his proposed system. which, also, would be a pf2e moment.

 

[Parmandur]

I don't like that because it reduces the character to a couple of abilities. Proficiency by Identity (I just made that up) leans on who the character is in the world they inhabit. It means one character can have Proficiency when trying to chat up the local tough to find out where a good fence is, while another gets Proficiency gossiping at Court. Both would be Charisma persuasion checks otherwise, even though they are very different.

Also, everyone would automatically get Perception Proficiency.

That option is also detailed in the DMG.

I don't think there will be any serious changes in the standard approach, though.

 

[Reynard]

If you have proficiency in Wisdom checks, then yes. But, so far that certainly has not been the case IME.

I wasn't talking about ability proficiency. Like I said upthread, it doesn't solve the problems I have with the system and actually exacerbates them.

 

[delericho]

While I'm not a fan of the 5e skill system as it stands, I'm not in favour of getting rid of it either - characters should have scope for being good at one or two things that you wouldn't expect.

The revision I'd like to see:

Remove the Perform skill and the various musical instrument tool proficiencies. Instead introduce a new category of Performance proficiencies (including those instruments, but also things like dance, song, oratory...). Characters then pick up a number of these, possibly with Bards getting them all.

Remove Deception, Persuasion, and Intimidate skills. Instead introduce a new category of Social proficiencies, each relating to a category of people (nobles, peasants, the military, criminals...). Characters then pick up a number of these - this has the effect of spreading the role of "face" among the party, instead of the high-Cha skilled person dominating the Interaction pillar.

Combine Perception and Investigation into a single skill, and rename it to Senses.

Roll those aspects of Nature dealing with animals into Animal Handling, and the rest into Survival. The distinction isn't really enough to matter.

Add a skill dealing with things like heraldry, social structures, and the like. I think much of this is supposed to fit under History, but that has always felt like a poor fit.

Beef up Medicine so that it's actually worth taking. My suggestion would be that successful use allows the recipient to spend a Hit Die (refresh on Short Rest).

Reintroduce Passive Insight.