D&D 5E Noob Skills Questions

[Shaghayegh]

I borrowed a 5E PH, I am making a new character, and I am looking at the skills. Okay, proficiency bonus goes up automatically, but what if you want to specialise in a skill beyond that? And how do you acquire more skills as you advance? I am not seeing that option in the level advancement...

 

[Lanliss]

There are feats that give you proficiency in skills, I think, as well as some subclasses. Also, a DM might let you train with someone for a while to acquire a skill, like training with a stablehand for a few months to learn animal handling, but that is entirely up to them.

 

[Illithidbix]

At 1st Level:
You start with at least 4 skill proficiencies; at least 2 from your class + 2 from background.
Rogues start with 6 total. Bards and Rangers start with 5 in total.

Races
Half Elves get an extra two skills and variant rules human start with an extra skill.
Elves start proficient in perception.
Half Orcs start proficient in intimidation.

After Level 1:
Yep, no method of training for skills in the default rules.
Training in the PHB only applies to Tools proficiencies or languages.

Optional Rules can grant skills:
Feats Skilled feat gives proficiency in three extra skills.
Multiclassing into Ranger, Rogue or Bard gives you an extra skill from their class skill lists (so any for Bard).


As for further specialisation Rogues and Bards get Expertise that lets then add their proficiency bonus again to a few of their skills.

 

[Fanaelialae]

As to specialization, that's only possible with a Bard or Rogue who get an ability called Expertise (you add double your proficiency modifier to a skill with Expertise).

EDIT: And, of course, you can use Ability Score Increases to improve an ability score associated with the skill, effectively raising your skill indirectly.

 

[Al2O3]

In the book "Sword Coast Adventuer's Guide" there is at least a fighter subclass that gains proficiency in a skill at 7th level as well as double proficiency in Persuation. As said before, the DM can allow you to use the training rules for languages and tool proficiencies in the PHB to also apply to skills. However, that would be a house rule, so not to be expected.

I guess my statements are not really helpful if you want to find a way of increasing skills using the PHB and not rely on house rules, but I think we have covered about all of the options this way.

 

[Fanaelialae]

As said before, the DM can allow you to use the training rules for languages and tool proficiencies in the PHB to also apply to skills. However, that would be a house rule, so not to be expected.

It's not a house rule. See PHB 187, Training. That said, it does require a lot of downtime (250 days) so the DM can easily avoid it by keeping the party busy.

 

[Al2O3]

It's not a house rule. See PHB 187, Training. That said, it does require a lot of downtime (250 days) so the DM can easily avoid it by keeping the party busy.

Read it again. Tools and languages are included, not skills. I consider "the DM might allow other options" to be equivalent to "the DM might house rule".

 

[Fanaelialae]

Read it again. Tools and languages are included, not skills. I consider "the DM might allow other options" to be equivalent to "the DM might house rule".

Sorry, I overlooked the part where you said "...to also apply to skills". You're correct, gaining new skills through training is a house rule.

To be clear, you could officially obtain the equivalent of a new skill with a tool proficiency which can be obtained via training. Artisan's tools, for example, would give you the equivalent of the Craft skill from 3e.

 

[abirdcall]

At 1st Level:
You start with at least 4 skill proficiencies; at least 2 from your class + 2 from background.
Rogues start with 6 total. Bards and Rangers start with 5 in total.

Races
Half Elves get an extra two skills and variant rules human start with an extra skill.
Elves start proficient in perception.
Half Orcs start proficient in intimidation.

After Level 1:
Yep, no method of training for skills in the default rules.
Training in the PHB only applies to Tools proficiencies or languages.

Optional Rules can grant skills:
Feats Skilled feat gives proficiency in three extra skills.
Multiclassing into Ranger, Rogue or Bard gives you an extra skill from their class skill lists (so any for Bard).


As for further specialisation Rogues and Bards get Expertise that lets then add their proficiency bonus again to a few of their skills.

Don't forget about Knowledge Clerics!

 

[Shaghayegh]

Damn. I miss proficiency slots...