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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celtavian" data-source="post: 6776026" data-attributes="member: 5834">That is not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that if I write a skill or ability check in a fashion that favors someone with a skill, then I'm not breaking the rules. The skills and ability checks are not objectively meaningful as you claim they are. Nowhere in the rules does it even come close to indicating this. I'm saying the skill system is wide-open. If a DM wishes to write a check so that someone with the skill can shine, he can do so. It is not breaking the rules as some of you are indicating. If I write a climb a check that allows someone with at least a +3 proficiency bonus to climb faster than someone without the Athletics skill, I'm not somehow writing a house rule since I, the DM, have a lot of latitude in how I write the check. I'm saying that the skill system is more cinematic in nature. It is not hard-coded or the word you prefer, objectively meaningful. It is meant to be used to have the players make meaningful rolls up to and including highlighting characters with particular skills or abilities. That is not to say that you can't make it so anyone can roll if that is your preference. But do not pretend that is a requirement of the skill and ability check system. It is not. They kept the skill and ability check system very open-ended so that DMs could use it to enhance the game in whatever fashion seemed appropriate.Lastly, I am not recommending you do this all time because as you indicated too much work for too little benefit. I certainly don't do it all the time or run climbing or swimming at different speeds as a standard rule. I hand wave most skill rolls in 5E and narrate the differences in capability. I only use skills or ability checks when they would have some impact whether that impact is making a particular player feel useful for taking a particular skill or to increase tension during some important narrative or combat moment.What I definitely don't do is use the skill system as 3E/Pathfinder did in an attempt to codify every aspect of the world and give everyone a chance at the same thing because of hard-coded DCs. That approach was damaging to verisimilitude in my opinion. I'm glad it's gone. Everyone does not have an even 5% chance of accomplishing the same thing as that edition seemed to indicate. Hated that concept in the game, especially the roll as many times as you want unless the ability said you couldn't. Glad that garbage is gone.</blockquote>

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