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<blockquote data-quote="pming" data-source="post: 6627035" data-attributes="member: 45197">Hiya.&nbsp;I didn't read through the whole thing, but I've noticed it seems to be focused on giving bonuses. I wouldn't do that. That will screw up the &quot;bounded accuracy&quot; design of 5e too much. Here's my suggestions.(1) When a character gains a stat (or feat) bonus at level 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, give them the option to trade it in for two new skill proficiencies that the character has &quot;been trying to learn&quot; the last level. This takes some RP'ing on the part of the player, and it takes away the horrible 3.x/PF concept of &quot;Ding! I gained a level...hmmm...yeah, I think I'll just slap on a couple skill point for Knowledge<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin&nbsp; &nbsp; :D"&nbsp; data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />emons because we just encountered that demonologist the other day&quot;... and suddenly the character is a font of knowledge about all things demonic (even though the day before he could't tell you the difference between a quazit and a quail). (2) If they don't want to take two new skills to be Proficient in, they can &quot;up&quot; one to be considered &quot;Master&quot; in. This is NOT a simple bonus number. In stead, the DM downgrades the DC by one 'level' on tasks where the characters mastery could come into play. So a task that is &quot;Difficult&quot; downgrades to a task that is &quot;Moderate&quot; (e.g., DC 15 down to a DC 10). Yes, it is the equivalent of a +5 bonus....but, that bonus never goes up, nor does anyone have to do any extra math. Not that adding 5 to a number is hard, but that is just one more number add we don't have to deal with. It *feels* quicker and more elegant to me anyway. It also keeps the specter of &quot;min/MAXING by the numbers&quot; at bay. I've found if players don't see numbers, they are less likely to focus on them. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />(3) Allow tools to be &quot;learned outside of leveling up&quot;; go with what you've thought about, or figure out something new. However, have tools learned in this way be usable without proficiency bonus; just flat ability scores (and the fact that you can actually try; say, Thieves Tools for example). If you gain the tool via background, or class, only then do you get to add Proficiency. This gives those with 'actual' background/lifetime-training an edge, but doesn't rule out the stealthy Dex-based fighter from filling in for the Thief if he has to.(4) Magic. Learning magic cantrips and whatnot...just say no. Period. Full stop. Just don't. Ever.^_^Paul L. Ming</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pming, post: 6627035, member: 45197"] Hiya. I didn't read through the whole thing, but I've noticed it seems to be focused on giving bonuses. I wouldn't do that. That will screw up the "bounded accuracy" design of 5e too much. Here's my suggestions. (1) When a character gains a stat (or feat) bonus at level 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, give them the option to trade it in for two new skill proficiencies that the character has "been trying to learn" the last level. This takes some RP'ing on the part of the player, and it takes away the horrible 3.x/PF concept of "Ding! I gained a level...hmmm...yeah, I think I'll just slap on a couple skill point for Knowledge:Demons because we just encountered that demonologist the other day"... and suddenly the character is a font of knowledge about all things demonic (even though the day before he could't tell you the difference between a quazit and a quail). (2) If they don't want to take two new skills to be Proficient in, they can "up" one to be considered "Master" in. This is NOT a simple bonus number. In stead, the DM downgrades the DC by one 'level' on tasks where the characters mastery could come into play. So a task that is "Difficult" downgrades to a task that is "Moderate" (e.g., DC 15 down to a DC 10). Yes, it is the equivalent of a +5 bonus....but, that bonus never goes up, nor does anyone have to do any extra math. Not that adding 5 to a number is hard, but that is just one more number add we don't have to deal with. It *feels* quicker and more elegant to me anyway. It also keeps the specter of "min/MAXING by the numbers" at bay. I've found if players don't see numbers, they are less likely to focus on them. :) (3) Allow tools to be "learned outside of leveling up"; go with what you've thought about, or figure out something new. However, have tools learned in this way be usable [I]without proficiency bonus[/I]; just flat ability scores (and the fact that you can actually try; say, Thieves Tools for example). If you gain the tool via background, or class, only then do you get to add Proficiency. This gives those with 'actual' background/lifetime-training an edge, but doesn't rule out the stealthy Dex-based fighter from filling in for the Thief if he has to. (4) Magic. Learning magic cantrips and whatnot...just say no. Period. Full stop. Just don't. Ever. ^_^ Paul L. Ming [/QUOTE]

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