I want to go back to 2e proficiencies. Why? Well it had some pretty specific categories for skills like "read lips" and "gaming" that really defined character traits. Sure, you can read lips in 3e and 4e using the Innuendo and Bluff skills (respectively) but generally people forgot about it along with a bunch of other specific skills because it was out of sight.
I understand why all the proficiencies were bundled together in the 3e skill system. Some proficiencies were simply more valuable than others, and most of them weren't used. You were forced to choose between broadly useful proficiencies over specific situational proficiencies (ie. sailing vs. herbalism) and generally the broadly useful proficiencies won out and were used.
But what if we take a page from Skyrim and allow you to use any proficiency, but you were generally only good at the ones you use frequently? Perhaps you start with a 15-25% chance of doing something at 1st level, and once per session you get a 5% upgrade to a skill you use unsuccessfully and a 10% upgrade if you use it successfully.
At 1st level you would also get 100 points or so to put into proficiencies you want to be fairly good at coming into your adventuring career.
I understand why all the proficiencies were bundled together in the 3e skill system. Some proficiencies were simply more valuable than others, and most of them weren't used. You were forced to choose between broadly useful proficiencies over specific situational proficiencies (ie. sailing vs. herbalism) and generally the broadly useful proficiencies won out and were used.
But what if we take a page from Skyrim and allow you to use any proficiency, but you were generally only good at the ones you use frequently? Perhaps you start with a 15-25% chance of doing something at 1st level, and once per session you get a 5% upgrade to a skill you use unsuccessfully and a 10% upgrade if you use it successfully.
At 1st level you would also get 100 points or so to put into proficiencies you want to be fairly good at coming into your adventuring career.