I think, unfortunately, the only way you’ll be able to get that is to make a call about what source(s) are available to use, and just say, that’s what we’re using. Save your ideas about characters using material from another sourcebook for another campaign, for this one we’re sticking to just [insert your source of preference here].”
this is a cool idea.
one minus of VTT is that DM cant throw dice at players that dont remember their characters abilities, hehehe.Heh. Even with the power of a VTT behind me, my newbie player STILL struggles with his battlemaster fighter. And this is a player who played an entire Phandelver campaign with me and is now halfway through Out of the Abyss.
I mean, it really can't get much easier when you're using a VTT. So many things are automated. But, STILL every single time he wants to use his maneuvers, I have to double check everything he does. Add in the effects of weapons like Vex and whatnot? Yikes. I'm trying to be as patient as I can, but, every now and again, I need to resist the urge to reach through the Internet and stab him in the eye out of frustration.
((Sorry, just REALLY needed to vent about that))
this is true, however there is a lot more room for L2P also.
I'm starting to think it might actually just be simpler to never add constants, and just build dice pools.
I think one flat mod coming from ability score is fine. The nice thing about flat mods is that they help counteract the swinginess of the d20. Proficiency dice do bring more swing into action resolution, as instead of, say, a 6-25 range for a proficient check with your primary ability at 1st level, you get a 2-27 range. Same average, but less reliability (which is what I disliked about the mechanic originally) and a higher maximum.
IDK, I find it pretty easy to mix and match. However, I can guess by the description of your games I am not as constrained by outside forces as you are. Heck, I can play 5e on the fly with just the improve rules from the DMG.
While it's kind of a neat idea, the problem I have with the proficiency a PC may have with a skill being represented by a die is that trained skill is treated as a swingy part of the result rather than providing reliable stability. In fact, no matter how proficient a master might get (from +1d4 to +1d12), the higher skill never escapes the possibility of adding no more to the result than the trained neophyte. And that seems conceptually wrong to me.
