D&D 5E Tool modifier calculation

[Satyrn]

That said, since your goal is to guess which ability will apply most often to each tool, I can help you by telling you that I think that you've guessed decently. As for the gaming kit, I'd guess Dexterity - but that's because my players like to cheat.


For playing legit, I'd use Intelligence for games like chess and checkers, Charisma for poker, and Wisdom for games that rely on very little skill such as Monopoly.

 

[WilliamCQ]

Wisdom for games that rely on very little skill such as Monopoly.

I assume Blackjack, Roulette and the like falls on that.

 

[Satyrn]

I don't think I would ever have a Roulette check that didn't involve cheating since it's really nothing but luck.


But yes, Blackjack totally feels like a Wisdom check to me. (unless, as you said, you were counting cards)

 

[Kalshane]

Hi all,

Talking about Musical Instrument proficiency and the Performance Skill, my thoughts as a player of a bard is.

If you have proficiently in both then you get a standard roll, else you count as non-proficient in Performance.

Yours

Simon

I'm not sure what you're saying here.

If you're proficient in a musical instrument, you would make an appropriate ability check (generally Dexterity) plus your proficiency modifier when playing that instrument. If you're not proficient, you would make a raw ability check.

If you are singing, dancing, reciting poetry, etc where you're only using your body and/or your voice, you'd be making a Dexterity or Charisma (Perform) check.

The only time you would use a Perform check when playing an instrument would be in a situation where your theatrics are more important than your actual skill with the instrument.

I could see a situation where both are important, in which case I would rule as DM that a successful Musical Instrument check could grant Advantage to a subsequent Perform check (or vice-versa), while a failed one would impose Disadvantage.

 

[seebs]

I think what's confusing you is that you're looking at the tool modifier, but there's no such thing as "tool" checks. There's skill checks, which are based (always!) on an ability score.

You can have proficiency with tools, or with skills. If you are using a specific tool for a given skill check, then if you have proficiency with either the tool or the skill, you add your proficiency bonus to the check. You also always add some ability modifier when making the check.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I think what's confusing you is that you're looking at the tool modifier, but there's no such thing as "tool" checks. There's skill checks, which are based (always!) on an ability score.

You can have proficiency with tools, or with skills. If you are using a specific tool for a given skill check, then if you have proficiency with either the tool or the skill, you add your proficiency bonus to the check. You also always add some ability modifier when making the check.

Actually, the way it works is that there are only ability checks. If you happened to be proficient in a related skill or tool (or both or several), your DM may allow you to add your proficiency bonus to the ability check (only once, not double or triple, etc).

That's it. If you are doing something where both your Perform proficiency and your musical instrument proficiency would apply, you still just make an ability check with proficiency.

As far as the in-character aspect, one can flavor it how you like, but that's how the mechanics are by the book.

 

[seebs]

Huh, you have a point; an ability check could use a tool but not a skill. You're right, I got it wrong.

 

[Ryuutakeshi]

Just popping to point out that creating forgeries and disguises falls under intelligence per chapter 7 of the PHB. Granted, it's still up to the DM buts it makes int more appealing.