D&D 5E What tools would you choose?

[NaturalZero]

I just jumped into a RofFM campaign and, with the advent of Tasha's, I find that I have a pile of tool proficiencies. More, in fact, than I even know what to do with.

The dim light of the entire storyline has given me the opportunity to run a duergar without worrying about sunlight sensitivity and, with the new Tasha's options, base dwarf gives me 5 tool profs. My background gives me another, and the rune knight gives me smithy's tools. The fire rune gives me double proficiency bonus on all tool ability checks, so I've stumbled into the role of "tool guy."

Smithy's Tools are a lock and Thieves' Tools seems super practical. If you won the tool prof lottery, what would you pick?

 

[EzekielRaiden]

The three "useful" tools are Thieves' Tools, Herbalism Kit, and Disguise kit. (Many disagree about how useful they are, but they do at least have defined uses.) Theoretically, Poisoner's Kit and Forgery Kit also have uses, but I'd call them a slightly lower tier, personally.

If you're a Duergar Rune Knight, Calligrapher's Supplies might make sense, representing your attention to the power of language and depicting runes in graphical form before applying them to forged or carved items. Likewise, forgery might be something in your wheelhouse if you want to play up the language angle. Jeweler's, Carpenter's, Mason's, and Glassblower's tools could all also make sense if your expertise with rune-carving came out of professional interest originally; Carpenter/Mason/Leatherworker/Glassblower/Calligraphy implies an architectural or furniture-crafting origin, while Herbalism/Disguise/Calligraphy/Jeweler/Forgery might imply a more criminal/larcenous origin.

Alchemist's Supplies has the potential to let you craft both alchemical items and social-use items (perfume and soap), if your DM permits crafting and/or makes social presentability a concern. That could be interesting, and act more as a complement to rune magic rather than something directly related to it.

Cooking stuff is always a fun way to be useful to the group, assuming your group tracks food (or your DM lets you create food that is better than simple rations). Pairs nicely with Brewer's Supplies, since that lets you purify otherwise-undrinkable water during the course of a long rest.

Since you've mentioned sunlight isn't a problem, you're probably underground. Cartographer's Tools would let you make maps and orient yourself more easily, which could help avoid getting lost.

Most of the other options feel like they would be best chosen if they align with a character idea (e.g. Painter's + Potter's implies a highly artistic background, creating painted urns or statuary) rather than for any utility per se.

 

[NaturalZero]

I forgot that the herbalism kit lets your craft healing potions. That has potential.

 

[bedir than]

Tools help you tell the story about what you were before you became a hero. Lean into that. Figure out what you want to have been and how that influenced who you are now.

Or, ask your DM if you can have a set of coffee gear. Everyone needs a pick me up.

Yes, I wrote both stories at the links.

 

[bedir than]

I just jumped into a RofFM campaign and, with the advent of Tasha's, I find that I have a pile of tool proficiencies. More, in fact, than I even know what to do with.

The dim light of the entire storyline has given me the opportunity to run a duergar without worrying about sunlight sensitivity and, with the new Tasha's options, base dwarf gives me 5 tool profs. My background gives me another, and the rune knight gives me smithy's tools. The fire rune gives me double proficiency bonus on all tool ability checks, so I've stumbled into the role of "tool guy."
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Smithy's Tools are a lock and Thieves' Tools seems super practical. If you won the tool prof lottery, what would you pick?

What did you go with?

 

[NaturalZero]

What did you go with?

Alchemist's Supplies, Calligrapher's Supplies, Mason's Tools, Poisoner's Kit, Smith's Tools, Thieves' Tools, Tinker's Tools.

The character is a clan craftsman who's defecting from duergar society in order to start a worker's revolution. Anything crafty seemed like a decent fit.

 

[GMMichael]

If you won the tool prof lottery, what would you pick?

Gnomish Pressure Cooker. Makes food and does damage.
Spectacles. Perceive doesn't work without them.
Rope. So I can Use Rope. Wait, I think they fixed that in fifth ed...

I forgot that the herbalism kit lets your craft healing potions. That has potential.

Wounded Fighter: Herbalist! I need healing!

Herbalist: Show me your ailment, that I may heal you.

WF: Show you? I lost 22 hit points!

Herb: And what may I heal? How did you lose those hit points?

WF: I, uh, my armor is scratched?

Herb: Can't help you.

WF: Well, I have some scrapes on my knees and elbows. Look at 'em!

Herb: Let the blood dry. You'll be fine.

WF: Fine, I have a gaping wound in my gut! Heal me!

Herb: You need someone with Stitching Tools, not herbalism. Or a priest's Last Rites kit. . .

 

[LordEntrails]

7 tool proficiencies... I would have to rethink a lot of things before I allowed a player to do something like that. Just makes me think Tasha's is not a good addition

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Thieves tools (if there's not already a rogue in the party) and herbalism kit would certainly get my vote. Though, I'd confirm with the DM that they'll be okay with you crafting them - without spoiling anything, due to the nature of the campaign, I could see some DMs saying that the resources aren't available.

Additionally, navigators tools and water and/or land vehicles could be useful.

I forgot that the herbalism kit lets your craft healing potions. That has potential.

 

[MNblockhead]

In my game cartographers tools are the most important. On my VTT there is an option to have sight keep areas of the map that have been explored revealed. That option is only on if at least one character has cartographer tool proficiency and they are using it as their passive ability, meaning they are not checking for traps, watching for ambushes, etc. Other characters need to be keeping a look out and checking for traps, etc.

I also use the rules in Xanathar's to make tool proficiencies more useful.

I'm running an old-school-inspired mega-dungeon crawl, so thieves tools are very useful.

Masons, Carpenters, Smithing, and similar tools were much more important at tier one. But now, because of spells available at higher levels, and because the characters are rich, many of those trade-craft type tools don't come into play much.