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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8177655" data-attributes="member: 2629">I think a lot of people would benefit from looking at skill checks the way I do.&nbsp; It is not a question of which skill to use, but a question of whether a skill applies.&nbsp; When a situation arises that requires a skill check, I let the PCs tell me what they want to do and then we quickly figure out what type of ability check(s) make sense.&nbsp; Figuring something out?&nbsp; That is intelligence?&nbsp; Intuiting or perceiving it?&nbsp; Wisdom.&nbsp; Nimbleness?&nbsp; Dexterity.&nbsp; Sometimes the answer for which skill applies to a challenge can be determined by the approach the PC wants to take to beating the challenge.&nbsp; Sometimes there may be a couple alternatives that make sense - strength or dexterity.&nbsp; Intelligence or wisdom.&nbsp; Once I know which method the PC wants to take and we've figured out the ability score, I ask if there is a reason for the PC to be proficient.&nbsp; Maybe they have a skill proficiency that applies to the situation.&nbsp; Maybe they have a tool proficiency, a background feature, or personal experience within the game that would make them proficient.&nbsp; For example, if there were a famous jewel and the PCs found it, and they wanted to know if they recognized it by the description, I would allow an intelligence check.&nbsp; It would be proficient for anyone with Jeweler's Kit proficiency, history proficiency, or that had a background where they dealt with Jewels.&nbsp; For another example, if a PC told a threatening lie to an NPC in order to encourage them to do the thing that the NPC knew they should do, but didn't want to do, I'd call for a charisma check and allow them to be proficient on the check whether they had intimidation, deception, or persuasion.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8177655, member: 2629"] I think a lot of people would benefit from looking at skill checks the way I do. It is not a question of which skill to use, but a question of whether a skill applies. When a situation arises that requires a skill check, I let the PCs tell me what they want to do and then we quickly figure out what type of ability check(s) make sense. Figuring something out? That is intelligence? Intuiting or perceiving it? Wisdom. Nimbleness? Dexterity. Sometimes the answer for which skill applies to a challenge can be determined by the approach the PC wants to take to beating the challenge. Sometimes there may be a couple alternatives that make sense - strength or dexterity. Intelligence or wisdom. Once I know which method the PC wants to take and we've figured out the ability score, I ask if there is a reason for the PC to be proficient. Maybe they have a skill proficiency that applies to the situation. Maybe they have a tool proficiency, a background feature, or personal experience within the game that would make them proficient. For example, if there were a famous jewel and the PCs found it, and they wanted to know if they recognized it by the description, I would allow an intelligence check. It would be proficient for anyone with Jeweler's Kit proficiency, history proficiency, or that had a background where they dealt with Jewels. For another example, if a PC told a threatening lie to an NPC in order to encourage them to do the thing that the NPC knew they should do, but didn't want to do, I'd call for a charisma check and allow them to be proficient on the check whether they had intimidation, deception, or persuasion. [/QUOTE]

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