D&D 5E Would you of preferred this Proficiency Bonus instead of what we got?

[Nefermandias]

If anything, I would have preferred the game use the 3d6 bell curve instead of the d20 for the core mechanic. 3d6 emphasizes your ability modifier and proficiency bonus over dumb luck on the roll.

There's nothing worse than making an important Stealth roll with a +8 bonus, only to roll a 2 on the d20. The 3d6 makes rolls around 10 or 11 far more likely, so your modifier makes a bigger difference while still leaving some variation for random events/circumstances.

3d6 makes the result so predictable that we might as well get rid of the check and just have the DM decide on the outcome.

 

[Amrûnril]

Bringing the proficiency bonus down to +1 would make skill proficiencies almost irrelevant at low levels. If anything, my preference would for low level characters' skill proficiencies to matter a bit more.

I don't think it matters much for combat proficiency, since characters are generally assumed to be proficient in their attacks, and the math can be adjusted accordingly.

 

[LordEntrails]

No I don't like your new system. I do not care is a number is odd or even, or if the bonus to a roll is +10 or +15. I think it's an OCD thing on your part

 

[Campbell]

I would prefer Expertise as a set value instead of doubling proficiency bonus. Maybe +3. I do not like how the gap between trained practitioners and specialists just keeps getting wider and wider as you level.

 

[Jaeger]

If anything, I would have preferred the game use the 3d6 bell curve instead of the d20 for the core mechanic. 3d6 emphasizes your ability modifier and proficiency bonus over dumb luck on the roll.

There's nothing worse than making an important Stealth roll with a +8 bonus, only to roll a 2 on the d20. The 3d6 makes rolls around 10 or 11 far more likely, so your modifier makes a bigger difference while still leaving some variation for random events/circumstances.

IMHO The 3d6 bell curve is almost too perfect for RPG’s.

The cutoff points for skills where you will almost always fail a roll, or almost always succeed, are too predictable.

For GURPS a mod is to exchange 3d6 for 2d10.

The flatter pyramid "curve" of 2d10 stretches the probabilities out so PC’s will have a wider range where their skill bonuses are still relevant, but do not tend to deliver "automatic" results.

Members of my group have found that going to 2d10 actually makes for a better play experience in GURPS over time.

Others mileage may vary...

 

[delericho]

I prefer it as-is. That proposed +1 bonus at the lowest levels is just too low, IMO.

If we were to make a change, I might be inclined to turn the bonus into dice: +2 becomes +1d4, +3 becomes +1d6, etc. And then Expertise becomes +2d4, 2d6, etc.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Worrying about "clean math" when you need your PC at least 17th level and with a +5 in their primary stat for it to actually matter seems to be a major waste of time unless you actually intend on playing there for significant amounts of time. And even then... very few (if any) characters will have ALL their skill proficiencies using that one primary stat at +5, which means any of the other skills that use other ability scores won't have that "clean math" either.

 

[Shiroiken]

If anything, I would have preferred the game use the 3d6 bell curve instead of the d20 for the core mechanic. 3d6 emphasizes your ability modifier and proficiency bonus over dumb luck on the roll.

There's nothing worse than making an important Stealth roll with a +8 bonus, only to roll a 2 on the d20. The 3d6 makes rolls around 10 or 11 far more likely, so your modifier makes a bigger difference while still leaving some variation for random events/circumstances.

I'm a bigger fan of 1d8+1d12. It's a flatter curve, providing a good range of medium scores, while keeping the extreme ends still uncommon/rare.

 

[ART!]

I simply cannot let the title of this thread go uncorrected.*

"Would you have preferred this Proficiency Bonus instead of what we got?"​

* I mean, sure I could have...

 

[Slit518]

I simply cannot let the title of this thread go uncorrected.

"Would you have preferred this Proficiency Bonus instead of what we got?"​

I mean, sure I could have...

Ah, yes, I see my mistake now.
I know better, I just do it on occasion without even realizing it.