Questions tagged [skills]
For questions about skills, abilities of characters that describe their capabilities in a range of areas.
983
questions
10
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3answers
3k views
Can a Rogue find an undetectable Trap?
While the title seems to already anwser the question on it's own (there's no way you can detect something undetectable), should that really be the case?
Let's check three examples:
Collapsing Floor ...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
When performing a group check, is it better to have an even number of creatures?
The rules for group checks say:
To make a group ability check, everyone in the group makes the ability check. If at least half the group succeeds, the whole group succeeds.
So, for groups of 1 and 2,...
28
votes
5answers
3k views
Should a sneaking group use group checks?
I always considered sneaking to be a per character check, because I have a hard time imagining a paladin in shiny, heavy and loud armor sneaking silently, just because a rogue with stealth expertise ...
1
vote
2answers
280 views
What ability or skill check would cover surfing on a shield down stairs, and what would the DC be for such an action?
Based on existing DCs, what would a ballpark number be for a group of 4 7th-level individuals to surf a single shared tower shield down a series of flights of stairs (each turning at 90 degrees at ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
Should forcing open doors be Strength or Strength (Athletics)
According to RAW, should forcing stuck/locked/barred doors open be a Strength check, or a Strength (Athletics) check?
As I read the description of the Strength ability and the Athletics skill in the ...
2
votes
1answer
188 views
When replacing the Variant Human race with a lineage, do you keep the skill proficiency gained through the Prodigy feat?
Each of the lineages from Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft has a feature called Ancestral Legacy, which states:
If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that ...
5
votes
1answer
105 views
Are you able to apply your tool proficiency bonus when there is an overlap with a skill but you are not proficient in that skill?
So for DnD 5e, XGtE expanded/clarified the use of Tool Proficiencies and very specifically talks about when skill and tool proficiencies overlap and what to do in those situations (advantage or added ...
16
votes
1answer
377 views
When do individual ability checks become group ability checks?
In the section Working Together, the basic rules state:
Sometimes two or more characters team up to attempt a task. The character who's leading the effort — or the one with the highest ability ...
36
votes
13answers
6k views
How to DM unlikely strength checks
A question for all DMs out there. So, part of the fun of D&D derives from the randomness of the dice, and to interpret their results in a sensible way -even within the broad boundaries of a make-...
7
votes
0answers
50 views
Determining creature rarity in Starfinder
I have a player at my Starfinder table who is really keen to use her bonuses for identifying rare creatures, but has never gotten a chance to.
I'd assumed none of the encountered creatures were ever ...
5
votes
1answer
289 views
What happens when a race skill and a class skill is the same?
In D&D 4th edition, the PC of
class Assassin gets training in Stealth,
race Shade gets training in Stealth (Heroes of Shadow, page 121, "Practiced Sneak: You have training in Stealth.")....
6
votes
2answers
196 views
Can intelligent items be intimidated?
I know these are technically immune to mind effecting spells and effects, but can they still be intimidated? I feel like intelligent weapons or items would be capable of fearing their destruction. ...
6
votes
2answers
655 views
Can a druid in Wild Shape use the Medicine skill to stabilize a dying creature?
The PHB description of the Medicine skill is paltry. Wild Shape doesn't seem to cover skills like Medicine, though it does say you retain skill proficiencies.
Can a druid in Wild Shape use the ...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the most number of skills a character can gain Expertise in?
I was reading through the Scout's Survivalist feature and noted that it is a manner by which a character can both gain skill proficiency plus Expertise in one shot. This got me wondering how many ...
5
votes
1answer
714 views
Does the “Changing a Skill” optional rule from Tasha's allow me to change a skill proficiency from the background for one offered by the class?
Does the "Changing a Skill" optional rule from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (p. 8) allow me to replace a skill proficiency from my background with a skill proficiency offered by my class?
...
9
votes
1answer
453 views
Can I add my skills before checking for feat requirement?
So, when I level up my character in PF1, I choose a new class, add its feature, then skills and feats. But what if I want to add Signature Skill Feat as my level 5 feat. It requires 5 skill ranks in ...
39
votes
4answers
5k views
How to handle “I investigate for <this particular thing>” checks
The characters enter a room, and get the general "what do you see" spiel.
One player announces that he wants to "Investigate the room for ". (Let's say "investigate for odd ...
2
votes
2answers
131 views
If using spell Speak with Animals persuasion rather than animal handling for checks?
Wondering about a ruling if I am using the spell Speak with Animals rather than trying to communicate my intentions with the animal via Animal Handling skill for checks for communicating after casting ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Is there any precedent for doubling the proficiency bonus only if the character has a given skill proficiency?
A number of character classes features that allow them to double their proficiency bonus when using selected skill proficiencies. An example is the Bard's:
[C]hoose two of your skill proficiencies. ...
7
votes
1answer
485 views
Do skill bonuses in monster stat blocks include every modifier?
Let's take this stat block as an example. It says the creature has +2 DEX and +6 Stealth. Does the Stealth bonus already include the ability modifier, making a stealth check for this creature ...
4
votes
2answers
788 views
Is there any way to get proficiency (or expertise/doubled proficiency) in Constitution checks?
I was looking for any official way - class feature, magic item, anything - for a character to add their proficiency to any form of Constitution check, but I couldn't find anything. Is it possible to ...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
Do items which add to some ability affect your skill modifier? [duplicate]
I just received armor which adds +2 to my charisma. Does it also affect my skills like performance and persuasion?
If possible, could you link some source in your answer? I searched and didn't find ...
17
votes
2answers
1k views
Does making an ability check take an action?
The only ability checks that are listed as an action in the game are Dexterity (Stealth) when taking the Hide action, and Wisdom (Perception) or Intelligence (Investigation) for the Search action. Do ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Can I stabilize a character if I don't have proficiency in the Medicine skill or any healing equipment or abilities?
Can I stabilize someone by simply rolling a DC 10 Wisdom check if I don't have the Medicine Skill or any other healing-related equipment or abilities?
35
votes
3answers
3k views
What do you roll to sleep in a hidden spot?
Scenario: a character is alone in the forest, and needs to sleep. Of course, they don't want to get killed in their sleep, so they try to sleep in a hidden spot, like inside the treetops, heavily ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
Do any Alchemist class features require Craft checks?
Advanced Alchemy and Quick Alchemy explicitly do not require Craft checks.
Chirurgeons could use Craft instead of Medicine, but they need to advance the latter for the many useful skill feats.
So it ...
4
votes
1answer
103 views
How do aliens without the Medicine Skill stop the bleeding condition?
According to Starfinder's bleeding condition rules:
You take the listed amount of damage at the beginning of your turn each round until this condition ends. Your bleeding can be stopped with a ...
0
votes
2answers
89 views
What are some ways one might implement a more story-driven spell/skill acquisition? [closed]
What are some ways one might implement a more story-driven spell/skill acquisition? Hopefully in a way that isn't a complete slog.
The idea of the players' handbook being used as a shopping catalogue ...
8
votes
2answers
590 views
How can, by Raw, Animal Handling be used with a mount?
My question is: How can you use the animal handling skill in a mount? does it help to controll it, to make it not be afraid of something, etc or is just DM-dependent?
2
votes
3answers
204 views
Can you stealth against tremorsense?
I am confused to the interaction between the monster special ability tremorsense and the skills of perception and stealth.
Specifically what my issue is that tremorsense gets to "automatically ...
4
votes
0answers
35 views
Interaction between Telemechanics and a Glitter Boy Power Armor, what would happen?
A Mind Melter finds a functioning and unattended suit of Glitter Boy Power Armor. The Mind Melter decides to use Telemechanics on it in order to pilot it.
The Glitter Boy OCC states that non GB pilots ...
7
votes
2answers
412 views
What happens if you cast Giant Insect on a Ranger's Companion?
In the Players Handbook I noticed Giant Insect spell. I was interested in Spider and Scorpion (I will further mention only the Scorpion), since they can be Beastmaster's pets. It looks like ...
12
votes
2answers
950 views
Is Initiative a check?
Inspired by debate on this question's answer, are the rolls made for Initiative considered checks (for purposes such as Conditions affecting them)?
8
votes
1answer
275 views
What rules have been written for 5e D&D on Failing Forward?
I am looking for the rules in various 5e D&D books for allowing characters to add 1 or 2 points to their die-roll when they roll slightly too low. Searching Stack Exchange i found this, quoted ...
3
votes
1answer
142 views
How can another character make an animal handling check to make a homunculus a companions for other party members?
I plan to give the party an opportunity to find a homonculus in a defeated necromancer lair and possibly make it their animal companion if they wish to.
The druid characters could probably make the ...
25
votes
5answers
3k views
How do I use Charisma, Persuasion, or other checks through a translator?
My hapless band of seven adventurers of eighth-level are about to encounter unfriendly Lizardfolk, who only speak Draconic.
The only character that speaks Draconic is the Wizard with bad breath (CHA 8,...
6
votes
1answer
74 views
Unified Theory + Trick Magic Item would they work together to use magic items?
If you got Unified Theory and Trick Magic Item (Arcana) could you use magic items (EX - Scrolls, Wands, and Staves) from other spell traditions?
indigochild said on this post that the requirements are
...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What skill applies to a player handling a domesticated monstrosity?
This question is prompted by this answer, which argues that Animal Handling is a wrong skill for managing an INT 3 monstrosity, a Grick tamed by some goblins.
A more common example case of this might ...
5
votes
1answer
134 views
How might one permanently change the key ability for the Craft skill from INT to DEX?
How might one permanently change the key ability for a specific skill from a mental to a physical stat?
Specifically the Craft skill, and from INT to DEX, relating to a character that can carve ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
If your class gives you a choice of skills to be trained in, can you choose a skill you're already trained in to gain a free skill choice?
I know that if a class would make you trained in a skill you're already trained in, you can select another skill to become trained in.
My question is about classes that let you pick between certain ...
33
votes
10answers
7k views
Is it ok to lie to players rolling an insight?
I've just started DMing (D&D-5e).
I have a question about the Insight mechanic. I've formulated this problem using D&D but the system is otherwise irrelevant (I'm talking about every ...
7
votes
2answers
879 views
How does the Variant: Skills with Different Abilities rule affect the game?
The PHB mentions how it is possible to make ability checks based on different abilities, a variant "Skills with Different Abilities" rule.
In some situations, though, your proficiency might ...
3
votes
1answer
556 views
Is the Wisdom (Survival) skill used for both tracking and finding tracks?
The rules mention that to follow tracks, you need to find them. It is also mentioned that it can take up to an hour outdoors to find tracks you have lost - all under tracking, which is Wisdom (...
4
votes
1answer
529 views
using Guidance and Resistance for long term effects
The Guidance and Resistance cantrips both last for 1 minite, but a lot of saves and checks represent longer stretches of time, and I want to know if those cantrips can be applied in those situations.
...
5
votes
2answers
167 views
Does a player need to perform a successful tool check with their Mason's Tools proficiency to benefit from the Demolition feature?
The entry for Mason's Tools within XGE (p83) lists this as one of the proficiency's benefits:
Demolition. Your knowledge of masonry allows you to spot weak points in brick walls. You deal double ...
3
votes
2answers
115 views
When does initiative happen after a failed sleight of hand check?
If someone uses sleight of hand and gets noticed, can they still take their movement or swift action before initiative is rolled? Or is initiative rolled as soon as they fail their check? (assuming ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
Variant: Skills with Different Abilities confuses me
In the 5e PHB, the Variant: Skills with Different Abilities topic confuses the hell out of me.
Your DM might call for a Constitution Check... Your DM might allow you to apply your proficiency in ...
4
votes
3answers
570 views
What is the highest average charisma skill check a solo character can get, without directly using magic?
I was building a character that had levels in Fey Wanderer Ranger, that gains Otherworldly Glamour which allows you to add wisdom to charisma checks, and then I noticed Samurai fighters get Elegant ...
5
votes
1answer
43 views
Is there any official (or semi-official) clarification on how often Psychic Virtuoso allows a character to use occult skill unlocks?
The description of the Psychic Virtuoso feat from Occult Adventures states "You can use all of your occult skill unlocks more often and you are more talented at using them." However, the ...
4
votes
1answer
160 views
Is there a roll to determine if a character knows of a spell's existence?
Spellcraft can be used to identify a spell as it is being cast. Is there a roll to know of the existence of a spell? It seems like if you can identify a spell as it is being cast, you probably already ...
