I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around gaming sets and proficiencies. At first glance I can’t figure out how to use these rules in game besides pure fluff. Is there an example in an (official) pre written adventure where gaming sets and proficiencies were important to the scenerio?
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"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
If by proficiencies, you mean tools' proficiencies, in Xanathar's Guide to Everything there is a nice section where it is suggested how to use tools and game sets in a meaningful way.
to me it's about fluff and gambling... if that's a thing.
I do find it stupid that EACH game is a proficiency. Because it apparently takes 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess and that's with an instructor.
Yeah the rules on gaming sets and gaming proficiencies don’t make sense. Maybe it’s a very lame marketing ploy to sell Three Dragon Ante. I’m bummed that WotC would devote that much space to something so poorly thought out. I had high hopes that someone here would prove me wrong. Sigh.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
to me it's about fluff and gambling... if that's a thing.
I do find it stupid that EACH game is a proficiency. Because it apparently takes 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess and that's with an instructor.
To be fair, it's not 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess, it's 250 days and 250 gold to become measurably better than your peers. It's the difference between someone who plays chess and a chess expert, or the difference between someone who plays poker with his buddies and a poker shark. The only people who are Better at the game at that point are those with expertise, who are like the world masters of the game. Do I think it would ever be worth it in game to pursue that proficiency? No, absolutely not, I'm just saying, it's not just learning how to play, it's learning how to play well.
to me it's about fluff and gambling... if that's a thing.
I do find it stupid that EACH game is a proficiency. Because it apparently takes 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess and that's with an instructor.
To be fair, it's not 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess, it's 250 days and 250 gold to become measurably better than your peers. It's the difference between someone who plays chess and a chess expert, or the difference between someone who plays poker with his buddies and a poker shark. The only people who are Better at the game at that point are those with expertise, who are like the world masters of the game. Do I think it would ever be worth it in game to pursue that proficiency? No, absolutely not, I'm just saying, it's not just learning how to play, it's learning how to play well.
This!
Also in Out of the Abyss there is a wizard who a player can play at chess (3x Int check, wizard is at +9 I think) to get some items/NPCs/minions. So I guess it would be useful there.
If you're proficient at one type it doesn't translate over to the other - even similar games can be radically different (chess is different to checkers despite the identical board)
Ehh... just don't bother with gaming sets if you can. I have been asking WotC staff forever to clarify some rules on it and ..... literally no dice.
Also it looks like it is up to your DM to decide the specifics. My DM thinks gambling as a vice so the character should lose more often as not to demonstrate a moral compass.
As for xanathar's it is a good start, but overall almost ANY tool prof is better then gambling unless your character is a gambler (like mine), but sadly there is no joy in gambling as a gambler in a DM's world where it is not meant to be fun but instructional.
I actually found a use for those damn gaming sets finally. I had a player whose character was a half-orc barbarian in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. After a couple of sessions the player came to me and said he didn't think his character was a good fit for the game. I convinced him to leverage his gaming set in that he set up a regular dice table at Trollskull Manor and meet underworld contacts. I also figured the "house always wins" so he got advantage at his own table. This let the character participate in the social aspect of the adventure, even though his character wasn't very social. Took 3 years but I finally worked those gaming sets into something cool.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around gaming sets and proficiencies. At first glance I can’t figure out how to use these rules in game besides pure fluff. Is there an example in an (official) pre written adventure where gaming sets and proficiencies were important to the scenerio?
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
If by proficiencies, you mean tools' proficiencies, in Xanathar's Guide to Everything there is a nice section where it is suggested how to use tools and game sets in a meaningful way.
to me it's about fluff and gambling... if that's a thing.
I do find it stupid that EACH game is a proficiency.
Because it apparently takes 250 days and 250 gold to learn how to play cards or chess and that's with an instructor.
Yeah the rules on gaming sets and gaming proficiencies don’t make sense. Maybe it’s a very lame marketing ploy to sell Three Dragon Ante. I’m bummed that WotC would devote that much space to something so poorly thought out. I had high hopes that someone here would prove me wrong. Sigh.
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)
I think there’s a weretiger in ToA that has a three dragon ante, but he can’t play, but someone with Prof. Could teach him
Ehh... just don't bother with gaming sets if you can. I have been asking WotC staff forever to clarify some rules on it and ..... literally no dice.
Also it looks like it is up to your DM to decide the specifics. My DM thinks gambling as a vice so the character should lose more often as not to demonstrate a moral compass.
As for xanathar's it is a good start, but overall almost ANY tool prof is better then gambling unless your character is a gambler (like mine), but sadly there is no joy in gambling as a gambler in a DM's world where it is not meant to be fun but instructional.
sigh....
It's not Magic its Science
I actually found a use for those damn gaming sets finally. I had a player whose character was a half-orc barbarian in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. After a couple of sessions the player came to me and said he didn't think his character was a good fit for the game. I convinced him to leverage his gaming set in that he set up a regular dice table at Trollskull Manor and meet underworld contacts. I also figured the "house always wins" so he got advantage at his own table. This let the character participate in the social aspect of the adventure, even though his character wasn't very social. Took 3 years but I finally worked those gaming sets into something cool.
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – William Gibson, Neuromancer
You are a very good DM.
a benevolent universe is always the best to play in.
:)
It's not Magic its Science