Often when characters are picking their skills, they try to pick the ones that they have high Ability Scores in, which makes sense. They want to be better at thing they are good at. This unfortunately does leave some characters completely incompetent at/the wrong choice for certain parts of the game, such as gathering information or social interactions.
I’ve been considering a rule that lets characters be decent in at least one part of something they are weak at. All characters gain proficiency in an extra skill, but that skill must be one that is associated with an Ability Score that is their lowest or second lowest (ignoring Constitution).
For example, a character with a 16/10/14/8/13/14 stat line could gain proficiency in any skill that is typically Dexterity or Intelligence based, such as Sleight of Hand or Religion, and a 10/14/10/13/16/12 character could gain any skill that is Strength or Charisma based.
What do you think? Do you have any changes to suggest, and would you consider using this rule as a DM?
Alternatively, to not increase power level too much, what if it was only half proficiency (rounded up)? That’s still around +2 during most of the play time, which is good enough.
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Often when characters are picking their skills, they try to pick the ones that they have high Ability Scores in, which makes sense. They want to be better at thing they are good at. This unfortunately does leave some characters completely incompetent at/the wrong choice for certain parts of the game, such as gathering information or social interactions.
I’ve been considering a rule that lets characters be decent in at least one part of something they are weak at. All characters gain proficiency in an extra skill, but that skill must be one that is associated with an Ability Score that is their lowest or second lowest (ignoring Constitution).
For example, a character with a 16/10/14/8/13/14 stat line could gain proficiency in any skill that is typically Dexterity or Intelligence based, such as Sleight of Hand or Religion, and a 10/14/10/13/16/12 character could gain any skill that is Strength or Charisma based.
What do you think? Do you have any changes to suggest, and would you consider using this rule as a DM?
Alternatively, to not increase power level too much, what if it was only half proficiency (rounded up)? That’s still around +2 during most of the play time, which is good enough.