I have a party with a rogue who based on subclass choice at 3rd level (Inquisitive) wishes to switch their expertise in order to better sync up with Insightful Fighting. The playstyle and story that have emerged for the character back up this change, but I don't see any written rules around characters changing expertise when leveling up. In effect, the player didn't know they would choose Inquisitive when setting the character up at 1st level, so they didn't think to choose Insight for Expertise. Alternately, I could have them just wait until 6th level when they can choose additional skills for Expertise. I'm inclined to let them switch now. Any other people encounter this issue and make a ruling?
Raw, he'd need to wait till level 4 to get that expertise via a feat, or wait until he gets his next expertise at level 6.
But there is basically no reason you couldn't just let him swap it now, especially if there is good story justification for it. There is nothing broken about it, and his subclass even kind of needs it to operate.
I would allow any "lack of foresight" mistakes like that especially if the change is more fitting for the character. As long as the player isn't taking the micky and wanting to change expertise every session (or every skill check!!!!)
I know it's not RAW, but I generally allow players to change any kind of character choice at a level up, as long as the player isn't clearly abusing the concept. So fighters can change Fighting Styles, Sorcerers can swap out Cantrips, whatever. As long as they're not just clearly re-speccing their whole character at every level up just to handle whatever challenge they're currently facing.
Thanks, Folks! Most people are advocating for the direction I was leaning in. I plan to allow the switch! As a DM, I tend to favor leveling-up changes that fit with the stories developing around characters -- the players I work with aren't min-maxers seeking to abuse such changes.
As homebrew I allow anybody to change their character's entire class (and rearrange the stats) up through level 4. I don't see an issue with it. If you want to make it extra creepy then have a shady broker charge for the service and let a Mind Flayer rewrite their pathways.
I'd probably let them switch, especially if they're a newer player. But only the once. They've got two more Expertise skills coming in a few levels, after all.
I too would allow them to switch. I find that it is much better for a player to have a character that they are enjoying playing. Having to play the character with less than ideal choices just because you didn't know what sub-class you might take a few weeks or months down the road tends to make the character less fun to play. So, by all means change it.
I also find this is more common with newer players who aren't sure of mechanics or what they want to play. Old school might have insisted that you made your choices and now you are stuck with them but that isn't much fun for anyone. As long as a player doesn't "abuse" rebuilding options, I really don't see a reason to prevent a player from changing up their character entirely, it is usually easy enough to fit this kind of change into the story line one way or another even if it means just pretending that they were that way all along.
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I have a party with a rogue who based on subclass choice at 3rd level (Inquisitive) wishes to switch their expertise in order to better sync up with Insightful Fighting. The playstyle and story that have emerged for the character back up this change, but I don't see any written rules around characters changing expertise when leveling up. In effect, the player didn't know they would choose Inquisitive when setting the character up at 1st level, so they didn't think to choose Insight for Expertise. Alternately, I could have them just wait until 6th level when they can choose additional skills for Expertise. I'm inclined to let them switch now. Any other people encounter this issue and make a ruling?
Raw, he'd need to wait till level 4 to get that expertise via a feat, or wait until he gets his next expertise at level 6.
But there is basically no reason you couldn't just let him swap it now, especially if there is good story justification for it. There is nothing broken about it, and his subclass even kind of needs it to operate.
I would allow any "lack of foresight" mistakes like that especially if the change is more fitting for the character. As long as the player isn't taking the micky and wanting to change expertise every session (or every skill check!!!!)
I know it's not RAW, but I generally allow players to change any kind of character choice at a level up, as long as the player isn't clearly abusing the concept. So fighters can change Fighting Styles, Sorcerers can swap out Cantrips, whatever. As long as they're not just clearly re-speccing their whole character at every level up just to handle whatever challenge they're currently facing.
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Thanks, Folks! Most people are advocating for the direction I was leaning in. I plan to allow the switch! As a DM, I tend to favor leveling-up changes that fit with the stories developing around characters -- the players I work with aren't min-maxers seeking to abuse such changes.
As homebrew I allow anybody to change their character's entire class (and rearrange the stats) up through level 4. I don't see an issue with it. If you want to make it extra creepy then have a shady broker charge for the service and let a Mind Flayer rewrite their pathways.
I'd probably let them switch, especially if they're a newer player. But only the once. They've got two more Expertise skills coming in a few levels, after all.
I too would allow them to switch. I find that it is much better for a player to have a character that they are enjoying playing. Having to play the character with less than ideal choices just because you didn't know what sub-class you might take a few weeks or months down the road tends to make the character less fun to play. So, by all means change it.
I also find this is more common with newer players who aren't sure of mechanics or what they want to play. Old school might have insisted that you made your choices and now you are stuck with them but that isn't much fun for anyone. As long as a player doesn't "abuse" rebuilding options, I really don't see a reason to prevent a player from changing up their character entirely, it is usually easy enough to fit this kind of change into the story line one way or another even if it means just pretending that they were that way all along.