I'm currently thinking about playing a ranger for an upcoming campaign, who has 17 dex and 8 strength (I'm maxing out my dex eventually). Is it better to put proficiency in athletics or acrobatics? In general, is it better to specialize or to cover up my weakness?
I'm currently leaning towards athletics because it feels like many of the situations are personal and can't be compensated by having a companion being good at it. I can always ask my bard to do the talking, or the wizard to investigate a magic item for me. But I generally can't ask an ally for help if I'm swiming against a current or scaling a wall (that we all need to climb). All thoughts are appreciated
I agree on Athletics. It generally comes up more frequently than acrobatics, as the scenarios that adventurers get into frequently involve their endurance, which is what Athletics is used for (swimming, hiking, etc).
I'd take proficiency in Athletics since you already have a good Dexterity and Strenght (Athetlics) check are used when climbing and swimming among other things, so it would help alleviate your a penalty to the Strenght modifier.
I'm going to be different and say go with acrobatics. Assuming you're going with the Tasha's rules for Deft Explorer, then you'll get a swimming and climbing speed. This happens at 6th level though so you'll have to compensate with rope or whatever until then. It's really not any different than other low strength characters (wizards) have to manage. You can also use a background/race to pick up the proficiency if you want.
I agree with lathius, go for acrobatics. I prefer to specialize than compensate. And then try to be creative in finding ways to narrate your actions to use your specialization, don’t climb up the wall, parkour up the wall.
I agree with lathius, go for acrobatics. I prefer to specialize than compensate. And then try to be creative in finding ways to narrate your actions to use your specialization, don’t climb up the wall, parkour up the wall.
In my experience, most of what people want to use Acrobatics for, actually falls under Athletics. Parkouring up a wall is very athletic and requires a lot of strength. Acrobatics is more like walking a tightrope or running on ice, which require a lot of dexterity.
You're really at the mercy of what the DM decides, as this is one of those topics that a lot of people aren't clear on, making house-rules more common than official rules regarding this distinction at tables.
Yeah I agree, with the parkouring up a wall being athletic more than acrobatic. It's usually easier to have someone else climb the wall then lower a rope.
I'm going to be different and say go with acrobatics. Assuming you're going with the Tasha's rules for Deft Explorer, then you'll get a swimming and climbing speed. This happens at 6th level though so you'll have to compensate with rope or whatever until then. It's really not any different than other low strength characters (wizards) have to manage. You can also use a background/race to pick up the proficiency if you want.
Keep in mind that having a swimming or climbing speed doesn't eliminate the Athletics check, it just means you don't move at half-speed. The DM can still call for the skill check if they feel the difficulty warrants it.
Yeah but if it's slippery or rough water you're going to want to do more than just dive in/climb up free hand even if you're proficient in athletics. As a dex based character, I'd rather put proficiency in acrobatics so I can escape a grapple and use a grapling hook, rope, climbing gear, magic, etc. to get me through challenges.
The real key here is to look at the results. Going in with the 8 strength and 17 Dex you have a +3 for any Dex (acrobatics) roll and a -1 for any strength (athletics) roll. If you specialize you keep the -1 and jump the +3 to +5, if you compensate then the -1 goes to +1 and the +3 stays the same. Given that you are going to be getting both with strength checks arguably more frequent which makes more sense? Then keep in mind that at level 5 you proficiency increases so your athletic checks become +2 while your acrobatics check stay +3. I’m sure others will disagree but for me I prefer to be decent at everything even if not great at anything over having holes in my skill sets that can get me killed easily.
I dump strength in my games all the time and have not been penalized at all for it. Saying killed easily is a little overboard unless you're just being reckless. I mean the DC of the challenge should drop considerably if you're using a knotted rope to climb instead of just free climbing a slippery surface. It's usually more or at least equal to the PB gap. I'm more afraid of the creature that's going to swallow you next turn if you don't escape their grapple. As a ranged character I also don't want to be pinned down and would rather slip away.
At least in my games, the challenges that present themselves as strength challenges don't come up super often and there's always alternate means to solve the problem (usually with gear). Let the fighter/paladin climb/swim to the other side and set up a rope. Let the wood worker build a boat. It's seriously ok if you're character's not good at everything. It's fun for other players when they can help fill a need because they are really good at something. Now personally I like working it out so I have both on a martial character, but if I can only choose one, then I play to what gives me the biggest bonus.
Hello everyone
I'm currently thinking about playing a ranger for an upcoming campaign, who has 17 dex and 8 strength (I'm maxing out my dex eventually). Is it better to put proficiency in athletics or acrobatics? In general, is it better to specialize or to cover up my weakness?
I'm currently leaning towards athletics because it feels like many of the situations are personal and can't be compensated by having a companion being good at it. I can always ask my bard to do the talking, or the wizard to investigate a magic item for me. But I generally can't ask an ally for help if I'm swiming against a current or scaling a wall (that we all need to climb). All thoughts are appreciated
I agree on Athletics. It generally comes up more frequently than acrobatics, as the scenarios that adventurers get into frequently involve their endurance, which is what Athletics is used for (swimming, hiking, etc).
I'd take proficiency in Athletics since you already have a good Dexterity and Strenght (Athetlics) check are used when climbing and swimming among other things, so it would help alleviate your a penalty to the Strenght modifier.
I'm going to be different and say go with acrobatics. Assuming you're going with the Tasha's rules for Deft Explorer, then you'll get a swimming and climbing speed. This happens at 6th level though so you'll have to compensate with rope or whatever until then. It's really not any different than other low strength characters (wizards) have to manage. You can also use a background/race to pick up the proficiency if you want.
I agree with lathius, go for acrobatics. I prefer to specialize than compensate. And then try to be creative in finding ways to narrate your actions to use your specialization, don’t climb up the wall, parkour up the wall.
In my experience, most of what people want to use Acrobatics for, actually falls under Athletics. Parkouring up a wall is very athletic and requires a lot of strength. Acrobatics is more like walking a tightrope or running on ice, which require a lot of dexterity.
You're really at the mercy of what the DM decides, as this is one of those topics that a lot of people aren't clear on, making house-rules more common than official rules regarding this distinction at tables.
Yeah I agree, with the parkouring up a wall being athletic more than acrobatic. It's usually easier to have someone else climb the wall then lower a rope.
Keep in mind that having a swimming or climbing speed doesn't eliminate the Athletics check, it just means you don't move at half-speed. The DM can still call for the skill check if they feel the difficulty warrants it.
Yeah but if it's slippery or rough water you're going to want to do more than just dive in/climb up free hand even if you're proficient in athletics. As a dex based character, I'd rather put proficiency in acrobatics so I can escape a grapple and use a grapling hook, rope, climbing gear, magic, etc. to get me through challenges.
The real key here is to look at the results. Going in with the 8 strength and 17 Dex you have a +3 for any Dex (acrobatics) roll and a -1 for any strength (athletics) roll. If you specialize you keep the -1 and jump the +3 to +5, if you compensate then the -1 goes to +1 and the +3 stays the same. Given that you are going to be getting both with strength checks arguably more frequent which makes more sense? Then keep in mind that at level 5 you proficiency increases so your athletic checks become +2 while your acrobatics check stay +3. I’m sure others will disagree but for me I prefer to be decent at everything even if not great at anything over having holes in my skill sets that can get me killed easily.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I dump strength in my games all the time and have not been penalized at all for it. Saying killed easily is a little overboard unless you're just being reckless. I mean the DC of the challenge should drop considerably if you're using a knotted rope to climb instead of just free climbing a slippery surface. It's usually more or at least equal to the PB gap. I'm more afraid of the creature that's going to swallow you next turn if you don't escape their grapple. As a ranged character I also don't want to be pinned down and would rather slip away.
At least in my games, the challenges that present themselves as strength challenges don't come up super often and there's always alternate means to solve the problem (usually with gear). Let the fighter/paladin climb/swim to the other side and set up a rope. Let the wood worker build a boat. It's seriously ok if you're character's not good at everything. It's fun for other players when they can help fill a need because they are really good at something. Now personally I like working it out so I have both on a martial character, but if I can only choose one, then I play to what gives me the biggest bonus.
I prefer to specialise, it gives your party members things they are great at to do, and you things you’re great at to do.
Athletics. It will come up. plug the hole.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.