More and more when I DM, I ask for an ability check and then negotiate whether a proficiency bonus might apply—erring toward generosity. "Make an Intelligence check." "I've got Arcana . . .?" "Sure, add your bonus." #dnd #wotcstaff
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019
Not a big step from there to "I'm a sailor . . .?" "Go for it." (Background Proficiency, DMG 264). I guess I'm starting to think of the proficiency bonus as a nice bit of candy to throw around fairly generously, whenever it seems justified.
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019
And that's why this is my least favorite part of any character sheet design. pic.twitter.com/j6rYzHEgWh
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019
This is what's on my character sheet for the Dragon Heist game my daughter is running. pic.twitter.com/EcjFcIrm5O
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019
The better version for me has the skills listed beside each ability score it goes with. But what I really want is to dissociate them more, not strengthen the connection. I could ask for an Intelligence check, and a player looks at a list of the four skills they have on their character sheet to see if one might apply. If it's Persuasion, somehow? OK.
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019
Definitely won't work for everyone. But my DMing is definitely getting faster and looser as the years go by.
— James Wyatt (@aquelajames) March 21, 2019