5E
Sketches and ideas for Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition
Character Generation
Skills & Proficiency
Note that if you gain the same skill training or proficiency from two different sources, such as from both class and background, you can gain any other training or proficiency instead. This does not apply to skill expertise (double proficiency bonus) - you only gain expertise when the rules specifically say you do. If you gain expertise in a skill you already have training in you can replace that training with another training or proficiency, as above. This does not apply if the training and expertise comes from the same source, such as the rogue class.
Acrobatics Acrobatics can do some tasks of Athletics. Tasks in italics are new. Typical Acrobatics tasks are to
- Climb a sheer or slippery cliff, avoid Hazards while scaling a wall, or cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off.
- Jump an unusually long distance or pull off a stunt midjump.
- Swim or stay afloat in treacherous Currents, storm-tossed waves, or areas of thick seaweed. Or another creature tries to push or pull you Underwater or otherwise interfere with your Swimming.
- Stay on your feet in a tricky situation, such as when you’re trying to run across a sheet of ice, balance on a tightrope, or stay upright on a rocking ship’s deck.
- Acrobatic stunts, including dives, rolls, somersaults, and flips.
- Push through a tunnel that is too small
Athletics Athletics have taken over some tasks that used to be pure Strength checks. Tasks in italics are new.
- Climb a sheer or slippery cliff, avoid Hazards while scaling a wall, or cling to a surface while something is trying to knock you off.
- Jump an unusually long distance or pull off a stunt midjump.
- Swim or stay afloat in treacherous Currents, storm-tossed waves, or areas of thick seaweed. Or another creature tries to push or pull you Underwater or otherwise interfere with your Swimming.
- Force open a stuck, locked, or barred door
- Break free of bonds
- Push through a tunnel that is too small
- Hang on to a wagon while being dragged behind it
- Tip over a statue
- Keep a boulder from rolling
Half-Level Bonuses
Half-level bonuses give small additional advantages at the halfway point to each new level. Leveling happens in very large steps which can lead to long periods when characters do not develop, particularly in a slow-leveling campaign.
Every half level (but not at full levels), a character gains one advancement point. The following things can be acquired with advancement points.
- Learn a new languages
- Gain proficiency with any one weapon, skill, tool, or vehicle
- Increase an ability score by one point to a value no higher than 13
- Gain proficiency in the first kind of armor on this list you are not already proficient with: Light, Shield, Medium, Heavy
- Gain expertise (double proficiency bonus) with one skill, tool, or vehicle you are already trained in and which was granted by your class or background.
- Exchange one class ability dependent on choice, such as ones from domain, oath, school, or college for the same (or lower) level ability of another such path. GM Permission Required
- Gain one permanent magic item. GM Permission Required
Multiclassing
All classes count as spellcasting classes for multiclassing.
Classes
Wizard
The savant ability gained at level 2 in certain schools allows you to pick two spells of your school when you learn new spells upon advancing in level. For each spell of your school you already know upon attaining 2nd level, you gain an additional spell of your school. You can substitute two such spells for one spell from any school.
Combat
Outflanking
A creature is outflanked with it is not within the reach of any allies, and within the reach of two or more enemies. Melee attacks against an outflanked creature gain advantage.
Opportunity Attacks
A creature adjacent to an ally who is also adjacent to an potential opportunity attacker is not subject to opportunity attacks.