Talents (4E)

4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons

Professions are the non-combat equivalence of skills, and most rules that apply to skills apply to professions as well. Professions are considered skills for abilities that affect the use of skills. Unlike skills, a character does not start with any professions; they must all be learned using talents.

Character background

Professions are useful in defining and fleshing out character backgrounds. Some vocations can be represented by Profession, others by Craft or Perform. Many vocations lack a corresponding profession skill. People who make their living that way are unskilled, use abilities like Strength for manual labor. Others use regular skills such as Nature for farming, hunting and fishing, or Dungeoneering for mining.

Using profession skills

Professions generally have no application in combat or action scenes. Using them takes time; from several minutes to several months. Their usefulness is in downtime and in skill challenges that take longer than rounds. Additionally, many professions can be used for the aid other action, both to help skills and ritual casters. Where a profession is relevant for rituals, this is noted in the description of the profession.

Learning profession skills

A character can use a Talents (4E) to learn a professional skill. Craft, Perform and Fame are available in addition to the eponymous Profession skill. Most professional skills are divided into several specific skills.<ref>This works much like the Perform, Craft and Profession skills in the third edition of the game.</ref>

Craft Alchemy Engineering Jewelcrafting Leatherworking Smithing Stoneworking Tailoring Woodworking Perform Act Dance Instruments Oratory Sing

Fame Profession Architect Barber Composer Farmer Governor Lover Merchant Overseer Sailor Soldier Stargazer Valet Writer

Notes

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External links

• List of medieval professions