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A new system for proficiencies

by Meltheim Shadowstalker

NEW SYSTEM

I propose that we use one consistent system where proficiencies are still purchased through proficiency slots (PHB), but each proficiency has a base score which is modified by the ability (Skills & Powers option). If proficiencies have listed two abilities, the player simply chooses the best one.

ZERO-LEVEL

The zero level ability is a chance for the player to use a proficiency he does not have. The chance for success is the base rating divided by two. This is further modified by -2 for skills outside the players group, and by +2 for skills within the players group. For general there is not modifier.

An Example: a wizard attempts to Set Snares. This skill is within the WARRIOR and ROGUE groups. Thus the wizards base chance for success would be 2, i.e. 1 or 2 on a d20 (Base of 8 divided by 2 and a -2 for using a skill from another group). If the Wizard had a DEX. of 16, he then gets a bonus of +3, increasing the total chance to 5, or 1 through 5 on a d20.

BACKGROUND

Enclosed is a list of the proficiencies available on the Core Rules 2, Expansion CD. These were gathered from several books found on the CD, including Handbooks, Spells & Magic, Skills & Powers, and Combat & Tactics. Also, optionally Dwarven Handbook uses dwarven special abilities as proficiencies. Gnomish and Stout halfling abilities have been presented in this optional system as well.

Ability Modifiers to Proficiency Scores


Ability Score Proficiency Modifier
3 -5
4 -4
5 -3
6 -2
7 -1
8-13 0
14 +1
15 +2
16 +3
17 +4
18 +5

Concentrated Proficiency List

GENERAL


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Agriculture 1 7 INT
Animal Handling 1 7 WIS
Animal Training 1 5 WIS, CHA
Alertness 1 6 WIS
Blacksmithing 1 6 STR, INT
Boat Piloting 1 6 STR, INT
Boatwright 3 5 INT
Brewing 1 8 INT
Carpentry 1 7 STR, INT
Cartography 1 6 INT
Cobbling 1 7 DEX, INT
Cooking 1 7 INT
Dancing 1 6 DEX, CHA
Deep Diving 1 5 DEX, CON
Direction Sense 1 5 WIS
Distance Sense 1 5 WIS
Engineering 2 5 WIS, INT
Etiquette 1 8 WIS, CHA
Falconry 1 7 WIS
Fire-building 1 8 WIS, INT
Fishing 1 6 WIS, INT
Fungi Recognition 1 6 WIS
Gaming 1 5 WIS, INT
Heraldry 1 8 INT
Leatherworking 1 7 DEX, INT
Mining 2 5 WIS, STR
Modern languages 1 9 INT
Musical Instrument 1 7 CHA
Navigation 1 6 WIS, INT
Orienteering 1 7 WIS, INT
Painting 1 7 DEX, WIS
Persuasion 1 5 CHA
Poetry 1 7 INT
Pottery 1 7 DEX
Riding, Airborne 2 5 DEX, WIS
Riding, Land 1 8 DEX, WIS
Riding, Sea 2 6 DEX, WIS
Rope Use 1 8 DEX, WIS
Sculpting 1 5 DEX, WIS
Signalling 1 6 INT
Sign Language 1 6 INT
Singing 1 5 CHA
Seamanship 1 8 DEX, WIS
Slow Respiration 1 NA/6 CON, WIS
Smelting 1 5 INT
Sound Analysis 1 6 WIS
Stonemasonry 1 5 STR, WIS
Swimming 1 9 STR
Tailoring 1 7 DEX, INT
Trouble Sense 1 3 WIS, INT
Weather Knowledge 1 7 WIS
Weaving 1 6 DEX, INT

PRIEST


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Administration 1 9 INT
Alms 1 8 CHA
Ancient History 1 6 WIS, INT
Ancient Languages 1 5 INT
Astrology 2 5 WIS, INT
Bookbinding 1 8 INT
Bureaucracy 2 7 INT
Ceremony 1 7 WIS
Diagnostics 1 6 WIS
Healing 2 5 WIS, CHA
Herbalism 2 6 WIS, INT
Investigation 1 6 WIS, INT
Iron Will 2 3 WIS
Law 1 7 INT
Local History 1 8 INT, CHA
Observation 1 7 INT
Omen Reading 1 5 WIS
Oratory 1 7 CHA
Papermaking 1 8 INT
Persuasion 1 5 CHA
Reading/Writing 1 8 INT
Religion 1 6 WIS
Sage Knowledge 2 5 INT
Scribe 1 7 DEX
Spellcraft 1 7 INT
Undead Lore 1 6 INT
Veterinary Healing 1 5 WIS

ROGUE


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Ambidex. 2 NA/6 DEX
Ambush 1 5 INT
Ancient History 1 6 WIS, INT
Animal Noise 1 5 WIS
Appraising 1 8 WIS, INT
Begging 1 6 CHA
Blindfighting 2 NA/6 DEX, WIS
Bureaucracy 2 7 INT
Camouflage 1 5 INT
Cryptography 1 6 WIS, INT
Dirty Fighting 1 5 INT
Disguise 1 5 WIS, CHA
Fast-Talking 1 6 CHA
Foraging 1 7 INT
Fine Balance 2 7 DEX
Forgery 1 5 DEX, WIS
Fortune Telling 2 6 CHA
Gem Cutting 2 6 DEX
Information Gathering 1 6 INT
Intimidation 1 6 STR, CHA
Juggling 1 7 DEX
Jumping 1 8 DEX, STR
Local History 1 8 INT, CHA
Locksmithing 1 5 DEX
Looting 1 6 DEX
Observation 1 7 INT
Quickness 2 3 DEX
Pest Control 1 6 WIS
Reading Lips 2 7 WIS, INT
Set Snares 1 6 DEX, WIS
Steady Hand 1 3 DEX
Tightrope Walking 1 5 DEX
Throwing 1 8 DEX, STR
Trailing 1 6 DEX
Trail Signs 1 6 INT
Tumbling 1 7 DEX, STR
Ventriloquism 1 5 INT, CHA
Voice Mimicry 2 5 CHA

WARRIOR


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Ambidex. 2 NA/6 DEX
Ambush 1 5 INT
Animal Lore 1 7 WIS, INT
Armourer 1 5 INT, STR
Blind-fighting 2 NA/6 DEX, WIS
Bowyer/Fletcher 1 6 DEX, INT
Camouflage 1 5 INT
Charioteering 1 5 DEX, WIS
Dirty Fighting 1 5 INT
Endurance 2 3 CON
Fine Balance 2 7 DEX
Foraging 1 7 INT
Hunting 1 7 WIS
Jousting 1 6 DEX
Iron Will 2 3 WIS
Law 1 7 INT
Leadership 1 5 CHA
Intimidation 1 6 STR, CHA
Mountaineering 1 7 STR, WIS
Quickness 2 3 DEX
Running 1 5 STR, CON
Set Snares 1 8 DEX, WIS
Spelunking 1 5 INT
Steady Hand 1 3 DEX
Survival 2 6 WIS, INT
Tracking 2 7 WIS
Trail Signs 1 6 INT
Trail Marking 1 6 WIS
Weaponsmithing 3 5 DEX, INT
Weaponsmithing, Crude 1 6 DEX, INT

WIZARD


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Alchemy 2 6 INT
Anatomy 2 5 INT
Ancient History 1 6 WIS, INT
Ancient Languages 1 5 INT
Arcanology 1 5 INT
Astrology 2 5 WIS, INT
Astronomy 1 7 INT
Bookbinding 1 8 INT
Concentration 2 6 WIS
Cryptography 1 6 WIS, INT
Dowsing 1 5 WIS
Gem Cutting 2 6 DEX
Glassblowing 1 7 DEX
Herbalism 2 6 WIS, INT
Hypnotism 1 6 CHA
Mental Resistance 1 5 WIS
Omen Reading 1 5 WIS
Papermaking 1 8 INT
Prestidigitation 1 7 DEX
Reading/Writing 1 8 INT
Religion 1 6 WIS
Research 1 6 INT
Sage Knowledge 2 5 INT
Scribe 1 7 DEX
Spellcraft 1 7 INT
Tactics of Magic 1 6 INT
Thaumaturgy 1 5 INT

DWARVES


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Determine Grade or Slope 1 9 WIS
Detect New Construction 1 9 WIS
Detect Slide/Shift Walls/Rooms 1 8 WIS
Detect Stone Traps/Pit/Deadfall 1 7 WIS
Depth Sense, Underground 1 7 WIS

GNOMES


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Determine Grade or Slope 1 9 WIS
Detect Unsafe wall/ceil/floor 1 8 WIS
Depth Sense, Underground 1 8 WIS
Direction Sense, Underground 1 7 WIS

HALFLINGS (Stout)


Proficiency Proficiency Modifier Base Rating Ability
Determine Grade or Slope 1 9 WIS
Direction Sense, Underground 1 7 WIS