Wikis » House Rules » Skills
Skills
I'm revamping my comments below -- I read clarification on the new rule and it's better than what I was attempting.
Instead of passive "ranks", you look at the ability score. Thus, if you have a dexterity score of 15, all dex check DCs of 15 or lower are automatically succeeded. Same goes for the other stats. So, rather than the more complicated look below, that would eventually scale out of ever rolling anything, we'll use this ruling for skills, instead.
One thing I'm hearing about in the D&DNext discussions is the idea that a given "rank" in a skill bypasses the need for rolling. I.e., you're so good at picking locks that you no longer have to roll for easy locks, etc...
I like this idea, and it's something I've sort of been implementing lately and want to make it an official house rule. Basically, all skills get a "passive" version (just like passive perception). If your passive equals a given DC, you do not have to roll, no matter the situation, you're just that good.
It's a boon for characters with really high skills, as they get around having to roll for hard stuff, and it's helpful for characters with reasonable ranks, but risk a high chance of failure (having 5 in a skill is still scary when you need a DC 15).
This also means I'll be more transparent on skill DC's, based on the fact that if it's lower than your passive, you automatically succeed.
Instead of passive "ranks", you look at the ability score. Thus, if you have a dexterity score of 15, all dex check DCs of 15 or lower are automatically succeeded. Same goes for the other stats. So, rather than the more complicated look below, that would eventually scale out of ever rolling anything, we'll use this ruling for skills, instead.
One thing I'm hearing about in the D&DNext discussions is the idea that a given "rank" in a skill bypasses the need for rolling. I.e., you're so good at picking locks that you no longer have to roll for easy locks, etc...
I like this idea, and it's something I've sort of been implementing lately and want to make it an official house rule. Basically, all skills get a "passive" version (just like passive perception). If your passive equals a given DC, you do not have to roll, no matter the situation, you're just that good.
It's a boon for characters with really high skills, as they get around having to roll for hard stuff, and it's helpful for characters with reasonable ranks, but risk a high chance of failure (having 5 in a skill is still scary when you need a DC 15).
This also means I'll be more transparent on skill DC's, based on the fact that if it's lower than your passive, you automatically succeed.
