New Skills via Training - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Huntsman57 Sep 16, 2014 8:47:57	If a player were to to ask you if they could learn to become proficient in a skill by spending some time and money between adventures to train and be taught, would you be ok with this? A- completely ok with this B- absolutely not C- it depends; ok if the skill is something not available to any class/background in 5E, such as appraising, but not ok with this if player wants to train in something that is, such as Insight. D- it depends; other (explain)
#2 BW0222 Sep 16, 2014 9:30:00	I think training would have issues in most campaigns. This assumes that all the players kind of agree to go off for 250 days and meta-game what they are doing. It also has a large mechanical advantage which likely no other 'downtime activities' typically have. If you are running a campaign which permits a year off, and all the players agree, then fine. You end a large plot arc of your campaign in a city and you ask all the players what their characters are doing for a year. If everyone has some mundane downtime things they want to do... fine. Training, map making, researching some mundane spells, crafting some special suit of full plate, returning to their homelands to open a shrine to their god, etc. However, this kind of needs to be limited to something they could reasonably do and which doesn't require running combats, danger, or a lot of roleplaying. If someone says they want to start a thieves guild in the middle of Greyhawk, slay the ice dragon Frostwing and use his scales to make a set of scalemail, etc. these are things which typically players have to spent a lot of time roleplaying or running long combats in. You don't want players separating, nor sitting there listening to others 'adventuring', while they are in a city reading history books. IMO, if you wish to allow it, you schedule a specific break in the module -- usually after a large plot point, no more often than every 5 levels or so. You then tell the players that a year is going to pass between adventures and they should come up with a list of mundane things which they are doing during that year. If you have the time, arrange to have a one-on-one with each player for a couple of hours to roleplay them through an encounter or two and rule on things which may or may not be possible.
#3 Ashrym Sep 16, 2014 9:38:48	E. I wouldn't be okay with it. It essentially takes a resource that's eventually unlimited to replace limited access via class features. Training in a level of rogue, ranger, or bard; or spending a feat cover the mechanics for additional skills and can be roleplayed with time and cost if preferred. Additional skills for gp marginalizes features that granted additional skills in the first place, such as: bard, rogue, or ranger as a class; knowledge domain clerics; the beguiling influence warlock invocation; or the half-elf race.
#4 iserith Sep 16, 2014 9:39:37	Yep, I'm fine with it. Training You can spend time between adventures learning a new language or training with a set of tools. Your DM might allow additional training options. First, you must find an instructor willing to teach you. The DM determines how long it takes, and whether one or more ability checks are required. The training lasts for 250 days and costs 1 gp per day. After you spend the requisite amount of time and money, you learn the new language or gain proficiency with the new tool.
(Reply to #4) Ashrym	iserith wrote:
#6 iserith Sep 16, 2014 11:35:21	Ashrym wrote:
#7 Timborama Sep 16, 2014 12:56:06	If characters take a break for a year, a nice DM might say, "Yeah, you guys gain, like, 2 levels. No new items though. But! To compensate, you each are able to learn a new skill. Be prepared to tell me how you got it and how you've been using it. Even if it's 'I paid a dude' I wanna hear it!" Well within bounds, especially in low magic campaigns. I might consider it, but usually, we don't re-use characters.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Huntsman57

Sep 16, 2014 8:47:57

If a player were to to ask you if they could learn to become proficient in a skill by spending some time and money between adventures to train and be taught, would you be ok with this?

A- completely ok with this

B- absolutely not

C- it depends; ok if the skill is something not available to any class/background in 5E, such as appraising, but not ok with this if player wants to train in something that is, such as Insight.

D- it depends; other (explain)

BW0222

Sep 16, 2014 9:30:00

I think training would have issues in most campaigns. This assumes that all the players kind of agree to go off for 250 days and meta-game what they are doing. It also has a large mechanical advantage which likely no other 'downtime activities' typically have.

If you are running a campaign which permits a year off, and all the players agree, then fine. You end a large plot arc of your campaign in a city and you ask all the players what their characters are doing for a year. If everyone has some mundane downtime things they want to do... fine. Training, map making, researching some mundane spells, crafting some special suit of full plate, returning to their homelands to open a shrine to their god, etc. However, this kind of needs to be limited to something they could reasonably do and which doesn't require running combats, danger, or a lot of roleplaying. If someone says they want to start a thieves guild in the middle of Greyhawk, slay the ice dragon Frostwing and use his scales to make a set of scalemail, etc. these are things which typically players have to spent a lot of time roleplaying or running long combats in. You don't want players separating, nor sitting there listening to others 'adventuring', while they are in a city reading history books.

IMO, if you wish to allow it, you schedule a specific break in the module -- usually after a large plot point, no more often than every 5 levels or so. You then tell the players that a year is going to pass between adventures and they should come up with a list of mundane things which they are doing during that year. If you have the time, arrange to have a one-on-one with each player for a couple of hours to roleplay them through an encounter or two and rule on things which may or may not be possible.

Ashrym

Sep 16, 2014 9:38:48

E. I wouldn't be okay with it. It essentially takes a resource that's eventually unlimited to replace limited access via class features. Training in a level of rogue, ranger, or bard; or spending a feat cover the mechanics for additional skills and can be roleplayed with time and cost if preferred. Additional skills for gp marginalizes features that granted additional skills in the first place, such as: bard, rogue, or ranger as a class; knowledge domain clerics; the beguiling influence warlock invocation; or the half-elf race.

iserith

Sep 16, 2014 9:39:37

Yep, I'm fine with it.

Training
You can spend time between adventures learning a new language or training with a set of tools. Your DM might allow additional training options.
First, you must find an instructor willing to teach you. The DM determines how long it takes, and whether one or more ability checks are required.
The training lasts for 250 days and costs 1 gp per day.
After you spend the requisite amount of time and money, you learn the new language or gain proficiency with the new tool.

(Reply to #4)

Ashrym

iserith wrote:

iserith

Sep 16, 2014 11:35:21

Ashrym wrote:

Timborama

Sep 16, 2014 12:56:06

If characters take a break for a year, a nice DM might say, "Yeah, you guys gain, like, 2 levels. No new items though. But! To compensate, you each are able to learn a new skill. Be prepared to tell me how you got it and how you've been using it. Even if it's 'I paid a dude' I wanna hear it!"

Well within bounds, especially in low magic campaigns. I might consider it, but usually, we don't re-use characters.