Learning Proficiency - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Huntsman57 Jan 26, 2015 16:58:12	In regards to weapons, tools, and skills (though not armor), how do you feel about the idea of learning to become proficent over the course of a certain amount of downtime and with a certain expenditure of money, rather than having to take a feat? As an example, if a character is only proficient in simple weapons, but wants to gain proficiency in the rapier, so far as I can see, the only way to do this is to take the appropriate feat where the character would get a full 4 weapons as well as a stat bump. If the player wanted to just gain proficiency in the rapier and pass on the stat bump and other weapons, would you allow the character to train to gain proficiency? If so, how long would the training take, and how much would you say it should cost?
#2 Illithidbix Jan 26, 2015 18:15:16	There are actually already rules for training in tools and languages in the PHB (page 187) and Basic rules 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.
#3 Jamwes Jan 27, 2015 9:28:57	There is precidence for allowing Weapons to be learned through training. In the DMG, the section about firearms specifies that the DM might allow for them to be learned through the normal training rules. It wouldn't be a far stretch for a DM to allow this for any weapon. Sure, it devalues some races and a feat, but I'm ok in that.
#4 Tempest_Stormwind Jan 27, 2015 10:06:39	Training with something other than a language or tool sounds perfectly viable as a special training offered as a reward, as per the DMG. Attaching it to a personal goal or quest might also justify lowering the overall time or expense, but it also "pays" the cost of getting a better proficiency by taking up game time - in effect, you give a fun adventure to your friends in exchange for getting a better sword than usual. It won't break the game, but there are hurdles to clear as well.
#5 EzechielDantan Jan 27, 2015 10:35:02	I'd be a little careful easily giving away proficiencies that are tied to classes. If you allow people to learn armor proficiency and martial weapon proficiency by training it diminishes the fighter and other classes tat get it by virtue of their class. Unless you are willing to have characters learning to cast spells this way too it nmigt be good to excercise caution. There is a precedent for learning cantrips and spells through feats too, might not actually be a bad thing allow limited use cantrips for non-casters by special training.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Huntsman57

Jan 26, 2015 16:58:12

In regards to weapons, tools, and skills (though not armor), how do you feel about the idea of learning to become proficent over the course of a certain amount of downtime and with a certain expenditure of money, rather than having to take a feat?

As an example, if a character is only proficient in simple weapons, but wants to gain proficiency in the rapier, so far as I can see, the only way to do this is to take the appropriate feat where the character would get a full 4 weapons as well as a stat bump. If the player wanted to just gain proficiency in the rapier and pass on the stat bump and other weapons, would you allow the character to train to gain proficiency? If so, how long would the training take, and how much would you say it should cost?

Illithidbix

Jan 26, 2015 18:15:16

There are actually already rules for training in tools and languages in the PHB (page 187) and Basic rules

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.

Jamwes

Jan 27, 2015 9:28:57

There is precidence for allowing Weapons to be learned through training. In the DMG, the section about firearms specifies that the DM might allow for them to be learned through the normal training rules. It wouldn't be a far stretch for a DM to allow this for any weapon. Sure, it devalues some races and a feat, but I'm ok in that.

Tempest_Stormwind

Jan 27, 2015 10:06:39

Training with something other than a language or tool sounds perfectly viable as a special training offered as a reward, as per the DMG. Attaching it to a personal goal or quest might also justify lowering the overall time or expense, but it also "pays" the cost of getting a better proficiency by taking up game time - in effect, you give a fun adventure to your friends in exchange for getting a better sword than usual.

It won't break the game, but there are hurdles to clear as well.

EzechielDantan

Jan 27, 2015 10:35:02

I'd be a little careful easily giving away proficiencies that are tied to classes. If you allow people to learn armor proficiency and martial weapon proficiency by training it diminishes the fighter and other classes tat get it by virtue of their class. Unless you are willing to have characters learning to cast spells this way too it nmigt be good to excercise caution.

There is a precedent for learning cantrips and spells through feats too, might not actually be a bad thing allow limited use cantrips for non-casters by special training.