Character Creation and Skills

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Lashan

Nov 01, 2014 11:11:38

Hi All,

 

So, I'm helping my son make his first character.  He is a human cleric with acolyte background.  I see in class and background that he gets to pick from specific skills.  For knowledge he gets more skills and can pick 2 to get double bonus.  

 

Since he's got a high Wisdom, I think it would be good for him to have Perception as a skill.  I don't see that on the list of skills available for class and background.  Does that mean he can't take it?  

 

Also, the skills he gets double on are only those listed in the knowledge area?   Or any he has?

#2

TrustTymora

Nov 01, 2014 13:41:57

Step 2 building your character pick a skill he will get from Acolyte background. Then when you pick acolyte background you will already have the skill and can pick Perception - pg.125 PHB Proficiencies section.

 

Proficiency is doubled for only the two skills picked due to the Knowledge Domain.

#3

Sword_of_Spirit

Nov 01, 2014 13:53:34

You can select any 2 skills as part of your background.

 

"Customizing a Background" on page 36 of D&D Player's Basic Rules, or page 125 of the Player's Handbook.

 

#4

Lashan

Nov 01, 2014 15:23:18

Ahhh....any two skills.  That'll teach me for skimming the rules!

 

Thanks!

#5

Grazel

Nov 02, 2014 8:22:32

Yep backgrounds list skills but those are just the defaults, you can pick other skills for a custom background if you want. Also if you get the same skill from more than one source (class feature, background, race, feat, etc.) you can replace the overlapping skill with any other skill of your choosing. This prevents certain combinations from getting less skills than others as taking a skill twice doesn't double the proficiency bonus.

#6

Lashan

Nov 03, 2014 7:01:18

OK.....so.....can a cleric gain Martial Weapons as a skill based on the free 2 that you get?  Or heavy armor?

#7

Coredump00

Nov 03, 2014 7:28:40

Those are Proficiencies, not skills.  So it doesn't work that way.

 

Certain races give extra proficiencies, or from multi-classing, or feats. (Don't take the feat)

#8

jonathonhawke

Nov 03, 2014 8:43:29

Lashan wrote: