Tools Proficiency

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Francky

Sep 01, 2014 7:04:22

Quick question, What if you buy tools but don't have the proficiency to use them ?


He's the situation, In our latest adventure we were tricked by a lone sailor that lost the crew of his ship. He needed help to recover a buried treasure. Once we got the treasure and headed back to the ship. He was waiting for us with his crew and told us to give him the treasure. He was in fact a pirate.

We got captured but our rogue managed to stay hidden. At nightfall once the pirates were drunk, She sneaked up and liberated us. At that point we wanted revenge and we got it. We were able to kill the 12 crewmembers and the Captain.

So we got the loot and his lil sail boat. Thing is the authority said that the boat as no more owner since the captain is dead and was a pirate. A group member stepped up and said that he will take the ship as his. But the problem is that none of us as the ability to sail. None of us as a Sailor Background or anything.

So now if we buy the Navigator Tools. But  we dont have the Tool Proficiency for it, we just dont add the Profiency Bonus when we have to make "Sailing" Checks is that correct ? Or are we just unable to use the Navigator Tools and will crash the boat or get lost at sea ?

#2

Polaris

Sep 01, 2014 7:56:32

For the most part, if you aren't proficient with the tools, you can't use them.  The two exceptions (one explicit and one implied) may be healing kit [which has no proficiency but is better used with the medicine skill] and MAYBE thieves tools.

 

-Polaris

#3

Plaguescarred1

Sep 01, 2014 9:13:25

Francky wrote:
#4

Kentus

Sep 01, 2014 8:32:37

Navigating isn't as easy than you might think. Even today with all the technology and satilites, there are still collisions at the high sea.

 

You can learn how to use tools with the downtime activity 'training' (PHB p.187), it cost 250gp and days. If you want to be able to learn that stuff, you'd better start now. ;)

#5

Snowtor

Sep 02, 2014 8:51:55

Lets not forget the DC here. While navigating a small sail boat out of a wide mouthed harbor may be a DC 10 (no lay up w/out proficiency), navigating that same boat to the secret pirate layer on a far off island might be a DC 16. Thats a big deal w/out the bonus.