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just let them use their highest stat for all tool proficiency related rolls.....I mean, why not? if they are proficient, they use their highest stat to add to their proficiency bonus because you're talking about a few points here Jim, even charisma for thieves tools because you are the charmer of all locks, the key to your heart and the key to your bedroom door are the same key Jim now come on
It's brilliant how they did such a great job making the guy look like they're still on set. Also it's hilarious to me that Pruitt is flexing his airpods but has a little shirt clip mic while Jim is using cheapo headphones but has a really, really good mic. They really are each others Yin and Yang.
I always thought that Weaver's tools were one of the better tools for certain builds. Specifically Changelings since they can't shapeshift their clothes. XGE says you can craft an entire outfit in a long rest so being able to craft the uniform of the Royal guard is gonna make impersonating one a lot more practical.
That character could make for one of the best tailors in the realms, due to inherit understanding of various physiques and how clothes can be made to fit better/comfortably.
Matt Lynn and being able to change their own body to their customer’s, so they can just make an absolute perfect fit. Same idea but more fantastical use.
But what the heck are you going to do with all these real clothes outfits you're making? The advantage of shapeshifting is that it's instantaneous, and no need for all those resources needed!😁 (I guess you could use one of those rolling clothesracks...)
The whole segment on Cobbler's tool is great, and quite relevant for my current character! I told the DM going into our game that my half-orc drunken master monk was a cobbler, and that O wanted to use it for the parties benefit. So far, I have made for my allies: 1 secret compartment Boot (paladin secret dagger) 1 pair of steel toe boots (squishy wizard needed these) 1 pair of cleated boots (low dex cleric couldn't stay on her feet!) And I'm working on incorporating a naturally glowing fungus into a pair of boots so my Firbolg friend can have "blinky shoes" and see in the dark a little bit! Tools are what you make of them!
My group doesn't have anyone who can pick locks, but our Dragonborn has carpenter's tools proficiency. He has cracked a fair number of locked drawers and chests for us.
Recently got into D&D with a small group - we play online now we have so much extra time on our hands with lockdowns and working from home and so on. We ran LMoP and I offered to be DM. Took to it real quick; everyone had a great time and I'm loving DMing. Even managed to slot in a bunch of homebrew stuff, like I fleshed out Old Owl Well and Thundertree into much larger places with a much more involved story to tell. We just finished the campaign and I'm putting together a completely homemade campaign for our next one, so everyone can keep playing their characters. I don't think I'd have been able to do all this if it wasn't for you guys! Having a huge library of videos to help me a grip on things has been super helpful, and really improved both the sessions we play and the planning I do before hand. Thanks a bunch :) Always look forward to your new videos and being able to use DnD as a creative outlet has made this pretty shitty year so much more bearable. It's been a real highlight of my week and you guys were a big part of enabling that.
History and Tool Proficiencies, example: Thieves Tools, Hist. Prof., = "Holy crap...this safe is a Benzington 5000...glad I caught that, these things have booby traps from stock on tilt."
The monkey shines. Reminds me of the time the party rogue glued a gold piece to the cobblestone outside their bar just to see who might try picking it up. And then pick their pockets with mage hand.
We once voluntarely failed a brew with the paladin's breer's kit, that the result was closer to rocket fuel than alcohol, highly inflammable and caused diarrea. I sneaked into the garrison and stuck it at the bottom of their water reserve. The guard was notably less present that night.
Thank you for changing Pruitt's "resting" position. As much as I would love to meet him face to face, having him stare into my soul while Jim spits D&D knowledge was a bit unsettling. As always, great episode! Y'all are the reason I got a game going with a bunch of friends -- all really new / never played, and even the people who thought they wouldn't have fun ended up having a blast. Onward!
Tim "The Toolman" Taylor, ANY Background (2), Autognome (2), Alchemist Artificer 3 (4), Phantom Rogue 3 (1 + 1 Wild), Forge Cleric 1 (1), Battlemaster Fighter 3 (1), Drunken Master 3 (1), and 1 Bard. Taking a feat in Skilled (3), Chef (1), Artificer Initiate (1). In total, there'll be 2+2+4+1+1+1+1+3+1+1+= 17 + any one tool/day and 1 musical instrument. Toolman the Phantom Drunkern Alchemist, also Skilled Chef. Or an an Elven Race and Phantom Rogue for any two/rest. Because there's 17 Artisan tools, 6 standard tools, 4 Gaming sets, and too many instruments.
I've been running a high seas campaign for over 3 years now, and i mandated as part of my parties build that they all take a trade skill. The intention behind that would be that everyone has something that contributes to the welfare and repair of the ship they have. My players have solidly ran with it, almost everyday out to sea without encounters, they spend downtime working on personal projects, or joint projects. I.E. My fighter/smith smelted and created filigree for jewelry, while the Fighter/jewelcrafter faceted a sapphire to set in it. Then our Artificer/Alchemist and Wizard etched runes and enchanted the jewelry. This is just one example of the things they all work on together.
This is such an awesome topic to cover! It’s such an easily overlooked thing, but DMs that properly use these in helping to define characters and adding them into skill challenges makes a world of difference!
I had a player join late for a campaign once at level 8 and he picked a dwarf cleric with an adamant warhammer for a weapon. He was also proficient with mason tools and the man would not hesitate to level entire walls in a couple of rounds. That was the first time I really started thinking about tools in 5E and I love putting them to use nowadays. Loved this episode to let me think about them even more!
I'm listening to this in April 2022, and I have to say...there are vanishingly few UA-cam channels whose content is continually useful, and from which I can always gain inspiration. But WebDM's content is constantly a source of inspiration. Thanks!!
one thought I had on the subject of repairing objects and mending: player 1's armor needs repair, player 2 says "oh, I have Mending!". Problem is, the latch from the buckle is missing, missing parts are not fixed with repair.
"You can't expect a rules book to have all the rules and then be manageable." ::picks up the 3.5 Rules Compendium in confusion:: And yes, I know it doesn't have EVERYTHING.
Ive watched almosy every one of your videos for like 2 years and this video has given me the most dm ideas so far! Got a pirate campaign coming up and my players arent the types to use tools as creatively as this (no offense to them they are still kinda new). You can bet the ships quartermaster is gonna be like "ok you guys go see whats up with that undead cave while i take the rest of the crew and use our tools to make a makeshift base inland". Amazing video!
I absolutely love how you guys are doing the episodes now to keep it looking & feeling mostly the same, with the table, GM castle screen, books, mini's, and dice, in foreground, and greenscreen in back of you.
As much as I miss the in-person chemistry, you guys have by far the best use of editing to make your videos look as normal as possible. Well done, take an inspiration dice.
I like how Jim's hands are disappearing off the side of the frame. Funny to see the green screen shenanigans, but hey, at least they won't die of covid-19.
a heavy tool use character for me is my changeling warlock. in addition to having a disguise kit to make sure his impersonations have details to be convincing he also has weavers tools to make the outfits he needs himself. and then a forgery kit to make sure has has any convincing documents he needs for that person
Re: Dex/Cha and Performance/Instrument; I was thinking through a new character - a rogue that was a guitarist before he was an adventurer, and with higher dexterity than charisma - and that got me thinking about the various combinations of dex and cha checks with proficiency in performance vs. guitar and what situations would call for each. Here's what I came up with. Dex (perf) - the music isn't the main point of the performance, such as playing while on stilts Dex (tool) - technical demonstrations (scales, etc), or performances that impress other players of that instrument but might not appeal to laymen Cha (perf) - the instrument is involved but isn't what makes the performance great, perhaps great stage presence but simply okay guitar playing Cha (tool) - the character is a flashy wizard of their instrument in ways that appeal to everyone, like doing tricks (playing behind their back) or ratcheting up the sex appeal while playing (Tim Cappello, the saxophonist from Lost Boys ua-cam.com/video/A1dY6OkPb7E/v-deo.html)
Tools is one thing I love to toss into the mix. This week inspiration points are for using an item from your tool kit in a creative way. So often players simply need a direction and off they go. Great video.
You guys have helped this new DM catch up on 30+ years of advice and I can't thank you enough! I wouldn't be nearly as inspired without you guys nerding out in these videos :D
This reminds me of a surprisingly fun campaign I ran where all of the players had a different trade for example brewer, black smith, leather worker, etc and they were trying to build up an old run down town to make it their home and facing many different and unique challenges along the way.
Currently playing a School of Swords/artisan/bard with chef feat. It's tons of fun playing around specific spells that a chef would use such as prestidigitation and heat metal
My party, two weeks ago completed an encounter by cooking a meal for the large Intelligent Fey Toad that was trying to eat them. Had some insanely lucky rolls, on the skills checks for 1) convincing the toad to wait for a meal, if it wasn't good enough then he could eat them 2) gathering ingredients 3) cooking 4) presentation. Was interesting, certainly not what I had planned but the players came up with it, and I ran with it.... and the rolls let it happen.
Making a character right now around the concept of a card cheat. Gaming set proficiency supplemented by deception and slight of hand and the Lucky feat.
I've been working on a homebrew project, that expands on the tools, and stuff you can do with them. The idea being that the higher your level (and thus prof bonus), the more things you can do with them. Examples being: high calligraphy ability makes it faster (and possibly cheaper) to copy/write spells; high woodcarving ability grants an attack/damage bonus against plants and wooden constructs; or weaver's tools allowing one to craft camouflage gear in an environment, granting a bonus to stealth.
Thank you so much. I had no idea Xanathar's had so much about Tool Proficiencies! I was just asking our new GM about it today and his only answer was whatever it said in "the book" x.x
I hate that y’all have to use a green screen, but I have to say that the sound quality and volume for the both of you is superb! STUPENDOUS! No sarcasm, just airing out the old words.
For me, the question of what Ability to apply to a tool use roll is kind of backwards. There aren't actually "skill checks" or "tool use checks" in 5e, only Ability checks with the possibility of applying a proficiency modifier. Even attack rolls and saving throws are just very particular applications of Ability checks. What players should be doing is _declaring actions._ That is, telling the DM and other players what their character is trying to do (intent) and how they are trying to do it (approach). If the DM decides that an Ability check is required (ie. the approach _might_ succeed, but it also might fail), then they ask themselves what the limiting factor is. What Ability of the PC would cause the action to fail if it is not sufficient? So, if a character wants to cut down a tree to bridge a chasm before the pursuing Orcs can catch up to the party, I'd say the limiting factor is STR. At which point, the player remembers that Woodcutter's Tool proficiency and asks if it applies (or the DM remembers). Which it quite clearly does. DM tells player to roll a STR check, adding their proficiency modifier.
@@hugofontes5708 Characters in the fifth edition of the tabletop role-playing game known as Dungeons and Dragons ("D&D")are primarily defined - at least mechanically - by six "Ability Scores" or "Abilities".
@@hugofontes5708 the tool proficiency would be redundant if the tool in question isn't needed for the check. Proficency in Athletics doesn't mean you know how to use Woodcutter's tools to efficiently cut down a tree but would probably grant a bonus if the tree was rotten or thin enough to be knocked over without the use of specialized tools.
One idea I had for cobblers tools - making (and maintaining) snow shoes for the party. If I get the chance to play Icewind dale I might try to do that, hoping that it might be able to reduce or overcome difficult terrains that come from high snow (or maybe a bonus for the travel speed when we are not in combat).
I've kind of thought about using slight of hand with medicine at it relates to improvised surgeries to avoid cutting or damaging something that you don't want to. Just as fine motor skills can be useful in medicine. Then again, dexterity medicine checks can be done.
I was starting a new Werewolf campaign when that movie, The 13th Warrior, came out. We all went and saw it and came back to the table and told an epic mythic Viking adventure. It was great inspiration.
On another note, I recently watched a series of videos by Townsends, about them using colonial-era tools to create a log cabin. As well as one video on how to make a simple lean-to shelter. Any PC with carpenter's tools could use them to make a better camp, which can be a godsend during winter months or otherwise inclement weather. If PCs are going to be staying in the wilderness for any length of time - like being camped out by the entrance to a big dungeon - they would benefit from things like shelter, fences to keep wildlife away (and make it harder for enemies to attack in the night), traps to catch food, etc.
Best use of tool proficiency in a movie I can think of is the final fight in Three Amigos when the town used their weaver tool/disguise kit proficiency to bamboozle the bad guys
Now, on the Sleight of Hand tangent, I see it as also being used to be able to discreetly cast a spell with only a somatic component without being noticed. I don't know how you guys feel about that, but it makes sense to me, at any rate.
Definitely and also, this might be where the confusion mentioned in the video comes from, sleight of hand is what you would roll to attempt to pick a lock discreetly. Whether or not you pick the lock would obviously be determined by the Thieves' Tools, but avoiding attention would be determined by sleight of hand.
All this talk about using tools out in the field brings up another point: this is the kind of thing that hirelings are useful for. Your party may not know how to build scaffolding or mend armor, but they could pay someone who does. If the party is plunging into a dungeon multiple times, and navigating certain terrain or dungeon obstacles is a pain, they could bring along a bunch of workers and have them solve the problem. Building ladders, boats and docks, dig ditches or wells, even turn a temporary camp into a small compound with log cabins and stables for horses. If a dungeon level is flooded, bring people with buckets, or have them construct some kind of pump system to drain the area. The opportunity cost of taking tool proficiencies, compared to the opportunity cost of simply paying NPCs to do the work for you. It's a choice players should think long and hard about.
Maybe the adventurers attract raiders because of their larger presence, find themselves hiring men-at-arms to defend the encampment while they continue to explore the dungeon. Just ideas.
@@migthulhu Oh, absolutely. Once you start taking hirelings out into the wilderness, they'll begin demanding protection from the monsters (especially when the PCs are dungeon delving). It's these kinds of things that provide DMs a good gold sink, once the party has had a few adventures and levels under their belt, and need a reason to spend gold beyond just equipment (that they'll probably max out for mundane stuff very quickly). By the time the dungeon gets cleared out, they may have a hamlet on their hands, or even a full village. Villages need a lord to protect them and collect taxes, so suddenly the PCs transition from just building a camp to building a stronghold (or repairing one, if the dungeon they cleared had a stronghold attached to it).
I'm new to 5e, so still trying to absorb tool proficiency mechanics. Listening to you, they sound very much like an evolution of the old Profession and Craft skills from 3.x and PF. It's a generalized bag of knowledge and skills that give you situational advantages, but no clearly defined and bounded actions.
My very first character (AD&D) was a dwarf that I had put a whole lot of non-combat proficiencies on brewing. Ofc him being a dwarf master brewer came with a lot of respect from the dwarven people so he was also kind of a noble because of his mastery in his trade.
I just made an Artificer Battlesmith with 1 level in Forge Cleric, with the Skilled Feat. And they have SOOO MANY TOOL PROFICIENCIES, and Expertise in ALL of those.
I love being a fighter with proficiency in tinker’s tools, thieve’s tools and smith’s tools. So versatile. My partner artificer has alchemy, tinker’s, thieves, enchanter’s and healer’s. We are ready for almost anything.
Maybe WebDM isn't the place for this but, I would love to see you two disagree an entire episode over a subject and attempt to sway eachother's opinion over the subject perhaps.. maybe just agree to disagree in the end, maybe discuss how you two would handle this disagreement at the table and how you live with the compromise. Not necessarily an episode about disagreement but an episode over a subject you two absolutely do not agree on. If there is an episode already like this I would love someone to point it out to me :) Keep up the great work!
@@WebDM two people who disagree on something have a civilized discussion on the internet in 2020? I'll believe it when I see it and I do really want to see it. Do eeeeet! Please? :)
The way that I've seen tools run and its really intresting if you have the tool such as thieves tools to pick a lock you roll with advantage. if there is a complex lock and you don't have thieve's tool you roll with disavantage but with the thieve's tools you roll normally. crafting/repairing certain gear is a way that tools are used Land, sea, and air vehicles are considered as tools for some reason.
They add more to characters for many situations if you look at them than more of the mechanical benefits. My cleric swapped out the gaming set in the soldier background for cooking utensils. The players like it more than just having trail rations, and it goes well with the monk's survival skills. I even use Gentle Repose on the butchered meat to keep it fresh.
I just made a druid with a brew kit. He also has a flaw as an alcoholic. He often uses a drink to lubricant a NPCs toung. I see this being a lot of fun with making beer during long rests.
You guys should do a series of videos expanding on the flavors of fantasy as described in the DMG. I’m running my take on a sword and sorcery setting and I’d to hear what you guys have to say about it.
I’m relatively new to dnd and was planning a dwarf fighter. Far as I can tell, tool proficiency is as useful as the Swiss army cantrips of predigistation druidcraft etc. they may not come up often but it’s VERY useful when they do. RIP that purple obsessed guy in water deep. I turned his wall yellow.
Xanathar's Guide have a bunch of suggestion on how to use Tools proficiency that I find works really well! Giving exemples of when a specific Tool proficiency could come in handy! Like, for exemple, if one character has Painter's Tools proficiency and they visit a manor or cathedral that has lots paintings, they could make an Intelligence Check PLUS proficiency bonus to identify the artist who made those paintings, maybe how much they are worth, that kind of stuff! Additionally, let's say this same character also has proficiency in History, and they look at a painting of some kind of battlefield, or the portrait of an historical figure, something like that. That character could combine the fact that they are proficient in BOTH Painter's Tools AND History to give themselves an advantage on that role, to identify which war is being represented in the painting, or who is the historical figure. And that's just one example off the top of my head! But basically, the idea is: If an activity involve the Tools the character is proficient in, you can make him roll an ability check or a skill check with proficiency bonus, even if the skill in question is one they wouldn't be proficient with normally. IF they are proficient in that skill as well, however, then add an advantage roll on top of it!
One of my most fun characters was a Dwarf Clan Crafter Artillerist Artificer. 7 tool proficiencies with expertise. Constructed a Lean-To with Carpenter's Tools to keep the party dry in a swamp. Noticed multiple secret doors from Mason's Tools. Crafted multiple magic items with Smith's Tools and Woodcarver's Tools. Repaired broken armor to sell for a profit with Tinker's Tools. But probably most importantly he had enough tool knowledge that he could qualify to ask the DM for more information in a lot of situations, just like the other INT skills. "Well, my character would know about that, so..."
This is great! Wish I had something like this when 5e came out. I modified tools into something much more tangible for my players. Every starting tool proficiency has an actual new skill line, like +1 Cobbling. At least with my players, having an actual stat to look at and think through problems makes it so they try to use that skill more often. Also I let them be able to level up that skill whenever they perform great feats in that skill. Like designing a new shoe or however the player's imagination decides to take it. So it becomes more of a system that allows for player more creativity and sense of progress. Also it lets any player try to just pick up a skill. Find some Calligraphy tools start at +0 work at it enough in down time and it starts to improve. I kind of bypassed all the ability and skill checks all together but with this video I might have to incorporate more of them in now. Like using Survival to MacGyver your way to crafting something without your tool kit.
My monk very regularly uses his art supplies prof to make "art interpretation" check when looking at intricate artistic murials with historical significance statues that disguise secret door mechanisms...that sort of thing.
I've been wondering about the value of tool proficiency ever since I rolled up my Knowledge Cleric. At first, I was pretty stoked at the idea of a jack-of-all-trades nerd. But I got a little discouraged when I realized our game was gonna stay low-level enough to keep any proficiency bonus pretty insignificant. Knowing about the potential to gain advantage on checks that stack a skill and tool changes things quite a bit.
For me I had the tools provide little bonuses like using cooks utensils can let you make special meals that grant temporary HP or for musicians instruments to create little performance that grants Bard like inspiration onto them or whatever type of song/event they preform. So an example for rolling is 1-4 is poor quality or -2, 5-9 is lesser quality or -1, 10-14 is common or 0, 15-19 is higher or +1, 20-24 is greater or +2 and 25-30 is masterful or +3 to the benefits the crafted item provides
Baulders Gate 3 is coming out soon. I would be interested in hearing the Web DM opinions of this game. The characters setting and just the fact that this game is being made.
I rock either herbalism or cooks utensils proficiency for out of combat healing and role plays on almost all my characters. Aside from the professional goal, they almost always have a personal goal too, to try and master their craft. Like can I make a replica of a hero's feast without magic? We shall search for the right ingredients!
Stone mason's tools on my zealot barbarian was a heaven send! (no pun intended) Being able to find hidden doors and traps using it was one thing but the free double damage to stone structures really made for some interesting entries
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just let them use their highest stat for all tool proficiency related rolls.....I mean, why not? if they are proficient, they use their highest stat to add to their proficiency bonus because you're talking about a few points here Jim, even charisma for thieves tools because you are the charmer of all locks, the key to your heart and the key to your bedroom door are the same key Jim now come on
It's brilliant how they did such a great job making the guy look like they're still on set. Also it's hilarious to me that Pruitt is flexing his airpods but has a little shirt clip mic while Jim is using cheapo headphones but has a really, really good mic. They really are each others Yin and Yang.
I always thought that Weaver's tools were one of the better tools for certain builds. Specifically Changelings since they can't shapeshift their clothes. XGE says you can craft an entire outfit in a long rest so being able to craft the uniform of the Royal guard is gonna make impersonating one a lot more practical.
That character could make for one of the best tailors in the realms, due to inherit understanding of various physiques and how clothes can be made to fit better/comfortably.
Matt Lynn and being able to change their own body to their customer’s, so they can just make an absolute perfect fit. Same idea but more fantastical use.
But what the heck are you going to do with all these real clothes outfits you're making? The advantage of shapeshifting is that it's instantaneous, and no need for all those resources needed!😁
(I guess you could use one of those rolling clothesracks...)
@@KickyFut you dont want to have a bag of holding full of clothes of costume changes?
@@novaiscool1 Um... No, I'd prefer not.
The whole segment on Cobbler's tool is great, and quite relevant for my current character!
I told the DM going into our game that my half-orc drunken master monk was a cobbler, and that O wanted to use it for the parties benefit.
So far, I have made for my allies:
1 secret compartment Boot (paladin secret dagger)
1 pair of steel toe boots (squishy wizard needed these)
1 pair of cleated boots (low dex cleric couldn't stay on her feet!)
And I'm working on incorporating a naturally glowing fungus into a pair of boots so my Firbolg friend can have "blinky shoes" and see in the dark a little bit!
Tools are what you make of them!
Awesome!!!!!
Please, for the love of all of the gods of the multiverse, PLEASE DO NOT introduce heelys to the world of D&D!!!! :D
@@matthewforish711 Why would you give me such a good idea, and then tell me not to do it?
@@luiken3 "Some people just want to watch the world burn."
@@matthewforish711 The first rule of D&D is NEVER give someone ideas unless you want to see them do it
My group doesn't have anyone who can pick locks, but our Dragonborn has carpenter's tools proficiency. He has cracked a fair number of locked drawers and chests for us.
As a journeyman carpenter, I condone this message
Good lord... .
So...they cannot unlock the door, but they can undoor the lock ? :)
@@mattfitzgerald7836 I can not unlock the door, but I can remove the lock from the door.
You guys are clearly proficient in green screens
they aren't trying to hide it lol...
@@TheCliffy007 You are clearly not proficient in humor.
I just wish Jim's lighting was a little better. Pruitt almost blends in.
I’m gonna take a 20
Need to work on Jim's white balance... He looks pastier than usual.
I have a Tool proficiency. I love all their songs!
Recently got into D&D with a small group - we play online now we have so much extra time on our hands with lockdowns and working from home and so on.
We ran LMoP and I offered to be DM. Took to it real quick; everyone had a great time and I'm loving DMing. Even managed to slot in a bunch of homebrew stuff, like I fleshed out Old Owl Well and Thundertree into much larger places with a much more involved story to tell. We just finished the campaign and I'm putting together a completely homemade campaign for our next one, so everyone can keep playing their characters.
I don't think I'd have been able to do all this if it wasn't for you guys! Having a huge library of videos to help me a grip on things has been super helpful, and really improved both the sessions we play and the planning I do before hand.
Thanks a bunch :) Always look forward to your new videos and being able to use DnD as a creative outlet has made this pretty shitty year so much more bearable. It's been a real highlight of my week and you guys were a big part of enabling that.
Thanks for the kind words! Go you for taking the step and putting together a great game! Keep it up!
@@WebDM Thank you! :D
History and Tool Proficiencies, example:
Thieves Tools, Hist. Prof., = "Holy crap...this safe is a Benzington 5000...glad I caught that, these things have booby traps from stock on tilt."
Basically this: ua-cam.com/video/MsTZrWcudhk/v-deo.html
The monkey shines. Reminds me of the time the party rogue glued a gold piece to the cobblestone outside their bar just to see who might try picking it up. And then pick their pockets with mage hand.
That's a neat trick, thank you, definitely gonna use it
We once voluntarely failed a brew with the paladin's breer's kit, that the result was closer to rocket fuel than alcohol, highly inflammable and caused diarrea. I sneaked into the garrison and stuck it at the bottom of their water reserve. The guard was notably less present that night.
Thank you for changing Pruitt's "resting" position. As much as I would love to meet him face to face, having him stare into my soul while Jim spits D&D knowledge was a bit unsettling.
As always, great episode! Y'all are the reason I got a game going with a bunch of friends -- all really new / never played, and even the people who thought they wouldn't have fun ended up having a blast. Onward!
Character concept: instead of a skill junky, he’ll be a handy man. Proficient in the most tools one can be. Tim “The Toolman” Taylor.
I built an artificer around this concept for a colony building survival game
Tim "The Toolman" Taylor, ANY Background (2), Autognome (2), Alchemist Artificer 3 (4), Phantom Rogue 3 (1 + 1 Wild), Forge Cleric 1 (1), Battlemaster Fighter 3 (1), Drunken Master 3 (1), and 1 Bard. Taking a feat in Skilled (3), Chef (1), Artificer Initiate (1). In total, there'll be 2+2+4+1+1+1+1+3+1+1+= 17 + any one tool/day and 1 musical instrument. Toolman the Phantom Drunkern Alchemist, also Skilled Chef.
Or an an Elven Race and Phantom Rogue for any two/rest. Because there's 17 Artisan tools, 6 standard tools, 4 Gaming sets, and too many instruments.
@@xiongray the upside of the bard multiclass is that he can didgeridoo me
@@chasebalcziunas4289 Had to look that up and it cracked me up.
The funniest thing about this comment is that Home Improvement is on right now in my house.
I've been running a high seas campaign for over 3 years now, and i mandated as part of my parties build that they all take a trade skill. The intention behind that would be that everyone has something that contributes to the welfare and repair of the ship they have. My players have solidly ran with it, almost everyday out to sea without encounters, they spend downtime working on personal projects, or joint projects. I.E. My fighter/smith smelted and created filigree for jewelry, while the Fighter/jewelcrafter faceted a sapphire to set in it. Then our Artificer/Alchemist and Wizard etched runes and enchanted the jewelry. This is just one example of the things they all work on together.
This is such an awesome topic to cover! It’s such an easily overlooked thing, but DMs that properly use these in helping to define characters and adding them into skill challenges makes a world of difference!
I had a player join late for a campaign once at level 8 and he picked a dwarf cleric with an adamant warhammer for a weapon. He was also proficient with mason tools and the man would not hesitate to level entire walls in a couple of rounds. That was the first time I really started thinking about tools in 5E and I love putting them to use nowadays. Loved this episode to let me think about them even more!
I'm listening to this in April 2022, and I have to say...there are vanishingly few UA-cam channels whose content is continually useful, and from which I can always gain inspiration. But WebDM's content is constantly a source of inspiration. Thanks!!
I was literally just boasting to my friends that I used my tool proficiency for something helpful, then this comes up.
one thought I had on the subject of repairing objects and mending: player 1's armor needs repair, player 2 says "oh, I have Mending!". Problem is, the latch from the buckle is missing, missing parts are not fixed with repair.
I really appreciate all the content and hard work you guys have put into the channel even during the pandemic! Kept me sane.
Thank you so much Alex! Keeps us sane, too.
"You can't expect a rules book to have all the rules and then be manageable." ::picks up the 3.5 Rules Compendium in confusion::
And yes, I know it doesn't have EVERYTHING.
I saw two guys playing Starfleet Battles at a gaming convention. Their rulebooks looked like a multivolume encyclopedia.
Ive watched almosy every one of your videos for like 2 years and this video has given me the most dm ideas so far! Got a pirate campaign coming up and my players arent the types to use tools as creatively as this (no offense to them they are still kinda new). You can bet the ships quartermaster is gonna be like "ok you guys go see whats up with that undead cave while i take the rest of the crew and use our tools to make a makeshift base inland". Amazing video!
I absolutely love how you guys are doing the episodes now to keep it looking & feeling mostly the same, with the table, GM castle screen, books, mini's, and dice, in foreground, and greenscreen in back of you.
I'm impressed, they are so knowledgeable and in sync that they can have headphones in still have a informed and cohesive conversation about tools
As much as I miss the in-person chemistry, you guys have by far the best use of editing to make your videos look as normal as possible. Well done, take an inspiration dice.
Ayye just hit level 6 in our ebberon campaign, my artificer has tool expertise bby 😎😎😎
I like how Jim's hands are disappearing off the side of the frame. Funny to see the green screen shenanigans, but hey, at least they won't die of covid-19.
a heavy tool use character for me is my changeling warlock. in addition to having a disguise kit to make sure his impersonations have details to be convincing he also has weavers tools to make the outfits he needs himself. and then a forgery kit to make sure has has any convincing documents he needs for that person
"Grab my TOOLs, I know the pieces fit..."
You are my favorite person!!!!
Embrace magic that USES tools not replaces them.
Re: Dex/Cha and Performance/Instrument; I was thinking through a new character - a rogue that was a guitarist before he was an adventurer, and with higher dexterity than charisma - and that got me thinking about the various combinations of dex and cha checks with proficiency in performance vs. guitar and what situations would call for each. Here's what I came up with.
Dex (perf) - the music isn't the main point of the performance, such as playing while on stilts
Dex (tool) - technical demonstrations (scales, etc), or performances that impress other players of that instrument but might not appeal to laymen
Cha (perf) - the instrument is involved but isn't what makes the performance great, perhaps great stage presence but simply okay guitar playing
Cha (tool) - the character is a flashy wizard of their instrument in ways that appeal to everyone, like doing tricks (playing behind their back) or ratcheting up the sex appeal while playing (Tim Cappello, the saxophonist from Lost Boys ua-cam.com/video/A1dY6OkPb7E/v-deo.html)
OMG. I have never been this early before. Hi I love your show!
Thank you for saying so!!
Wholesome
Same for me on both counts. Love the work!!
Tools is one thing I love to toss into the mix. This week inspiration points are for using an item from your tool kit in a creative way. So often players simply need a direction and off they go. Great video.
You guys have helped this new DM catch up on 30+ years of advice and I can't thank you enough! I wouldn't be nearly as inspired without you guys nerding out in these videos :D
Lumberjack Jim got everyone all hot 'n bothered.
Take me, Lumberjim
This reminds me of a surprisingly fun campaign I ran where all of the players had a different trade for example brewer, black smith, leather worker, etc and they were trying to build up an old run down town to make it their home and facing many different and unique challenges along the way.
I highly encourage the use of tools when I'm DMing and this gave me even more ideas.
Currently playing a School of Swords/artisan/bard with chef feat. It's tons of fun playing around specific spells that a chef would use such as prestidigitation and heat metal
My party, two weeks ago completed an encounter by cooking a meal for the large Intelligent Fey Toad that was trying to eat them. Had some insanely lucky rolls, on the skills checks for 1) convincing the toad to wait for a meal, if it wasn't good enough then he could eat them 2) gathering ingredients 3) cooking 4) presentation. Was interesting, certainly not what I had planned but the players came up with it, and I ran with it.... and the rolls let it happen.
I finally have a forgery and calligraphy kit so this video is timed perfectly!
Eyyyy!
Lol Pruitt and Jim managed to stumble into the plot twist of an episode for Case Closed with that food poisoning bit.
Making a character right now around the concept of a card cheat. Gaming set proficiency supplemented by deception and slight of hand and the Lucky feat.
I've been working on a homebrew project, that expands on the tools, and stuff you can do with them. The idea being that the higher your level (and thus prof bonus), the more things you can do with them. Examples being: high calligraphy ability makes it faster (and possibly cheaper) to copy/write spells; high woodcarving ability grants an attack/damage bonus against plants and wooden constructs; or weaver's tools allowing one to craft camouflage gear in an environment, granting a bonus to stealth.
Very thoughtful discussion of underused concepts and kills. Using tools and proficiencies successfully helps flesh out the scenario and story. I like.
Thank you so much. I had no idea Xanathar's had so much about Tool Proficiencies! I was just asking our new GM about it today and his only answer was whatever it said in "the book" x.x
It's been too long since watching you guys. Your the best 👍
Thank you so much!! Thanks for joining us
I hate that y’all have to use a green screen, but I have to say that the sound quality and volume for the both of you is superb! STUPENDOUS! No sarcasm, just airing out the old words.
Every time I see a 13th Warrior reference I like you guys a little more.
On our patreon podcast, we did a video commentary on 13th Warrior. Excellent film!
Yeah, I went crazy happy when I opened XGtE and read about tool ideas!
See? Now THOSE are top notch puns. I didn't even know they were happening till halfway through.
One might even be able to use thieves TOOLs to pry open your third eye
Great job tooling around with all the uses of those proficiencies!
For me, the question of what Ability to apply to a tool use roll is kind of backwards. There aren't actually "skill checks" or "tool use checks" in 5e, only Ability checks with the possibility of applying a proficiency modifier. Even attack rolls and saving throws are just very particular applications of Ability checks.
What players should be doing is _declaring actions._ That is, telling the DM and other players what their character is trying to do (intent) and how they are trying to do it (approach). If the DM decides that an Ability check is required (ie. the approach _might_ succeed, but it also might fail), then they ask themselves what the limiting factor is. What Ability of the PC would cause the action to fail if it is not sufficient?
So, if a character wants to cut down a tree to bridge a chasm before the pursuing Orcs can catch up to the party, I'd say the limiting factor is STR. At which point, the player remembers that Woodcutter's Tool proficiency and asks if it applies (or the DM remembers). Which it quite clearly does. DM tells player to roll a STR check, adding their proficiency modifier.
So tool proficiency would be redundant if the character is proficient at the ability?
@@hugofontes5708 Characters in the fifth edition of the tabletop role-playing game known as Dungeons and Dragons ("D&D")are primarily defined - at least mechanically - by six "Ability Scores" or "Abilities".
@@hugofontes5708 the tool proficiency would be redundant if the tool in question isn't needed for the check. Proficency in Athletics doesn't mean you know how to use Woodcutter's tools to efficiently cut down a tree but would probably grant a bonus if the tree was rotten or thin enough to be knocked over without the use of specialized tools.
One idea I had for cobblers tools - making (and maintaining) snow shoes for the party. If I get the chance to play Icewind dale I might try to do that, hoping that it might be able to reduce or overcome difficult terrains that come from high snow (or maybe a bonus for the travel speed when we are not in combat).
I've kind of thought about using slight of hand with medicine at it relates to improvised surgeries to avoid cutting or damaging something that you don't want to. Just as fine motor skills can be useful in medicine.
Then again, dexterity medicine checks can be done.
I was starting a new Werewolf campaign when that movie, The 13th Warrior, came out. We all went and saw it and came back to the table and told an epic mythic Viking adventure. It was great inspiration.
On another note, I recently watched a series of videos by Townsends, about them using colonial-era tools to create a log cabin. As well as one video on how to make a simple lean-to shelter. Any PC with carpenter's tools could use them to make a better camp, which can be a godsend during winter months or otherwise inclement weather. If PCs are going to be staying in the wilderness for any length of time - like being camped out by the entrance to a big dungeon - they would benefit from things like shelter, fences to keep wildlife away (and make it harder for enemies to attack in the night), traps to catch food, etc.
Loved this video. Several ideas just boiled out from this. Thanks guys!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Best use of tool proficiency in a movie I can think of is the final fight in Three Amigos when the town used their weaver tool/disguise kit proficiency to bamboozle the bad guys
Teaching! Charisma is used with tools when teaching.
I am rewatching the channel after a long time keep it up guys 👍🏻
Thank you Earl!
Now, on the Sleight of Hand tangent, I see it as also being used to be able to discreetly cast a spell with only a somatic component without being noticed. I don't know how you guys feel about that, but it makes sense to me, at any rate.
Definitely and also, this might be where the confusion mentioned in the video comes from, sleight of hand is what you would roll to attempt to pick a lock discreetly. Whether or not you pick the lock would obviously be determined by the Thieves' Tools, but avoiding attention would be determined by sleight of hand.
@@TankDerek Yeah, that's a really good point.
All this talk about using tools out in the field brings up another point: this is the kind of thing that hirelings are useful for. Your party may not know how to build scaffolding or mend armor, but they could pay someone who does. If the party is plunging into a dungeon multiple times, and navigating certain terrain or dungeon obstacles is a pain, they could bring along a bunch of workers and have them solve the problem. Building ladders, boats and docks, dig ditches or wells, even turn a temporary camp into a small compound with log cabins and stables for horses. If a dungeon level is flooded, bring people with buckets, or have them construct some kind of pump system to drain the area.
The opportunity cost of taking tool proficiencies, compared to the opportunity cost of simply paying NPCs to do the work for you. It's a choice players should think long and hard about.
Maybe the adventurers attract raiders because of their larger presence, find themselves hiring men-at-arms to defend the encampment while they continue to explore the dungeon. Just ideas.
@@migthulhu Oh, absolutely. Once you start taking hirelings out into the wilderness, they'll begin demanding protection from the monsters (especially when the PCs are dungeon delving). It's these kinds of things that provide DMs a good gold sink, once the party has had a few adventures and levels under their belt, and need a reason to spend gold beyond just equipment (that they'll probably max out for mundane stuff very quickly).
By the time the dungeon gets cleared out, they may have a hamlet on their hands, or even a full village. Villages need a lord to protect them and collect taxes, so suddenly the PCs transition from just building a camp to building a stronghold (or repairing one, if the dungeon they cleared had a stronghold attached to it).
@@Bluecho4 brilliant
12:33 When Pruitt made that joke I had to pause because I have made a cleric cobbler.
Good discussion. I really like how you cut to different angles despite the green screen production. This is COVID high art! You rolled a 20!
I'm new to 5e, so still trying to absorb tool proficiency mechanics. Listening to you, they sound very much like an evolution of the old Profession and Craft skills from 3.x and PF. It's a generalized bag of knowledge and skills that give you situational advantages, but no clearly defined and bounded actions.
My very first character (AD&D) was a dwarf that I had put a whole lot of non-combat proficiencies on brewing.
Ofc him being a dwarf master brewer came with a lot of respect from the dwarven people so he was also kind of a noble because of his mastery in his trade.
I just made an Artificer Battlesmith with 1 level in Forge Cleric, with the Skilled Feat. And they have SOOO MANY TOOL PROFICIENCIES, and Expertise in ALL of those.
I love being a fighter with proficiency in tinker’s tools, thieve’s tools and smith’s tools. So versatile. My partner artificer has alchemy, tinker’s, thieves, enchanter’s and healer’s. We are ready for almost anything.
Maybe WebDM isn't the place for this but, I would love to see you two disagree an entire episode over a subject and attempt to sway eachother's opinion over the subject perhaps.. maybe just agree to disagree in the end, maybe discuss how you two would handle this disagreement at the table and how you live with the compromise. Not necessarily an episode about disagreement but an episode over a subject you two absolutely do not agree on. If there is an episode already like this I would love someone to point it out to me :)
Keep up the great work!
This is kind of an excellent idea!
@@WebDM two people who disagree on something have a civilized discussion on the internet in 2020? I'll believe it when I see it and I do really want to see it. Do eeeeet! Please? :)
I was going to say "Bob Ross is performance art," and then you said it lol.
The way that I've seen tools run and its really intresting if you have the tool such as thieves tools to pick a lock you roll with advantage. if there is a complex lock and you don't have thieve's tool you roll with disavantage but with the thieve's tools you roll normally.
crafting/repairing certain gear is a way that tools are used
Land, sea, and air vehicles are considered as tools for some reason.
They add more to characters for many situations if you look at them than more of the mechanical benefits. My cleric swapped out the gaming set in the soldier background for cooking utensils. The players like it more than just having trail rations, and it goes well with the monk's survival skills. I even use Gentle Repose on the butchered meat to keep it fresh.
I literally in the middle of writing blog post about it. It's scary! :D
Great video as always guys.
I just made a druid with a brew kit. He also has a flaw as an alcoholic. He often uses a drink to lubricant a NPCs toung. I see this being a lot of fun with making beer during long rests.
Forget the 13th Warrior, you only need 3 Amigos to transform a town into an effective bsttlefield.
Sew, old woman, sew like the wind!
Ha! The green screen collaboration is great! Way to find the way to keep this program going.
Any insight on how to use artificer tool expertise vs normal tool proficiency?
The (insert color)-screen background is so weird. I’m so glad I’m not stoned or tripping while watching this. I’d totally be freaking out.
You guys should do a series of videos expanding on the flavors of fantasy as described in the DMG. I’m running my take on a sword and sorcery setting and I’d to hear what you guys have to say about it.
Thank you for the suggestion!
Great shout-out to Willow. Great movie, and I agree, great chase scene!
"Ask him to stop the wagon." :)
Thanks guys. This is extremely helpful. This clarifies a lot. Implementing this for my players right away.
Glad to help! Let us know how it goes.
Playing through Hechna with my illusionist. Having WAAAYYY too much fun. Would totally recommend it
Love the content you guys are putting out. Very inspiring for roleplaying and other way to make the game more interesting. Keep up the good work.
I’m relatively new to dnd and was planning a dwarf fighter.
Far as I can tell, tool proficiency is as useful as the Swiss army cantrips of predigistation druidcraft etc. they may not come up often but it’s VERY useful when they do.
RIP that purple obsessed guy in water deep. I turned his wall yellow.
Killer intro as usual, Pruitt!
Xanathar's Guide have a bunch of suggestion on how to use Tools proficiency that I find works really well! Giving exemples of when a specific Tool proficiency could come in handy!
Like, for exemple, if one character has Painter's Tools proficiency and they visit a manor or cathedral that has lots paintings, they could make an Intelligence Check PLUS proficiency bonus to identify the artist who made those paintings, maybe how much they are worth, that kind of stuff! Additionally, let's say this same character also has proficiency in History, and they look at a painting of some kind of battlefield, or the portrait of an historical figure, something like that. That character could combine the fact that they are proficient in BOTH Painter's Tools AND History to give themselves an advantage on that role, to identify which war is being represented in the painting, or who is the historical figure.
And that's just one example off the top of my head! But basically, the idea is: If an activity involve the Tools the character is proficient in, you can make him roll an ability check or a skill check with proficiency bonus, even if the skill in question is one they wouldn't be proficient with normally. IF they are proficient in that skill as well, however, then add an advantage roll on top of it!
One of my most fun characters was a Dwarf Clan Crafter Artillerist Artificer. 7 tool proficiencies with expertise. Constructed a Lean-To with Carpenter's Tools to keep the party dry in a swamp. Noticed multiple secret doors from Mason's Tools. Crafted multiple magic items with Smith's Tools and Woodcarver's Tools. Repaired broken armor to sell for a profit with Tinker's Tools. But probably most importantly he had enough tool knowledge that he could qualify to ask the DM for more information in a lot of situations, just like the other INT skills. "Well, my character would know about that, so..."
This is great! Wish I had something like this when 5e came out. I modified tools into something much more tangible for my players. Every starting tool proficiency has an actual new skill line, like +1 Cobbling. At least with my players, having an actual stat to look at and think through problems makes it so they try to use that skill more often. Also I let them be able to level up that skill whenever they perform great feats in that skill. Like designing a new shoe or however the player's imagination decides to take it. So it becomes more of a system that allows for player more creativity and sense of progress. Also it lets any player try to just pick up a skill. Find some Calligraphy tools start at +0 work at it enough in down time and it starts to improve. I kind of bypassed all the ability and skill checks all together but with this video I might have to incorporate more of them in now. Like using Survival to MacGyver your way to crafting something without your tool kit.
My monk very regularly uses his art supplies prof to make "art interpretation" check when looking at intricate artistic murials with historical significance statues that disguise secret door mechanisms...that sort of thing.
The clutter on this table gives me anxiety, lol. This was a great video. Thanks
There IS overlap with Sleight of Hand and Thieves Tools in things like backalley Con games with rigged equipment, etcetera
I've been wondering about the value of tool proficiency ever since I rolled up my Knowledge Cleric. At first, I was pretty stoked at the idea of a jack-of-all-trades nerd. But I got a little discouraged when I realized our game was gonna stay low-level enough to keep any proficiency bonus pretty insignificant.
Knowing about the potential to gain advantage on checks that stack a skill and tool changes things quite a bit.
As a carpenter, a prybar (small flat bar with a bend - max 1 pound]) is a must have for a thieve tool.
For me I had the tools provide little bonuses like using cooks utensils can let you make special meals that grant temporary HP or for musicians instruments to create little performance that grants Bard like inspiration onto them or whatever type of song/event they preform. So an example for rolling is 1-4 is poor quality or -2, 5-9 is lesser quality or -1, 10-14 is common or 0, 15-19 is higher or +1, 20-24 is greater or +2 and 25-30 is masterful or +3 to the benefits the crafted item provides
Been waiting for something on this. Y'all are awsome
Do a video on Genre! (horror, epic, medieval, etc) (campaign genre, adventure genre, matching characters to genre, etc.)
Baulders Gate 3 is coming out soon.
I would be interested in hearing the Web DM opinions of this game.
The characters setting and just the fact that this game is being made.
I rock either herbalism or cooks utensils proficiency for out of combat healing and role plays on almost all my characters. Aside from the professional goal, they almost always have a personal goal too, to try and master their craft.
Like can I make a replica of a hero's feast without magic? We shall search for the right ingredients!
Stone mason's tools on my zealot barbarian was a heaven send! (no pun intended)
Being able to find hidden doors and traps using it was one thing but the free double damage to stone structures really made for some interesting entries