Handbooker Helper: Ability Checks, Proficiencies & Saving Throws
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Roleplayer Rachel Seeley joins us on the latest episode of Handbooker Helper to explain the basics of Ability Checks, Proficiency Bonuses, and Saving Throws in 5th Edition D&D.
Featuring doodles by our friend Wendy: / wendydoodles
Subtitles provided by Critical Role Translate: bit.ly/2Ib8aBk
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So a check is for something YOU DO, and a saving throw is for something done TO YOU. I keep getting those confused.
That's exactly what it is. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. :)
#additionalknowledgeacquired
4e actually altered the saving throws into passive "defenses" to fix this confusion, making it so that it was always the actor who rolled.
People lost their shit.
G.I. JOE!
@@talahar123
Ability check: "I would like to do this".
Saving throw: "Something is happening to your character - how well do you react?"
Well this was a much better explanation than the 15-minute monologue I put my new players through tonight.
I honestly dont think players really need to understand that if they are new. Just tell them what they need to throw and what they need to add. Later in the game they will understand that by their own
Made me cackle
I can relate lol
As someone who started their first campaign ever three days ago after many years of wanting to play, this series is extremely helpful and also has great timing!
About to start my first campaign after wanting to for years. How has it been for you? Any pointers for a noob?
And to confuse the issue Bards have an ability called Jack of all Trades where they add half prof bonus to any skill check they arnt proficient in, including things like controlling a vehicle you've never seen before and initiative. Short version is, he read a book about that once. Building a boat? Jack of all trades. Open Heart Surgery? Jack of all Trades. All those years of Bard College really pay off.
Bardic training is flat-out the most comprehensive education available in a D&D world. It's the reason the class meshes so well with the Noble background.
"Oh yes, we're sending Charlotte to Dalewind College this year. They have just the most _exciting_ program! History, rhetoric, philosophy, music, fencing, even a little arcane training! She will make simply the most _ideal_ wife!"
*Five Years Later*
"No, darling. No wedding bells in the _immediate_ future, it would seem. Though Charlotte and her ... _exotic_ little friends have apparently just killed a dragon. So we're very proud."
Excellent little story based explanation. Might I steal for explaining to my group?
@@nickwilliams8302
No. I have already registered the copyright and will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law should you try this. You have been warned.
Just kidding. Knock yourself out.
They might as well rename the class “Protagonist”.
Is this for starting bards or just higher level ones? Asking because I’m a bard and I’m just starting out
I can really see this format becoming a great quick intro to D&D 5e!
That’s the point! :D
Hey Matt!
Thanks for helping us noobs out! :D
Verliesen und Drachen? Good to see you were here!
im still stupid
I love that the DM illustration looks like Matt Mercer haha
I always thought DC meant like Dice Check not Difficulty Class
From the time it took from me watching the video to reading the comments, I already forgot it was Difficulty Class and have been still reading DC as "Dice Check."
I would have said difficulty check XD
"Proficiency Bonus" is only determined by your character's Level.
"Skills" you are proficient in, are determined by your class and background
Are these things Decided my the Game master?
@@landonsumlin2685 The proficiency bonus is decided by the character level (as prescribed in in the handbook, unless the DM specifically says otherwise) and skill proficiencies are determined by various things like class, background, feats, probably spells you might be under etc. as specified in the players handbook. Again, unless the DM says otherwise.
@@landonsumlin2685 Every single aspect of the entire game is decided by the Game master, so yes
Can't you also gain different proficiencies when you level up?
@@TieflingKumasi Yes, for example when you pick the Lore bard subclass:
> When you join the College of Lore at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with three skills of your choice.
Rogue and bard also give expertise in a few skills at various levels. For bard:
> At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
> At 10th level, you can choose another two skill proficiencies to gain this benefit.
You can also take feats like Skilled (3 proficiencies) or Skill Expert (1 proficiency + 1 expertise + 1 stat increase), or multi-class into rogue (like Fearne did in C3 for the proficiencies). Or the feat Squat Nimbleness gives proficiency in Acrobatics or Athletics (your choice).
Various other feats give tool proficiencies, like Chef for Chef's tools or Artificer Initiate for artisan's tools. Tool proficiencies can also be learned during downtime, so they don't need to "cost" anything in terms of the limited number of things you can grab on the way to level 20.
it's so awesome that other people besides the cast of critical role do these videos. and they're also super helpful :)
I disagree. The channel is "Critical Role", not "Critical Role and friends".
I disagree too
I disagree with your guys' disagreements. Rachel Seeley was very good in this video. :)
So the production crew and others aren't a part of Critical Role? Makes sense. I honestly enjoy these types of Handbooker Helper.
Insight check.
this is genuinely the most helpful video. I can never find straightforward videos on DND, looks like im gonna be revisiting this series!
Not surprised that none of the CR players appeared in this since they still don't really seem to know how these things work XD
damn, shots fired. XD
Wth needs to know those things...? I need to know important things like what happens if I jump off a 1000 foot cliff or what magical poop looks like...The rest is just filler.
Ouch, . . . but funny and in plenty of moments so true. We jest with you CR!
I'm sure they do but simply forget due to the pressure of being on camera. Seems like there might a bit of drinking and smoking going on too.
Lovely explanation, Rachel :D
Audio crew: Are you sure you want stereo recording of these types of video?
Please put on some headphones, and listen from 1:54 - 1:58. She tilts an inch or two to the right, and the sound goes from 50-50 to 20-80.
There is only one mouth, and it's facing the camera all the time -> Mono, please.
If it's already mono, just split to stereo and panned a bit manually, it's too much panning.
Y'all have a great day.
THANK YOU! I only have one ear, and for a minute I thought my headphones were busted.
mid/side micing to the rescue!
Rasmus Bækgaard Okay I thought I was going crazy when listening to this audio.
Could have been worse, they could have aggressively noise gated the mic so we miss half of what she said.
YIKES
The only thing I could see being confusing for really new people is the explanation on proficiency. Normally you add the proficiency to the skill from the start and then that's just the skill modifier. The way she describes it could be taken as you add your proficiency every time you do a check. I could see a player accidentally double adding the proficiency bonus to a skill because they don't realize the difference.
I only watch for Sam's jingle.
Not really, but it is great!
Handbook
Handbook
Handbook
Handbook-er helper
Handbooker helper
*ding*
I enjoy the spoils of victory over that log every morning.
These short vids are SO damn useful for tightening up my DM game!
OKAY I can't take it anymore, who does the "DING" in the end? Sam or Liam??
I think it is all Sam
Sam did confirm it was all him
Another great video with just the teeniest nit-pick.
There is rarely a time that some skill or another does not apply to something the character is attempting to do. I know, Matt Mercer does these "general stat" checks. I have found VERY few instances where there was not a skill to apply to the roll. Like that "jump over a log" example. That's clearly Athletics or, possibly, Acrobatics. Some things are tied to tool proficiency (lock picking, carpentry, etc), but 5e skills are deliberately broad. They cover a lot of situations.
Perhaps Matt Mercer is saying "general stat check" to withhold information on what sort of knowledge skill category the information would fall under. Maybe it's just a way to move the story along without spending too much thought on what skill would apply. I've no way of knowing.
For players, I'd say asking for an attempt at something and layering in a skill suggestion is a good technique. Just don't be surprised if your DM asks for a different roll. Also, remember that a lot of knowledge falls under 2 or more skills. EG: information about undead may be a Religion or an Arcana check (History for those "big horde of skeletons ran through here decades ago" moments.)
For everyone, have a little bit of flexibility with skills. I always tell my players to make suggestions, because they might come up with a use that I hadn't considered. If you are considering an action, it's totally OK to ask what skill would apply if you WERE to try this thing BEFORE you actually commit to it.
I'm still confused. So there's a difference between Ability Checks and Proficiency Ability Checks? How do I know which one to use?
I'm sure you have found the answer by now but for others looking at the comments:
There are only Ability checks. When requested by DM, you roll a d20 and add your corresponding ability modifier of the requested ability or skill to that roll. If you are proficient in that skill you add your proficiency bonus too. If you aren't proficient in the requested skill, you just use the corresponding ability modifier. You usually (and if you haven't, you should) have already marked the proficiency extra into the skills you are proficient in.
Example: At level 1 I say "I examine this strange symbol painted on the wall". DM might call for Religion (Intelligence) check. I roll an 8 on d20 and check my Religion skill on my character sheet. I am proficient in Religion so my modifier for it is 2 for my Intelligence of 14 PLUS my proficiency modifier of 2 for level 1 proficiency bonus, therefore totaling +4 and making my score for this ability check 8+4=12. DM then checks/decides if it is a success or failure.
In the above example, +4 is what should read as your Religion skill modifier in your sheet so that when asked for ability check, you just add that number instead of having to calculate in two numbers.
WHERE'S MY BARD QUICKBUILD
_"Bards suck."_ ~ Nott the Brave
Probably already recorded, edited, and scheduled for release sometime later.
You think they can schedule *the* Emmy Award Winning Sam Riegel? (singing) "You've got another thing comin'"
I mean, I'm sure the list of riders in his contract is extensive.
Where is your book of puns and dirty lymric?!?
Do your homework, or no quickbuild for you!
What if I determine a log is somewhat hard to jump over and say has a DC of 20, and someone with 19 DEX wants to jump over it. Would they fail, or would they instead apply an Athletics check and roll a d20 and apply all modifiers. I'm trying to determine when abilities are applied themselves instead of skills. Is it a "Well, my DEX isn't high enough, can I roll an Athletics check instead?"
Another great video! Loving these Handbooker Helper clips
Awesome
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE SAVING THROW BONUS.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE ALL THES OTHER THINGS.,
HOW DO YOU.... ETC.
HOW...
Not why.
We all understand why.
HOW!!!!! DESCRIBE THE PROCESS!!! Not the reason!!!!
I hope they have Mark Hulmes host when they do an episode on a Sorcerer quick build.
I quickly began to hate this loud song.
I love how she shows her muscle after explaining the Fighter saving throws and then awkwardly putting her arm down again xD great episode!
3:27 for anyone too lazy to watch a 4 minute video :P
PLEASE TELL ME Travis McElroy's doing the fighter one.
Hey! This face is new to me. Awesome! Also sending this to my players
if you watched Stream Of Many Eyes she was part of one of the groups there, Girls Guts Glory, an all girl group. Their story on that stream was very good and hilarious.
Great to see Rachel present an installment! #GirlsGutsGlory
I think what I find most annoying about rolling for an ability check is that it's not really story ir character driven. You could be playing a wizard that spent all their time in libraries studying arcana and history, but roll a natural 1 every chance you get. I imagine it would feel frustrating to fail at something you wanted to do just because you have bad luck.
Dammit, now you've got me singing along to the jingle. Handbook, handbook, handbook, handbook...er helper!
OK, I love Sam, but I hate that jungle so much!
Thank you I'm DMing and playing for the first time and this was EXTREAMLY helpful. It was super simple.
Thanks for the hard work! This is definitely gonna help me finally explain proficiency bonuses to other people. Maybe my explanations need more work?
Question: For proficiency, do I add the roll + modifier + proficiency? Or is it just roll + proficiency?
Roll, modifier and proficiency. Speaking of which, I am kinda confused on something myself. How so you tell if someone's saving throw is better than the thing affecting them.
@@tapestixxy8531 Thanks for clearing that up. As for the saving throw, I think if you succeed on a saving throw, you take less or no damage, or not affected by a spell or poison
MOIRA!!! ❤
I think I'll save these videos and then let any new players watch them. I'm no good a teaching, I always make it look so much harder.
Why does it give an example of Acrobatics check when she's talking about seeing an enemy through rain and fog? Seems like an oversight.
I need quick clarification: say you have a prof. bonus of 2, your stealth is 3 and are prof. in it. If you roll for stealth do you add up to 5 or does the 3 have the prof. Incluuded?
well, what's your dexterity modifier, if it was a plus one, then yes the three would be included; if it was a plus three then you would add the extra two.
Victory over that log, victory over that beholder, victory over that dragon, but that...door. That door is barred.
I can't even hear the name without laughing. Love the breakdown for basic principles because even though I have played for nearly a year (thanks to crit role!) there are still some areas I am a little fuzzzy on. Love this stuff!!
Really good stuff. A lot of material covered in a short space of time.
Lol hardy buggers was that? Jesus
As an experienced DM with inexperienced players, these are great tools to show to noobies.
My gosh this person has a terrible actor
this literally was the best video
i have been learning how to play and have just becoming more confused till this video 10/10
They need her to have a guest spot on Critical Role
Girls, Guts, Glory needs to be the next show under the Critical Role banner.
Me: Has been played D&D 5E for 5 years now, knowing how to play the game in my fucking sleep
Also me: Still watches these
I got so lost after she said ability check.
.....is that a Honey Heist shirt?????
Cause I love terrorizing my players, I make them randomly do constitution check for surprise attacks after they do something stupid. It's a fun way of having consequences and avoid killing them for plot. It also adds suspense before I say why they are doing a saving throw.
But how do u get a dc 30 roll with a d20 which is max 20 + modifier which is max 4? The highest u can get is 24...
Your proficiency bonus can go to+6 on higher character levels 17lv+, and adding your ability modifiers to that...it can be done.
so if someone cast cause fear on me, i need to make a wisdom saving throw - but waht number do i need to roll?
That depends on the caster - the DC of spells is calculated as: 8+proficiency bonus+spellcasting ability bonus
Does this mean that girls guts glory is coming to critical role?
I hope that the GGG crew can use the CR studio. Not 100% sure, but the lack of a good filming location seems to be what is preventing new GGG content.
She's soooo soothing! I would like to hear her narrating something
Soothed, sedated.
They ought to reboot this for Candela and Daggerheart!
Dear crit role,
What if you did an episode of handbooker helper about player etiquette. I really love your Chanel and I’m rewatching the first season so I can bundle the second one cause I’m not patient enough to wait week to week 😂 but I’ve played campaigns and one shots with people who’s only introduction is critical role. They usually know most of the rules but don’t understand players etiquette. You could talk about concepts like meta, rail roading, and player talk vs in character rpg. I think the key to an episode like this would be an emphasis on the fact that each group will have their own culture and etiquette but when playing with a new group it’s best to be polite to the dm and not jump of the rails immediately.
This is very well explained in a short amount of time, thank you!
Ok I am late to the party, but.. the number I rolled creating my character using 4xd6 and subtracting the lowest dice, for example 17+3 in strength, the 17 is used for what, if when I do a strength check roll I use a d20+modifier?
I'm confused, let's say a player requests to investigate a room for clues, would it be a dice roll+ his investigate skill (5) + his intelligence modifier (3) + his proficiency bonus (2)? Having 10 right out the gate seems broken to me (his character is level 1)
Ok that makes sense but how in the world can you beat a 30? I mean even 26 seems impossible.
Dont you get like +5 when you have a 20 on something like strength? So if you do a strength check and roll a 20 you would have 25, so how can you even get past that?
What is the DC or the number you have to beat for a saving throw. When I look at spell descriptions, say ‘hold person’, it mentions saving throws but it does not state the number you have to beat for a successful saving throw. Is it 10?
So if i attack someone and i need 14 to work, do i stack STR mod and Proficency weapon together. I roll 10 and +2str +2 Weapon proficency
DC 30 Practically Impossible. Heh. Tell that to a rogue.
Who else sings the intro at this point?
did anbyone notice her whispering the word
"thick"
when she was talking about the log?
1:10
use specific mathematical example and step by step scenario. who does what, when, and what it means.
doors = 30
Awesome explanations Rachel! Appreciate it much! This will be great for the up and coming campaign I'm running for newcomers to D&D! STOKED!
Holy shit who's dumb idea was it to put that theme annoying theme song twice in every video?
Proficiency bonuses still confuse me.. so if you have a +1 in strength and in dexterity, do those add to your acrobatics to give you a +2 proficiency bonus in acrobatics...?
So if you have to make a saving throw, how do you determine the number?
how do i set up a saving throw like from a spell im using on the opponents? do i roll a d20 but what do i add to it?
these videos are super helpful but a better name for the show is relay desired.
Okay, let's see if I'm understanding this right.
Say my character is proficient in Insight, but not Perception. If I roll for Perception, I just add on my wisdom bonus? But if I roll Insight, I add on my wisdom bonus and my proficiency bonus?
Say I make a wisdom saving throw. Then I only add on my wisdom bonus? Is the only difference between a wisdom check and a wisdom saving throw, is that I'm forced to take the saving throw while the check is something I'm doing?
I feel like there a bigger reason for saying it's specifically a saving throw?
Yes, exactly. When you're proficient in a skill you add the ability modifier and the proficiency bonus. If you're not proficient, you only add the ability modifier. If you're now proficient in wisdom saving throws, you only add the ability modifier. A saving throw is something you have to do to avoid or reduce some sort of damage/outcome. A check is something you can choose to do.
Okay, so, question because I'm still confused and my friends and I are currently planning out first campaign.
I'm playing a Rogue who's got expertise in Deception. My skill modifier is +6 on that. Do I always add my proficiency bonus ×2 to the role plus my modifier? So would I do d20+6+proficiency×2 for every Deception check?
I just became the 4,100 person to like this video. And then also realized I didn’t get an achievement for it sooooo.....*Achievement Unlocked!* 💪
34 people failed their ability check...
I've been noticing people I play with use their saving throw modifier when they should be useing their ability modifier.
So, let's say a lvl 1 rogue with a Dex of +4 were to jump over that log
The people I play with would add their proficiency too, making it +6
Not home brew rules, just mix ups on modifiers
Just want to say - calling DC10 "incredibly easy" never sat well with me. I shave that down to DC8.
As a DM... imho
So proficiencies can be added to attack rolls? But what about the weapons the class is proficient with? Like for a hexblade warlock do you add the charisma modifier and the proficiency bonus to the attack roll? Or do you just add the charisma modifier to the attack roll?
That ranger didnt have a bear...sad face.
One thing it might have been good for them to provide clarity to people on has to do with using the combination of ability, skill, and proficiency checks when it comes to using a skill in such a way that it does not utilize the 'regular' ability associated with it. It is possible to use a skill with a different ability that the one that is shown in parentheses next to it on the character sheet in some circumstances. In those cases, you would use the ability modifier of the ability that is being used plus the proficiency modifier if the skill attempted is one the character is proficient with. A good example of this is when a character attempts a performance check on an attempt at juggling. The DM can rule that this is more dexterity based than charisma (the normal ability associated with performance) and thus the total bonus would be their Dex modifier plus their Performance proficiency (if any).
the Handbooker Helper intro voice sounds like David from Camp Camp
Its log, its log; its big, its heavy, its wood; plus DING!
you class and subclass determins your proficiency in 2, 3 or all of the saving throws
yeah monks are kinda op in that sense
Paladins? Paladins.
paladins dont get extra prof. they only get wis and charisma
some fighters get Wis extra, rogue gets wisdom extra and Monk gets all of them
Every class starts with 2 saving throw proficiencies. Some classes get an additional save proficiency at a higher level. And then monks get proficiency in all saves at level 14.
Paladins don't get additional save proficiencies, but they do get the Aura of Protection feature at level 6, which gives them and every ally within 10 feet a bonus to saving throws equal to the paladin's Charisma modifier.
As a first time DM with very little DND experience (who will be running Curse of Strahd for some friends who have never played before), this video and series is a complete life saver!
ok so if i get let say a proficiency in preformance from my race then another one fro my backround and another one from my class does that mean if my proficiency bonus is 2 i get a bonus of +6 on preformance skill checks ??? or am i getting this wrong
@Follow the howl i was a dumbass 2 moths ago XD
I’ve watched a few of these for fun but I watched this one cause I didn’t how these rolls work ( I’m dm,ng I group of five) and this was very helpful
A kraken just threw a party member at me and the DM told me to roll Dex saving throws. What'd i do?
this is just too much (and important ) basic knowledge in one episode (compared to other topics in handbooker helper) would be cool to get a bit more into it.. love the series though :)
I have been playing dNd once a week for the last year I still find the rules and explanation of them rather confusing
I made our wizard do a constitution saving throw because he was helping his sister who had diarrhea from her terrible chicken making.
I'm loving this series, I'm a veteran player who learned on the fly who is trying my hand at DMing. I sent my players this playlist and they are doing great off the bat! I get to spend more time playing and less time explaining not to add initiative on everything. Thanks so much!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
I JUST STARTED PLAYING D&D AND WAS SOOOO CONFUSED AS TO HOW ABILITY CHECKS WORKED.
THANK YOU!!!!
failing the ability check for the log sounds like something out of a pokemon game xD
But how do you increase your modifier to be so high like how Scanlan was with Deception and persuasion?
This video was posted exactly one year ago today and I'm watching it for the first time. What perfect timing!