Quickleaf
Legend
I've come to believe that treating skills as operating in the same way with the same rules is not the best design because it creates a mismatch between the mechanics and actual flow at the table. This is a strong belief and my question is coming from this premise. If you prefer to question the premise or defend 5e's skill system, or you prefer to rag on 5e's skill system for a whole different reason... this is not a plus thread, so go for it - we can learn from each other.
However, the conversation I am interested in having is about how you handle one skill differently from another in your game.
For example, I've learned that not having players roll Stealth immediately, and instead waiting until there's a chance of being detected to have them roll Stealth, leads to a much smoother play experience both in terms of rules handling and in terms of immersing players in the suspense of the scene. IMHO it's an objectively better way to run Stealth that is different from other skills where there isn't that latency/delay between a player declaring an action (with risk) and resolution through dice. The rules don't explain to do this. It's a "table practice" that varies from group to group.
I'm not attached to which particular list of skills you have in mind, whether d20, 4e, or 5e, or if you have thoughts about tool proficiencies, but for conversation sake, here's the list of 5e skills as a touchstone / reminder...
EDIT: I'm including this graphic for clarity of communication, since the conversation has been focusing on X-axis and Y-axis questions. Which is ok. I'm just interested in having more conversation around the Z-axis, especially with folks who are engaging in that axis.
However, the conversation I am interested in having is about how you handle one skill differently from another in your game.
For example, I've learned that not having players roll Stealth immediately, and instead waiting until there's a chance of being detected to have them roll Stealth, leads to a much smoother play experience both in terms of rules handling and in terms of immersing players in the suspense of the scene. IMHO it's an objectively better way to run Stealth that is different from other skills where there isn't that latency/delay between a player declaring an action (with risk) and resolution through dice. The rules don't explain to do this. It's a "table practice" that varies from group to group.
I'm not attached to which particular list of skills you have in mind, whether d20, 4e, or 5e, or if you have thoughts about tool proficiencies, but for conversation sake, here's the list of 5e skills as a touchstone / reminder...
Athletics
Acrobatics
Sleight of Hand
Stealth
Arcana
History
Investigation
Nature
Religion
Animal Handling
Insight
Medicine
Perception
Survival
Deception
Intimidation
Performance
Persuasion
Acrobatics
Sleight of Hand
Stealth
Arcana
History
Investigation
Nature
Religion
Animal Handling
Insight
Medicine
Perception
Survival
Deception
Intimidation
Performance
Persuasion
EDIT: I'm including this graphic for clarity of communication, since the conversation has been focusing on X-axis and Y-axis questions. Which is ok. I'm just interested in having more conversation around the Z-axis, especially with folks who are engaging in that axis.
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