D&D 5E player wants to use fishing pole as his tool proficiency, what can I do with this?

[Kyle Ropp]

Thought of a hook for a fight, hooking into a big old something and having it fight the party, but what else should I I?

 

[Afrodyte]

As a tool, I'd call it fishing tools and leave it at that.

As a weapon, I'd call it improvised or use the closest approximation of standard weapons.

 

[SigmaOne]

You could have there be fishing contests, like those in the Zelda games. And then they could lead to further plot developments if he gets interested in it:

• for example, he may enter a contest only to find the top ranked fisher, the presumed champion, has been murdered, which might lead them on a murder mystery.
• Or if he wins, a jealous competitor could go after him. Or frame him for cheating.
• Or the contest itself could be a facade for something much more nefarious. Maybe the winner of the annual contest is "sent on to a life of luxury and fishing-fame, never to return", and their are always these news postings about how these people are world famous and living large. But in reality, it is run by a cult who sacrifices the winner to a great nasty (which could vary based on party level); and the cult just keeps up a facade to maintain a supply of sacrifices.

 

[cpendlet]

Obviously they could use to to get fresh food (fish ) in a similar manor as with the survival skill. There would be the limitations on needing a body of water that actually has something to catch in it.

Or were you asking for more "hook" related plot "hooks"

 

[Thaumaturge]

On the surface, have that proficiency allow him to get enough food whenever they are near a body of water with fish.

Halibut you also give him proficiency with net and trident. Those are fishing tools.

On the net, I'd say gill the character a couple of flavorful perks, but nothing titanic.

Thausubmerge.

 

[Umbran]

I'm not sure you have to "do" anything with it. It is a tool.

Like with thieves' tools - when the character needs to get through a locked door, they can have a bonus. When the character needs food, he or she can get the bonus to getting food. If you weren't going to create tool-centric plot hooks for an Herbalism kit, why do it for fishing?

By the way, the Basic rules already have the tool, though not in the Tools section - "fishing tackle"

 

[jadrax]

By the way, the Basic rules already have the tool, though not in the Tools section - "fishing tackle"

Yeah, that totally should have been made a Tool Proficiency.

 

[Jer]

Proficiency with fishing gear would be useful if you do a lot of wilderness adventuring where the PCs have to forage for their own food. A PC who knows how to fish should have no problems bringing back enough for the whole party provided there is some kind of body of water nearby.

Fishing can be worked into the story as part of the downtime activities. Fishing competitions are mentioned above, but there are other uses. If he's fishing in his downtime you could treat it as practicing his profession. If you need to motivate an adventure with a MacGuffin, there's always the "he caught a fish and inside he found a piece of treasure/bottle with a note in it/map to ancient dragon's hoard" setup.

On the surface, have that proficiency allow him to get enough food whenever they are near a body of water with fish.

Halibut you also give him proficiency with net and trident. Those are fishing tools.

On the net, I'd say gill the character a couple of flavorful perks, but nothing titanic.

Thausubmerge.

I have never seen anyone flounder around so much for bad puns. You oyster be ashamed of yourself.

 

[ExploderWizard]

As a weapon, I'd call it improvised or use the closest approximation of standard weapons.

It should depend on the fishing pole! An ordinary fishing pole perhaps, but what about:

Bigby's Graphite Fishing Pole

Melf's Lucky Fishing Pole

Mastercraft Adamantium Fishing Pole

Nystul's Sturdy Fishing Pole


Beauties like these should dish out some major damage!!!

 

[Snapdragyn]

I have never seen anyone flounder around so much for bad puns. You oyster be ashamed of yourself.

Fishing for food (as others have mentioned). Possible 'between sessions' use as a profession to maintain a certain standard of living (probably not an especially high one). Could also be use to gather a special spell component, like 'ink sac from the rare blue-ringed octopus - oh, did we mention it's poisonous?'

The punners better clam up before a mod comes in here & kicks somebody's wrasse.