The Purpose Of This
Many players use tool proficiencies to add flavor to their characters. Yet, it can't be denied that some tool proficiencies can often feel more relevant and practical than others, and picking a flavorful tool proficiency over a practical one can feel like sacrificing some mechanical power for the sake of improving your characters roleplaying. Though this is highly dependent upon the setting, and how the DM handles the matter, it's difficult to deny that Thieves Tools may be more useful on a session by session basis than Cobblers Tools. The articles listed in this folder are a set of homebrewed adjustments to the uses and capabilities of each tool, with the goal of adding a personal touch to the rules, and to give players that pick the "weaker" tools for the sake of their characters a bit more of a boost.
In Addition To, Not Instead Of
Unless otherwise specified, the rules and descriptions already in the PHB for each of these tools are still valid. The functions listed for each tool in this list are improvements and additions to the existing rules. In some cases these new rules will render existing rules obsolete or clearly inferior in power, in which case the older rules can be disregarded.
Tools and Skill Checks
In the PHB, most tools describe how they might aid in a limited variety of specified skill checks. In reality, a tool, and the knowledge surrounding the use of that tool, can have application to any skill check. To represent this, the functionality of tools in relation to skill checks is adjusted. Whenever proficiency in a tool is relevant to any skill check you're making, you add your proficiency bonus with the tool to the result of the roll. This is in addition to the proficiency bonus that may be granted from proficiency in that skill. When this applies to a knowledge check, proficiency in the relevant tool may also grant an overall more detailed, or deeper knowledge than could be learned without that proficiency.
Work and Downtime
All tools can be used to try and turn a profit. The method in which a tool is used to make a profit is dependent upon the tool. Some require peddling service or expertise to a customer, others craft wares and sell them, whilst others profit by selling their skill in the tool as labor to an employer. If a character is in a situation during downtime where they could feasibly use their tool proficiency to make a profit, they may choose to do so.
When doing so, determine the amount of downtime spent in days, then roll an ability check, adding your tool proficiency to the result of the roll. Consult the roll result against the Check DCs of the table below to determine the amount profited. The DM may choose to increase or reduce this amount based on the situation the party is in, especially if a certain service may be in higher or lower demand in the area. This is a simple solution for a day-to-day type of adventure, where a player is trying to make on the spot, quick profits using their skill in a tool. If players have a more specific idea to turn a profit, it should be handled case by case, and especially long periods of downtime (more than a week) should likely use a different approach.
| Check DC |
Profit (per day) |
| 10 |
1 gp |
| 15 |
3 gp |
| 20 |
5 gp |
| 25 |
10 gp |
The list of tools is actively being worked on, and is likely incomplete. If tools have no additional rules listed here, simply use the rules listed for them in the PHB or SRD.
