5e Training Modified

S
ometimes players want to become proficient in Note that the above table should be used as a guideline.
the use of tools or skills or increase their The DM should make the decision of which skill makes the
proficiency in a skill. 5th Edition rules are very most sense for the player and what he will use the skill for.
broad in this area. This ruleset is meant to For instance it could be argued that Alchemist tools would be
supplement those rules to add some more detail better suited for intelligence than wisdom depending on the
and options to training. character and their use of the tool. Any DC checks should be
determined by the specific activity being practiced.
Tools The formula for calculating the time taken is the base days
Sometimes players want to gain a proficiency in the use of learned from table 1 minus the player’s stat score from table
tools. The Player’s Handbook page 154 has a list of tools 2 + their intelligence score multiplied by 10 or:
available. For a player to train with a tool they first must find
an NPC or PC that has mastered that tool to train them and Base – ((Main Stat + Intelligence – 20) x10) = Total
is a higher tier than they are (see Appendix for NPCs). The Number of Days.
cost would be 1gp per day. Some tools are harder to lean
then others and therefore will take more time. Therefore the A player may attempt to learn a skill without the help of an
tools are broken into three tiers each with a different time to instructor but it will take twice as long (x2 modifier to days.
master the use of that tool. The base time to learn tools table
will show the base time to learn each type of tool. Example: A player has an intelligence score of 10 and a
Base time to learn tools dexterity score of 15. They want to learn to use
Tier Base Days Tools leatherworker’s tools. The formula would be 400 - ((15 + 10
-20) x 10) = 400 – (5 x 10) = 400 - 50 = 350 days. If they were
Tier 1 - 100 Gaming Set to train without a teacher it would take 750 days. This can be
Easy broken up as well. Every day with a trainer is worth twice as
Tier 2 - 250 Disguise Kit, Herbalism Kit, many as without so if that person spent 100 days with a
Skilled Musical Instruments, trainer they would only need 550 more days without a trainer.
Navigator's Tools, Poisoner's Training without a trainer would not incur the 1gp/day cost
Kit, Thieves' Tools, Land Vehicles either. Of course materials would still be needed.
Tier 3 - 400 Artisan tools, Forgery Kit, Languages,
Master Water Vehicles NOTABLE EXCEPTION: Languages only take 100 days
of tool cap. While they take long to master, retention of a
Each tool has an attribute assigned to it which, along with language is not as difficult as tools such as smithing.
Intelligence, determines how long it takes a character to
learn the use of that tool. The abilty score to learn table
shows which ability score is associate with each tool for the
sake or learning to use that tool.
Ability to learn tool
Ability Tool
Strength Carpenter's Tools, Cobbler's Tools, Mason's
Tools, Smith's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools
Dexterity Calligrapher’s Supplies, Potter's Tools,
Leatherworker's Tools, Painter's Supplies,
Weaver's Tools, Thieves' Tools
Constitution Glassblower's Tools
Intelligence Tinker's Tools, Gaming Sets, Navigator's
Tools
Credit: C. Culberston http://christopherculbertson.com/
Wisdom Alchemist's Supplies, Brewer's Supplies,
Cartographer's Tools, Cook's Utensils,
Jeweler's Tools, Herbalism Kit, Poisoner's Kit,
Land Vehicles, Water Vehicles
Charisma Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Musical Instruments

PART 1 | TOOLS 1
 Getting Better
As a player progresses through their training they slowly
improve until they are fully proficient. They may still attempt
to use a tool while training but they will not be as good at it as
when they are fully proficient. The following table shows the
penalties or bonuses they receive during training when
attempting to use a tool. They do not get their full proficiency
bonus with a tool until they have completed training.
Skill Checks in training
% if training
complete Penalty/Bonus
0% - 25% No proficiency bonus (disadvantage with
artisan tools)
26% - 50% ¼ proficiency bonus (rounded down. 0
max)
51% - 75% ½ proficiency check (rounded down.)
76% - 99% ¾ proficiency bonus (rounded down)
100% Full proficiency bonus
Optional: If a player attempts to use the tools and rolls a
natural 20, the DM can take 5 days off the total training time
(10 days of no teacher training). If the player rolls a natural 1
materials can be lost or training time extended.
The total gold paid for lessons is equivalent to the days
actually spent learning, not the base days. So a smarter, more
adept student has to pay less than a dullard who takes extra
time learning.
Mastering a tool
Once a player has become proficient with a tool they can add
their proficiency bonus to skill checks made with that tool.
However some player may wish to take their training with the
tool further and master it's use. A player may continue to
train with a trainer that is proficient with the tool and is a tier
above them. Once the training is complete the player will
receive an additional +1 to skill checks made with the tool.
This training may happen a maxium of 3 times for a total
bonus of +3 in addition to of their proficency bonus. The cost
to do so is 1gp per day of training. To determine the time it
takes to master the tool use the same formula from above for
learning a new tool but with a base time of 150 days.
Skills
It is possible to train to improve your skills or to learn a new
skill.
Improving a skill
Some players way wish to use their downtime to improve a
skill. A player may do so only if they are proficient in the skill
already and they train with a player or NPC with a skill that is
at least 3 higher than their current skill level and of a tier
higher than their own (See Appendix for player/npc tiers).
2 PART 2 | SKILLS
As a result of training the player may increase a skill by 1
point. This may only be done 2 times, either twice to one skill
or once each to two different skills. The time required to
increase a skill is based on the skill level you are attempting
to obtain. The formula for time needed is:
(Current skill points + 1) x 2 = number of days needed
to increase skill
Example: A player with a stealth of 5 wishes to train to
increase her stealth to 6. (5 + 1) x 2 = 6 x 2 = 12 days. The
player would need to spend 12 days training. There would be
an associated cost involved in the training of 5gp/day. A player
who wishes to attempt to improve their skill without a trainer
can do so but the training will take 3 times as long.
DC Checks
Each day during training the player must make a DC check =
5 + the new skill level they are attempting to obtain. If they
are training on their own with no instructor the DC would be
10 +the new skill level. If the DC is failed they must add an
extra day to training. Optionally the DM could do several
checks per day (every hour or every 2 hours) and as long as at
least half are passed the player is successful for that day.
Becoming Proficient in a new Skill
If a player wishes to become proficient in a new skill they may
do so however they must work with an instructor with a skill
level at least 3 above their current score who is proficient in
that skill and is of at least 1 tier above them (see Appendix for
tiers). A player may not train in a new skill proficiency on
their own. A player may only train in one new skill
proficiency. The cost is 1g/day. The time to train is similar to
that of learning new tools. The base time to learn all skills is
400 days. Each skill has an attribute associated with it
(History – Intelligence, Acrobatics – Dexterity, Perception –
Wisdom). This attribute combined with the player’s
intelligence score will determine the final amount of time
needed to learn a new skill. The formula for time to learn a
new skill is as follows:
400 – ((Player’s attribute score for skill + Player’s
Intelligence Score) x 10)
Example: A player wishes to become proficient in
Acrobatic. Acrobatics is a dexterity based skill. The player has
an acrobatics score of 14 and an intelligence score of 9.
400 - ((14 + 9) x 10 = 300 – (23 x 10) 300 – 230 = 170 days.
It would take the player 170 days of training. This, like the
tool training, allows a player who is more adept at a skill to
spend less time and money than one who is not.
A skill requires at least 2 weeks to master, even if the
attribute reduction reduces the total days below that. This
represents getting the basic experience required to
understand skill.
Optional: A DM could make DC checks at intervals to check
the player’s progress. Failed checks would cause the player to
need more time where highly successful ones (natural 20s
could reduce the time). The frequency of the checks and the
reward or penalty is up to the DM. Use the same DC checks
as in the section for improving skills a player is already
proficient in.
Getting Better
As a player progresses through their training they slowly
improve until they are fully proficient. Once they reach a
certain level of training they begin to see some of the benefits
of the training. The following table shows the bonuses they
receive during training when attempting to use a skill they
have not yet mastered. They do not get their full proficiency
bonus with a tool until they have completed training.
Bonus to skill checks while in training
% of training
complete Bonus
0% - 25% No bonus.
26% - 50% ¼ proficiency bonus (rounded down.
0 max)
51% - 75% ½ proficiency check (rounded down.)
76% - 99% ¾ proficiency bonus (rounded down)
100% Full proficiency bonus

Martial Weapon
Proficiency Modified Rule
Martial weapons are among the most difficult weapons to
use. They require years of training. Any player that is Image credit: Thomas Wievegg
proficient with martial weapons is assumed to have had at https://thomaswievegg.deviantart.com/art/Female-
least some training with all of the weapons or at least similar Blacksmith-385077800
weapons. However when a player starts the game and
chooses their weapons it is also assumed that these are the
player’s weapons of choice. These are the weapons they are
most familiar with and spent the most time training with and
using.
When they come across a new martial weapon they can take
that weapon and begin to use it right away. However the
weapon is less familiar to them and they will need to spend
some time practicing with it to become proficient. This time
is a number of days equal to 8 – their proficiency bonus. Until
this time is complete they only apply ½ their proficiency
bonus (rounded down).
Example: A ranger whom uses short swords buys a whip. He
has not used a whip much since the early days of his weapon
training if at all. The Ranger is level 5 with a proficiency
bonus of +3. It will take him 5 days (8-3=5) of practice before
he can apply his full modifier. Until that time he only gets a +1
modifier when using the weapon.

PART 3 | WEAPON PROFICIENCY 3

 Appendix
Tiers of play
The Player’s Handbook page 15 says that in 5th edition there
are 4 tiers of play
Tiers of play
Tier Levels
Tier 1 1-4
Tier 2 5 - 10
Tier 3 11 - 16
Tier 4 17 - 20

For a player or NPC to be an instructor or trainer of

another player they must be of a higher tier. If the NPC does
not have a level in the traditional sense, the number of years
they have been at their profession would substitute for their
level. So a NPC blacksmith that has been at his trade for 12
years would be a level 12 character or tier 3 as for as the
ability to train that profession is concerned. His stats for HP
and other combat stats may be different. If an NPC is level 2
but has 12 years as an artisan the DM may opt to choose
either number to determine the NPC’s tier.
Days
Whenever time is referenced as a “Day” being required, this
refers to an 8 hour period. The DM may choose to allow a
“day” or 8 hour period to be broken up into smaller
segments. i.e. 4 hours of training one day and 4 hours the
next would equal 1 day of training completed.
Change Log
v3. 11/19/17
Added rules for mastering a tool.
Minor formatting updates.
Credits
The foundation of the tool skill training rules was developed
by tituscicero in this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/3
The formatting for the document was done using the
Homebrewery: http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/

4 APPENDIX