Comments on: Skill Focus: Assisting (Part 2)

By: The Problem With Assisting — Dungeon's Master

The Problem With Assisting — Dungeon's Master — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:32:30 +0000

[...] isn’t the first time we’ve looked at ways to improve assisting. In our article Skill Focus: Assisting (Part 2), we discuss these topics which you may also find useful at your gaming [...]

By: Ameron

Ameron — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:43:30 +0000

@Rook
I think we’re in absolute agreement that anything that encourages the player to be more engaged in the game and anything that ultimately results in the game being more fun for everyone should be allowed. Or at least the attempt should be allowed. If I want to assist your Diplomacy check with my Bluff (assuming I’m trained in Bluff) then hey, why not. As long as my reason for doing so makes sense. Thanks for your comment.

By: Rook

Rook — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:24:26 +0000

Bravo! I love this concept. Anything that gets the players thinking outside the box and inspires creativity can only add a positive to your game. I agree that any secondary assist should add a +2 bonus to the primary skill check and that the assist skill should be trained only. I also think that the DC for the secondary skill check should remain at 10 as well. However, if the player is really reaching for justification in using a particular skill for the assist, then perhaps raising that skill check DC to 12 or ever 14 would be justified. But even then, they will still probably succeed.

By: Ameron

Ameron — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:23:04 +0000

@Dungeon
I like your suggestion to only allow assisting with different skill if the PC is trained in it. Chances are, if you’re trying to assist with a different skill it’s because you’re not trained in the main sill and think one of your better skills is more likely to yield success. I think you’ll find that 9/10 times that other skill will be trained anyway.

I was thinking that if you only got a +1 modifier from assisting with a different skill then PCs might be more likly to try and assist with the same skill used in the first place. But I can see value in just leaving it +2. It would certainly make things easier.

By: Skill Focus: Assisting (Part 1) — Dungeon's Master

Skill Focus: Assisting (Part 1) — Dungeon's Master — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:15:55 +0000

[...] you found this useful, then be sure to check out Skill Focus: Assisting (Part 2). Share and [...]

By: Dungeon

Dungeon — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:43:43 +0000

Maybe you can only assist using skills you’re trained it. so a dragonborn trained in endurance could use his endurance check to assist someone else who is doing a skill challenge involving athletics. or someone trained in history could assist a cleric with a religion check.
as for the bonus gained by assisting, i would suggest a +2. The DC for the assist should be higher for skills that rarely or don’t involve eachother (athletics and perception is a good example).
that’s all i can think of for now.