Tag: Skill Focus

Skill Focus: Intimidate

Mastering the Intimidate skill is difficult, probably more so than any other skill in the PHB. Intimidate is availabe to 12 classes (as shown in our Skill Matrix by Class) making it the most widely available skill (along with Athletics and Endurance). If you’re playing a class like the Fighter where you have very few skills to choose from, Intimidate is a very popular choice.

Despite the large number of PCs who take training in Intimidate, it’s a skill that has very limited uses. Using Intimidate during a skill challenge often counts as an automatic failure. If not, then you usually get only one try with Intimidate. In a perfect scenario a successful Intimidate check brings you one step closer to accomplishing the objective of the skill challenge. If you fail it can make future checks more difficult and count as one more strike. So it’s important to know when to use Intimidate and when to rely on a different skill.

Tags 4e, D&D, DM, Dungeon Master Resource, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, Intimidate, resource, Skill Challenge, Skill Challenges, Skill Focus

Player Resources Skill Challenges

Skill Focus: History

History is one of those skills that many PCs are trained in but don’t really know how or when to use it. Here are 10 new and creative ways to get more out of History.

The basic assumption is that History can only be used to remember things that happened in the past. Sure it can be used in this way, but this is certainly not the only way to use History.

Eleven of the seventeen core classes can take training in History. Three races have a +2 racial bonus in History. So there is a very strong likelihood that every party will have multiple PCs who count History as one of their best skills. If everyone’s so good in History why isn’t it being used more? Lack of imagination, that’s why.

Tags 4e, D&D, Dungeon Master Resource, Dungeon's Master, Dungeons and Dragons, History, Player Resources, Skill Challenge, Skill Focus

Player Resources Skill Challenges

Skill Focus: Endurance

Do you think your really high Endurance is only good for holding your breath? You couldn’t be more wrong. Here are 10 new and creative ways to get more out of Endurance. So, for all those Fighters who have training in Endurance and don’t know what to do with it, read on.

Tags 4e, D&D, DM, Dungeon Master Resource, Dungeons and Dragons, Dungeon’s Master, Endurance, resource, Skill Challenge, Skill Challenges, Skill Focus

Player Resources Skill Challenges

Skill Focus: Perception

In previous editions of D&D Perception was broken out into separate skills for spot and listen. In 4e, Perception is just one skill, essentially a catch-all for five senses. I think this is a huge improvement and opens the door to possibilities. With that in mind, I’ve come up with some alternate uses for Perception.

This skill is not, and should not, be limited to just what you can see and hear. You may not have as many opportunities to use Perception to determine smells, tastes or tactile sensation, but it shouldn’t be ruled out if you come up with a creative use for the skill.

Tags 4e, D&D, DM, Dungeon Master Resource, Dungeons and Dragons, Dungeon’s Master, Perception, resource, Skill Challenge, Skill Challenges, Skill Focus