Well this was a much better explanation than the 15-minute monologue I put my new players through tonight.

So a check is for something YOU DO, and a saving throw is for something done TO YOU. I keep getting those confused.

As someone who started their first campaign ever three days ago after many years of wanting to play, this series is extremely helpful and also has great timing!

And to confuse the issue Bards have an ability called Jack of all Trades where they add half prof bonus to any skill check they arnt proficient in, including things like controlling a vehicle you've never seen before and initiative. Short version is, he read a book about that once. Building a boat? Jack of all trades. Open Heart Surgery? Jack of all Trades. All those years of Bard College really pay off.

I love that the DM illustration looks like Matt Mercer haha

I can really see this format becoming a great quick intro to D&D 5e!

"Proficiency Bonus" is only determined by your character's Level. "Skills" you are proficient in, are determined by your class and background

this is genuinely the most helpful video. I can never find straightforward videos on DND, looks like im gonna be revisiting this series!

Lovely explanation, Rachel :D Audio crew: Are you sure you want stereo recording of these types of video? Please put on some headphones, and listen from 1:54 - 1:58. She tilts an inch or two to the right, and the sound goes from 50-50 to 20-80. There is only one mouth, and it's facing the camera all the time -> Mono, please. If it's already mono, just split to stereo and panned a bit manually, it's too much panning. Y'all have a great day.

it's so awesome that other people besides the cast of critical role do these videos. and they're also super helpful :)

I always thought DC meant like Dice Check not Difficulty Class

I enjoy the spoils of victory over that log every morning.

These short vids are SO damn useful for tightening up my DM game!

I only watch for Sam's jingle. Not really, but it is great!

Another great video! Loving these Handbooker Helper clips

The only thing I could see being confusing for really new people is the explanation on proficiency. Normally you add the proficiency to the skill from the start and then that's just the skill modifier. The way she describes it could be taken as you add your proficiency every time you do a check. I could see a player accidentally double adding the proficiency bonus to a skill because they don't realize the difference.

This video was posted exactly one year ago today and I'm watching it for the first time. What perfect timing!

Really good stuff. A lot of material covered in a short space of time.

Thanks for helping us noobs out! :D

This is very well explained in a short amount of time, thank you!

one of the better 'helper' vid that your group has made. thanks

this literally was the best video i have been learning how to play and have just becoming more confused till this video 10/10

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I JUST STARTED PLAYING D&D AND WAS SOOOO CONFUSED AS TO HOW ABILITY CHECKS WORKED. THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you I'm DMing and playing for the first time and this was EXTREAMLY helpful. It was super simple.

These videos are very helpful. Thank you for making them.

Not surprised that none of the CR players appeared in this since they still don't really seem to know how these things work XD

Clear and consise. This was great. Thank you!

OKAY I can't take it anymore, who does the "DING" in the end? Sam or Liam??

Thanks for the hard work! This is definitely gonna help me finally explain proficiency bonuses to other people. Maybe my explanations need more work?

WHERE'S MY BARD QUICKBUILD

I hope they have Mark Hulmes host when they do an episode on a Sorcerer quick build.

For some reason I've been struggling to follow proficiencies and saving throws, this cleared up a lot! Thanks!

I love how she shows her muscle after explaining the Fighter saving throws and then awkwardly putting her arm down again xD great episode! 3:27 for anyone too lazy to watch a 4 minute video :P

I can't even hear the name without laughing. Love the breakdown for basic principles because even though I have played for nearly a year (thanks to crit role!) there are still some areas I am a little fuzzzy on. Love this stuff!!

I'm loving this series, I'm a veteran player who learned on the fly who is trying my hand at DMing. I sent my players this playlist and they are doing great off the bat! I get to spend more time playing and less time explaining not to add initiative on everything. Thanks so much!

Dammit, now you've got me singing along to the jingle. Handbook, handbook, handbook, handbook...er helper!

As a first time DM with very little DND experience (who will be running Curse of Strahd for some friends who have never played before), this video and series is a complete life saver!

I'm still confused. So there's a difference between Ability Checks and Proficiency Ability Checks? How do I know which one to use?

Excellent content. Thank you.

Victory over that log, victory over that beholder, victory over that dragon, but that...door. That door is barred.

This was so helpful

PLEASE TELL ME Travis McElroy's doing the fighter one.

Best one yet

This is a great video

Thank you!

I already know these things yet I still watch.

I need quick clarification: say you have a prof. bonus of 2, your stealth is 3 and are prof. in it. If you roll for stealth do you add up to 5 or does the 3 have the prof. Incluuded?

One thing it might have been good for them to provide clarity to people on has to do with using the combination of ability, skill, and proficiency checks when it comes to using a skill in such a way that it does not utilize the 'regular' ability associated with it. It is possible to use a skill with a different ability that the one that is shown in parentheses next to it on the character sheet in some circumstances. In those cases, you would use the ability modifier of the ability that is being used plus the proficiency modifier if the skill attempted is one the character is proficient with. A good example of this is when a character attempts a performance check on an attempt at juggling. The DM can rule that this is more dexterity based than charisma (the normal ability associated with performance) and thus the total bonus would be their Dex modifier plus their Performance proficiency (if any).

Fun one!

definitely showing this to my players!!!!!

They need her to have a guest spot on Critical Role

i can't help but say the "DING" at the end

What if I determine a log is somewhat hard to jump over and say has a DC of 20, and someone with 19 DEX wants to jump over it. Would they fail, or would they instead apply an Athletics check and roll a d20 and apply all modifiers. I'm trying to determine when abilities are applied themselves instead of skills. Is it a "Well, my DEX isn't high enough, can I roll an Athletics check instead?"

For me being a new dm this is really helpful

So proficiencies can be added to attack rolls? But what about the weapons the class is proficient with? Like for a hexblade warlock do you add the charisma modifier and the proficiency bonus to the attack roll? Or do you just add the charisma modifier to the attack roll?

Thanks this is awesome you are the best!!

She's soooo soothing! I would like to hear her narrating something

As an experienced DM with inexperienced players, these are great tools to show to noobies.

Question: For proficiency, do I add the roll + modifier + proficiency? Or is it just roll + proficiency?

Why does it give an example of Acrobatics check when she's talking about seeing an enemy through rain and fog? Seems like an oversight.

that last joke earned this video a like from me

the Handbooker Helper intro voice sounds like David from Camp Camp

Hey! This face is new to me. Awesome! Also sending this to my players

But how do you increase your modifier to be so high like how Scanlan was with Deception and persuasion?

Its log, its log; its big, its heavy, its wood; plus DING!

Aight thanks mate.

Amazing!

So your profiency bonuses are only added to saving throws that relate to the threat on your person or do I add it even if it doesnt relate to it

Great to see Rachel present an installment! #GirlsGutsGlory

Okay, so, question because I'm still confused and my friends and I are currently planning out first campaign. I'm playing a Rogue who's got expertise in Deception. My skill modifier is +6 on that. Do I always add my proficiency bonus ×2 to the role plus my modifier? So would I do d20+6+proficiency×2 for every Deception check?

I think what I find most annoying about rolling for an ability check is that it's not really story ir character driven. You could be playing a wizard that spent all their time in libraries studying arcana and history, but roll a natural 1 every chance you get. I imagine it would feel frustrating to fail at something you wanted to do just because you have bad luck.

1:08 reminded me of joyce byers

you class and subclass determins your proficiency in 2, 3 or all of the saving throws yeah monks are kinda op in that sense

They ought to reboot this for Candela and Daggerheart!

This was really good, nice work Rachel and team, very clear and easy to understand :D. WIll deffs show this to new players

I’ve watched a few of these for fun but I watched this one cause I didn’t how these rolls work ( I’m dm,ng I group of five) and this was very helpful

Proficiency bonuses still confuse me.. so if you have a +1 in strength and in dexterity, do those add to your acrobatics to give you a +2 proficiency bonus in acrobatics...?

What is the DC or the number you have to beat for a saving throw. When I look at spell descriptions, say ‘hold person’, it mentions saving throws but it does not state the number you have to beat for a successful saving throw. Is it 10?

Is there one on using tools, tool proficiencies, and how to roll them?

So if you have to make a saving throw, how do you determine the number?

Me: Has been played D&D 5E for 5 years now, knowing how to play the game in my fucking sleep Also me: Still watches these

I've been noticing people I play with use their saving throw modifier when they should be useing their ability modifier. So, let's say a lvl 1 rogue with a Dex of +4 were to jump over that log The people I play with would add their proficiency too, making it +6 Not home brew rules, just mix ups on modifiers

I'm confused, let's say a player requests to investigate a room for clues, would it be a dice roll+ his investigate skill (5) + his intelligence modifier (3) + his proficiency bonus (2)? Having 10 right out the gate seems broken to me (his character is level 1)

Ok I am late to the party, but.. the number I rolled creating my character using 4xd6 and subtracting the lowest dice, for example 17+3 in strength, the 17 is used for what, if when I do a strength check roll I use a d20+modifier?

how do i set up a saving throw like from a spell im using on the opponents? do i roll a d20 but what do i add to it?

did anbyone notice her whispering the word "thick" when she was talking about the log? 1:10

Dear crit role, What if you did an episode of handbooker helper about player etiquette. I really love your Chanel and I’m rewatching the first season so I can bundle the second one cause I’m not patient enough to wait week to week 😂 but I’ve played campaigns and one shots with people who’s only introduction is critical role. They usually know most of the rules but don’t understand players etiquette. You could talk about concepts like meta, rail roading, and player talk vs in character rpg. I think the key to an episode like this would be an emphasis on the fact that each group will have their own culture and etiquette but when playing with a new group it’s best to be polite to the dm and not jump of the rails immediately.

Awesome explanations Rachel! Appreciate it much! This will be great for the up and coming campaign I'm running for newcomers to D&D! STOKED!

so if someone cast cause fear on me, i need to make a wisdom saving throw - but waht number do i need to roll?

So as a dm how do I know what the dc is or how high a saving roll needs to be

If you multi class do you get to add your proficiency bonus to more stuff or just your first class stuff?

failing the ability check for the log sounds like something out of a pokemon game xD

Another great video with just the teeniest nit-pick. There is rarely a time that some skill or another does not apply to something the character is attempting to do. I know, Matt Mercer does these "general stat" checks. I have found VERY few instances where there was not a skill to apply to the roll. Like that "jump over a log" example. That's clearly Athletics or, possibly, Acrobatics. Some things are tied to tool proficiency (lock picking, carpentry, etc), but 5e skills are deliberately broad. They cover a lot of situations. Perhaps Matt Mercer is saying "general stat check" to withhold information on what sort of knowledge skill category the information would fall under. Maybe it's just a way to move the story along without spending too much thought on what skill would apply. I've no way of knowing. For players, I'd say asking for an attempt at something and layering in a skill suggestion is a good technique. Just don't be surprised if your DM asks for a different roll. Also, remember that a lot of knowledge falls under 2 or more skills. EG: information about undead may be a Religion or an Arcana check (History for those "big horde of skeletons ran through here decades ago" moments.) For everyone, have a little bit of flexibility with skills. I always tell my players to make suggestions, because they might come up with a use that I hadn't considered. If you are considering an action, it's totally OK to ask what skill would apply if you WERE to try this thing BEFORE you actually commit to it.

I think I'll save these videos and then let any new players watch them. I'm no good a teaching, I always make it look so much harder.

I have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the PH but I'm watching every episode, they're so good.

Question: so here's a scenario. You're trying to cross a gap using a tight rope, you're able to balance yourself half way but then a strong wind gust passes on to you. Is that a dex saving throw or acrobatics to balance yourself?

ok so if i get let say a proficiency in preformance from my race then another one fro my backround and another one from my class does that mean if my proficiency bonus is 2 i get a bonus of +6 on preformance skill checks ??? or am i getting this wrong

Yo my friend showed me picture of people drawn in the act in a episode or critical role does anyone know which episode it is or what the scene is called

Could someone explain to me what a statement like ‘+4 to hit’ in the monster manual means? Does that mean you only need to roll a 4 to hit it?

So if i attack someone and i need 14 to work, do i stack STR mod and Proficency weapon together. I roll 10 and +2str +2 Weapon proficency