Base DnD utilises an array of skills that players can apply their proficiency bonus to, or even apply additional proficiency bonus in the form of expertise.
The Skill Tree method employs a slightly different approach. Proficiency now applies to a more limited number of generic skills, whereas expertise applies to a wider range of specialist skills, a shown in the table below.
Whenever a character rolls against a check for which a particular specialist skill is required, such as Animal-handling, they can add twice their proficiency bonus if they have both Survival AND Animal-handling. If they only have Survival, they can only add their proficiency bonus once. If they have neither they only add their Wisdom modifier.
An exception is Tradecraft skills. If a character is proficient with a set of tools, such as a blacksmith’s tools, they can add their proficiency bonus to any construction, handiwork, engineering, bushcraft, or art check made with those tools even if they do not have proficiency with the associated generalist skill. If the blacksmith wishes to make a construction check AND they have the Athletics skill, then they may add twice their Proficiency bonus to the roll.
| Characteristic | Generalist Proficiency | Specialty Expertise | | --- | --- | --- | | Strength | Athletics | Push, pull and lift Sprint, march and jump Swimming Tradecraft (construction)* | | | Presence | Commanding Intimidation | | Dexterity | Acrobatics / Finesse | Balance and grace Tradecraft (handiwork)* Thieves tools Leaping and tumbling | | | Stealth | Sneaking Sleight of Hand Un-trackable | | Intelligence | Knowledge | Arcana History and society Gods and religion Medicine Nature Tradecraft (engineering)* | | | Investigation / Logic | Mise en scene Debate and reasoning Documents and data Puzzles and traps Games* | | Wisdom | Perception | Hearing Insight Sight Smell, taste and touch | | | Survival | Animal-handling Tracking Medicine Navigation Tradecraft (bushcraft) | | Charisma | Rhetoric | Deception Intimidation Persuasion | | | Art/ Performance | Acting and poise Tradecraft (art)* Music* |
^ Proficiency only applies if the character communicates in a language that the audience understands.
<aside> ‼️ Applying the Skill Tree to DnD
If a character feature gives you ‘proficiency’ in a skill, you can gain Proficiency in a Generalist skill OR Expertise in a Specialist skill IF you already have proficiency in its Generalist skill.
If a character feature gives you ‘expertise’ in a skill, you may gain Expertise in a Specialist skill for any specialisation for which you already have Generalist proficiency.
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Tradecraft is associated with any of the artisans tools that characters can be proficient with. Having proficiency with a set of tools enables a character to add their proficiency bonus to a number of skill checks which may apply depending on the situation. These are:
| Tradecraft | Base Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Strength (Athletics) | Anything that primarily involves hard physical labour such as building a wall or assembling a vehicle. |
| Handiwork | Dexterity (Finesse) | Anything that involves delicate precision, such as making a watch or a knitting a jumper. |
| Engineering | Intelligence (Knowledge) | Any task for which the primary activity is drafting or understanding complex plans, such as architectural designs for a bridge or working of a engine. |
| Bushcraft | Wisdom (Survival) | Anything that involves an understanding of wilderness survival, such as creating dew traps or shelter against harsh conditions. |
| Art | Charisma (Art) | Anything for which the primary purpose is aesthetics, such as jewellery-making, embroidery, or painting. |