Jul 25, 2022 9:42 am
Specialization
When a character is specialized in a subject, they have advantage on ability checks related to their area of specialization. Although there is a game mechanic associated with specialization, it is as much a roleplaying aid as a mechanic.
A key attribute of specialization is that it is not directly related to a specific skill or ability. Rather, it represents a pool of knowledge that aids the character in a variety of situations. It is up to the player to point out situations where they believe specialization applies, and then it is your responsibility to determine whether or not to allow it in that situation.
The wizard Argent is a specialist in the study of owlbears. He finds them absolutely fascinating, and has spent a great deal of his life studying them, their behaviors, and their habitats. When the party comes across a set of tracks one day, they want to know what made them. Argent isn’t much of a tracker, but he knows owlbears. He asks the gamemaster if he can use his Wisdom (Survival) along with his specialization to determine specifically whether these are owlbear tracks or not. The gamemaster agrees. Argent has advantage on the check thanks to his specialzation and succeeds. He may not know what made the tracks, but he can assure the party it wasn’t an owlbear.
On a later adventure, the party is attempting to trap an owlbear. Again, trap building isn’t Argent’s area of expertise, but he definitely knows owlbears. He asks the gamemaster if he can use his specialization to help him build an owlbear trap. The gamemaster agrees, so Argent has advantage on any checks to build the owlbear trap.
Gaining Specializations
Normally, specializations come with the background, call- ing, or culture the player selects for their character during character creation. Future World of Aetaltis products will also explore ways to add new specializations as a downtime activity. Specializations are also a fun way to reward characters for their good roleplaying.
During the campaign, John comes up with a fun side story for his drothmal fighter, Trigesh the Brave. By chance, Trigesh develops an interest in halfling pastries after meeting a famous halfling baker, and John plays this up over the course of the adventures to the delight of everyone at the table. After a few games, the gamemaster decides to reward John by giving Trigesh a specialization in Halfling Pastries. It might not come up very often, but then again, you never know!
When a character is specialized in a subject, they have advantage on ability checks related to their area of specialization. Although there is a game mechanic associated with specialization, it is as much a roleplaying aid as a mechanic.
A key attribute of specialization is that it is not directly related to a specific skill or ability. Rather, it represents a pool of knowledge that aids the character in a variety of situations. It is up to the player to point out situations where they believe specialization applies, and then it is your responsibility to determine whether or not to allow it in that situation.
The wizard Argent is a specialist in the study of owlbears. He finds them absolutely fascinating, and has spent a great deal of his life studying them, their behaviors, and their habitats. When the party comes across a set of tracks one day, they want to know what made them. Argent isn’t much of a tracker, but he knows owlbears. He asks the gamemaster if he can use his Wisdom (Survival) along with his specialization to determine specifically whether these are owlbear tracks or not. The gamemaster agrees. Argent has advantage on the check thanks to his specialzation and succeeds. He may not know what made the tracks, but he can assure the party it wasn’t an owlbear.
On a later adventure, the party is attempting to trap an owlbear. Again, trap building isn’t Argent’s area of expertise, but he definitely knows owlbears. He asks the gamemaster if he can use his specialization to help him build an owlbear trap. The gamemaster agrees, so Argent has advantage on any checks to build the owlbear trap.
Gaining Specializations
Normally, specializations come with the background, call- ing, or culture the player selects for their character during character creation. Future World of Aetaltis products will also explore ways to add new specializations as a downtime activity. Specializations are also a fun way to reward characters for their good roleplaying.
During the campaign, John comes up with a fun side story for his drothmal fighter, Trigesh the Brave. By chance, Trigesh develops an interest in halfling pastries after meeting a famous halfling baker, and John plays this up over the course of the adventures to the delight of everyone at the table. After a few games, the gamemaster decides to reward John by giving Trigesh a specialization in Halfling Pastries. It might not come up very often, but then again, you never know!