Mastering Baldur’s Gate 3: Understanding Proficiency, Skills, and Advantage/Disadvantage in 5th Edition D&D

In this blog post, we continue our series on the essentials of 5th Edition D&D, the foundation of the highly anticipated Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios. We will delve into Proficiency, Skills, Advantage, and Disadvantage, examining how they relate to topics discussed in a previous post, while also exploring the differences between D&D editions. If you haven’t read our introduction to D20 and Abilities, we recommend you start there to maximize your understanding of the game mechanics.

Advantage and Disadvantage, introduced in the 5th Edition of D&D, are vital mechanics that influence numerous scenarios during gameplay. The presence of either Advantage or Disadvantage could determine the ease or difficulty a character faces, and both are applied to the roll of the D20. In short, when Advantage is present, a player will roll the D20 twice when making an Attack Roll, Ability Check or Saving Throw, using the higher value, whereas Disadvantage requires rolling twice and using the lower outcome.

Proficiency is another significant aspect of the 5th Edition D&D. Every character has a Proficiency Bonus, an ever-increasing positive modifier dependent on the character’s level. Proficiency Bonuses are only added to D20 rolls for actions that a character is proficient in, as determined by their Race, Background, Class, and Feats. It is essential to understand the implications of Proficiency on various aspects of the game, such as attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

Skills also play a crucial role in 5th Edition D&D, allowing characters to overcome obstacles within the game. It is vital for players to understand the relationship between skills and character abilities, as well as how to calculate passive skills in specific scenarios. Tools, on the other hand, are items that help characters achieve tasks they may not be able to do otherwise. Players should familiarize themselves with the mechanics of using tools and how proficiency affects their usage.

Understanding Proficiency, Advantage and Disadvantage, Skills, and Tools will greatly aid you in creating an effective character and strategizing your gameplay. This post is the second of several articles on the basics of D&D 5th Edition that will prepare you for the release of Baldur’s Gate 3. In our next post, we will explore the intricacies of Feats, Weapons & Armor, and their role in the game.