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Tool Proficiency Abuse in RP-based Challenges

5th Edition

I have an Artificer in my current campaign who is focused on knowledge of things outside of combat. As a result, the player has decided to take as many Tool proficiencies as possible, basing the reasoning around RP style, as well as the Xanathar's description on "Tools and Skills Together" (p.78). This section advocates to give the player advantage and benefits on all rolls that relate to an acquired tool proficiency.

My issue is that by stacking many Tool proficiencies, the player effectively knows something about nearly everything, or can make a reason to relate to a tool kit. This would result in the player rolling nearly all of their non-combat checks with advantage, which seems like an imbalance.

I understand that granting advantage/benefits is optional for the DM, but I don't want to discourage other players from referencing tool kits in RP, nor encourage them to follow the Artificer's methods.

I've resolved to telling players Xanathar's Tool Descriptions are a means to encourage great RP, not to grant a player with a guarantied source of advantages, which is what is happening as the Artificer continues to acquire more.

My question is how do I prevent the Artificer from taking the lion's share of the group's non-combat checks(because advantage), so my players feel they are contributing in a balanced way. Or, am I reading into the rules/description incorrectly?

Posted Jun 4, 2020, 11:39 PM UTC · edited

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