*Skill and ability to perform come from training and experience, and also sometimes a little luck.* --- ### Proficiency Every character and creature has a proficiency bonus determined by their level, as shown in [[Character Creation#Proficiency|Creating a Character]]. Monsters have their proficiency bonus incorporated on their stat block, however you can use their CR to determine their bonus. You add this bonus when a check or saving throw uses your proficiency. If multiple sources would give you proficiency on a die roll, you use the highest tier of proficiency from any of those sources. A creature's proficiency bonus starts at +2 at level 1, and increases by 1 every 4 levels. <br> ### Proficiency Table | Creature Level | Proficiency Bonus | | -------------- | ----------------- | | 1 | +2 | | 5 | +3 | | 9 | +4 | | 13 | +5 | | 17 | +6 | | 21 | +7 | | 25 | +8 | | 29 | +9 | <br> ### Tiers of Proficiency Most characters will only use the proficiency bonus modifier as stated for their level. However, some features may grant different tiers of proficiency. These tiers use a multiplicative scaling adjustment, and follow this progression: Initiate, Proficient, Expert, Master. If something gives you expertise, you may choose to gain proficiency in a skill instead. If you gain mastery, you may decide to gain proficiency or expertise (if proficient) instead. | Tier | Modifier | | ---------- | ------------------- | | Initiate | Half (rounded down) | | Proficient | Full | | Expert | Double | | Mastery | Triple | #### Initiate If you are initiated in a skill, you add half your proficiency modifier (rounded down), to checks made with that skill. Features such as Bard's Jack of All Trades grant skills the initiate proficiency tier. Initiate can be gained by rudimentary practice. Using training in downtime, a skill can be increased to initiate after a few weeks with a teacher, or several months of practice alone. #### Proficient Proficiency with a skill, tool, or weapon allows you to add your full proficiency modifier to checks made with the corresponding skill. Proficiency can be gained instantly by a character's class, background, feats, and occasionally lineage. Through downtime training, a character can gain proficiency through months of focused training or education with a teacher, or years of personal practice. #### Expert If you have expertise in a skill, your proficiency bonus is doubled on checks made with the skill. A Bard's or Rogue's expertise feature grants you expertise. In a case where you choose a skill that you are not proficient in, you gain proficiency instead of expertise. Similar to proficiency, class features and feats can instantly grant expertise. Expertise may be taught through years of education, similar to earning a college degree, or someone may spend decades gaining it on their own. #### Mastery A skill with mastery uses your proficiency modifier tripled. Mastery requires decades of tutelage under another master or a lifetime alone to achieve, making it rare. A character may never gain a mastery during their adventures. They can be gained instantly through GM's discretion, pinnacle feats and other pinnacle-level class features, and unusual sources such as magic items or blessings. <br> ### Optional Rule: Repeated Proficiencies Much like features and other bonuses, you cannot gain proficiency with a skill or item more than once. If a feature gives you a skill check or tool proficiency that you already have, you may choose another skill or tool of your choice to gain proficiency in.