Tool Proficiencies

Tool proficiencies highlight a character's background and talents. They often overlap with skills, and this section provides various ways to integrate tools into gameplay.

Tools and Skills Together

• Advantage: If a tool and a skill both apply to a check, and the character is proficient with both, they may roll with advantage.
• Added Benefit: Proficiency in both a relevant skill and tool may provide extra benefits on successful checks, such as detailed information or automatic successes on related tasks.

Tool Descriptions

Each tool comes with components, skill interactions, special uses, and sample DCs. Below are summaries of various tools and their applications:

Alchemist's Supplies

• Components: Beakers, metal frame, stirring rod, mortar and pestle, alchemical ingredients.
• Skills: Arcana (unlock potion info), Investigation (insight into chemicals).
• Special Use: Alchemical Crafting (create items like acid, alchemist’s fire).
• Sample DCs:
  • Create smoke: DC 10
  • Neutralize acid: DC 20

Brewer's Supplies

• Components: Jug, hops, siphon, tubing.
• Skills: History (events involving alcohol), Medicine (treat alcohol poisoning), Persuasion (soften moods).
• Special Use: Purify water as part of a rest.
• Sample DCs:
  • Detect poison in a drink: DC 10
  • Ignore alcohol effects: DC 20

Calligrapher's Supplies

• Components: Ink, parchment, quills.
• Skills: Arcana (identify magical scripts), History (analyze ancient texts).
• Special Use: Decipher Treasure Map (determine map’s hidden messages).
• Sample DCs:
  • Spot forged text: DC 15
  • Forge a signature: DC 20

Carpenter's Tools

• Components: Saw, hammer, nails, hatchet, chisel.
• Skills: Investigation (insight on wooden structures), Perception (find hidden areas).
• Special Use: Fortify a door/window, build temporary shelter.
• Sample DCs:
  • Build a wooden structure: DC 10
  • Pry apart a door: DC 20

Cartographer's Tools

• Components: Quill, ink, parchment, compasses, ruler.
• Skills: Arcana, History, Religion (interpret maps), Nature (geography insight).
• Special Use: Craft a map while traveling.
• Sample DCs:
  • Determine a map's origin: DC 10
  • Discern a fake map: DC 15

Cobbler's Tools

• Components: Hammer, awl, knife, leather, thread.
• Skills: Investigation (deduce where someone has traveled), Arcana (identify magical boots).
• Special Use: Maintain shoes to prevent exhaustion.
• Sample DCs:
  • Find a hidden compartment in a boot heel: DC 15

Cook's Utensils

• Components: Pot, knives, spoon, ladle.
• Skills: History (cultural eating habits), Medicine (improve taste of medicine).
• Special Use: Prepare meals during rest for extra healing.
• Sample DCs:
  • Spot poison in food: DC 15
  • Create a gourmet meal: DC 15

Disguise Kit

• Components: Cosmetics, hair dye, props, clothing.
• Skills: Deception (improve lies), Intimidation (appear more fearsome).
• Special Use: Create and don disguises.
• Sample DCs:
  • Cover distinguishing marks: DC 10
  • Copy a humanoid’s appearance: DC 20

Forgery Kit

• Components: Inks, parchments, quills, seals, wax.
• Skills: History (fake historical documents), Investigation (determine if something is genuine).
• Special Use: Create forged documents during a rest.
• Sample DCs:
  • Mimic handwriting: DC 15
  • Duplicate a wax seal: DC 20

Gaming Set

• Components: Pieces for a specific game, such as cards or dice.
• Skills: History (knowledge of the game’s history), Insight (understand opponents).
• Special Use: Cheat at games or distract opponents.
• Sample DCs:
  • Catch a player cheating: DC 15
  • Gain insight into an opponent: DC 15

Glassblower's Tools

• Components: Blowpipe, marver, blocks, tweezers.
• Skills: Arcana (examine glass objects), Investigation (insight on glass clues).
• Special Use: Identify weak points in glass objects.
• Sample DCs:
  • Identify source of glass: DC 10
  • Determine what a glass object once held: DC 20

Jeweler's Tools

• Components: Saw, hammer, files, pliers, tweezers.
• Skills: Arcana (mystical uses of gems), Investigation (inspect jeweled objects).
• Special Use: Identify gems and their value at a glance.
• Sample DCs:
  • Modify a gem's appearance: DC 15
  • Determine a gem's history: DC 20

Leatherworker's Tools

• Components: Knife, mallet, edger, hole punch, thread.
• Skills: Arcana (inspect magical leather items), Investigation (study leather objects).
• Special Use: Identify hides and crafting methods.
• Sample DCs:
  • Modify a leather item's appearance: DC 10
  • Determine a leather item’s history: DC 20

Mason's Tools

• Components: Trowel, hammer, chisel, brushes, square.
• Skills: History (identify stone buildings), Perception (find hidden passages).
• Special Use: Double damage to stone walls with attacks.
• Sample DCs:
  • Chisel a small hole in a stone wall: DC 10
  • Find a weak point in a stone wall: DC 15

Musical Instrument

• Components: Instrument specific tools.
• Skills: History (lore related to the instrument), Performance (enhance a show).
• Special Use: Compose a tune or song during a rest.
• Sample DCs:
  • Identify a tune: DC 10
  • Improvise a tune: DC 20

Navigator's Tools

• Components: Sextant, compass, calipers, ruler, quill.
• Skills: Survival (avoid getting lost), Arcana (study magic vehicles).
• Special Use: Plot courses and determine positions on maps.
• Sample DCs:
  • Plot a course: DC 10
  • Discover position on a nautical chart: DC 15

Poisoner’s Kit

• Components: Vials, mortar and pestle, chemicals, stirring rod.
• Skills: History (recall poison-related events), Medicine (treat poisoned individuals).
• Special Use: Safely handle and apply poisons.
• Sample DCs:
  • Spot a poisoned object: DC 10
  • Determine the effects of a poison: DC 20

Smith’s Tools

• Components: Hammers, tongs, charcoal, rags, whetstone.
• Skills: Arcana (examine metal objects), Investigation (study armor and weapons).
• Special Use: Repair metal objects.
• Sample DCs:
  • Sharpen a dull blade: DC 10
  • Repair a suit of armor: DC 15

Tinker’s Tools

• Components: Hand tools, thread, needles, whetstone, scraps of cloth and leather.
• Skills: History (determine age and origin of objects), Investigation (study damaged objects).
• Special Use: Repair objects or improvise new ones.
• Sample DCs:
  • Temporarily repair a disabled device: DC 10
  • Improvise a temporary item using scraps: DC 20

Weaver’s Tools

• Components: Thread, needles, scraps of cloth.
• Skills: Arcana (examine cloth objects), Investigation (inspect woven items).
• Special Use: Create or repair clothing during a rest.
• Sample DCs:
  • Repurpose cloth: DC 10
  • Tailor an outfit: DC 15

Woodcarver’s Tools

• Components: Knife, gouge, small saw.
• Skills: Arcana (examine wooden objects), Nature (insight into trees).
• Special Use: Repair wooden objects or craft arrows.
• Sample DCs:
  • Craft a small wooden figurine: DC 10
  • Carve an intricate pattern in wood: DC 15