
On today’s episode of Handbooker Helper we’re tackling some fundamentals of D&D role-playing: ability checks, proficiency bonuses, and saving throws. ♫ Don’t know how to play? ♫ ♫ We’ll show you the way ♫ ♫ Handbook, handbook, handbook ♫ ♫ Handbook-er helper ♫ Handbooker Helper ♫ Ding ♫ My name is Rachel Seely and you’ve probably seen me around the internet or on a D&D show called Girls Guts Glory. Now imagine you’re playing Dungeons and Dragons, role-playing up a storm and you’ve just attempted something a little bit risky. Well, your DM may tell you to make an ability check to see if you successfully complete that challenge. Now, when making ability checks the DM will choose which ability score, or skill, the challenge best touches on along with how difficult this challenge actually is. The difficulty is known as the difficulty class, or DC. DCs can range from incredibly easy to practically impossible depending on what you’re trying to do. If you want to hop over a log as you traverse through the forest like, a fairly– fairly big log? That’s probably not super difficult, so a lower DC, maybe 10. But if you want to see through rain and fog to spot at enemy 300 yards away I mean, that’s gonna be a little bit more difficult and this gets a higher DC, like 30. Now, in order to make an ability check simply roll a d20 and add the requested ability modifier. If your total equals or surpasses the DC, it’s a success. Enjoy the spoils of your victory over that log! But if it is below the DC? It’s a failure. That enemy was just too damn far away, and boy is it rainy! Now, if the ability check is pretty general, like that hop over a log it’s probably just a straight dexterity check. However, the specificity of looking for an enemy through rain and fog? That might require a delve into your skills. Use these skills, like acrobatics or perception, investigation or performance and more, to hone your abilities. If you are proficient in a certain skill that means you get to add your proficiency bonus to that ability check for a better chance of success. Proficiency bonus, “What’s that?” you ask. Well, it is a nifty set of numbers that get set up when you create a character, and gets higher as you level up. It’s kind of exactly what it sounds like: a bonus that you get because your character is good at something. It’s generally based on your class or your background and that bonus gets applied to proficiency ability checks, skills saving throws, and attack rolls, along with some of your tools. On the flip side of ability checks, are saving throws. These come up when you’re trying to resist or avoid something unexpected. Poison, a spell, a trap, some kind of threat on your person. They’re something that you’re forced to make rather than an action that you’re attempting like, a constitution saving throw to resist a poison attempting to creep through your veins. Now your class determines which two saving throws you are proficient in meaning which saves you get to add your proficiency bonus to. For example: Fighters get to add their proficiency bonus to strength and constitution saving throws as they tend to be rather strong and hardy buggers. If you successfully make the DC on a saving throw typically you either take no damage, or at least reduce damage and sometimes avoid a terrible condition from affecting you. But a failure results in the full effect of whatever nastiness is headed your way. These are some of the most important building blocks to actively using your character in combat and in role-playing. You may now consider yourself proficient in Handbooker Helper. ♫ Handbook, handbook, handbook ♫ ♫ Handbook-er Helper ♫ Handbooker Helper ♫ Ding ♫ [music]
100 comments
Raging Scizor
Yo my friend showed me picture of people drawn in the act in a episode or critical role does anyone know which episode it is or what the scene is called
Zach Bowman
Best one yet
STRGZ
OKAY I can't take it anymore, who does the "DING" in the end? Sam or Liam??
Sabrtooth
I already know these things yet I still watch.
Robert Davis
Great to see Rachel present an installment! #GirlsGutsGlory
Jacob Caron
Seeing the enemy through the storm isn't an acrobatics check, you silly's! But really though, great video, really enjoy these.
Matthew Evans
She's beautiful :O
Lowid Dy
the most craziest thing i did in D&D is that i pick the moonshine flower will induce into sleep status and manage to risk it all enable to DC save to resist it so many time on that module and making a big beastly monster induce it and send it to dreamland XD
Mike S
Does this mean that girls guts glory is coming to critical role?
kripposoft
Not surprised that none of the CR players appeared in this since they still don't really seem to know how these things work XD
AFLoneWolf
So a check is for something YOU DO, and a saving throw is for something done TO YOU. I keep getting those confused.
Beneteus der graue Wolf
you class and subclass determins your proficiency in 2, 3 or all of the saving throws
yeah monks are kinda op in that sense
Alliyah Perry
definitely showing this to my players!!!!!
Yoko318
I hope they have Mark Hulmes host when they do an episode on a Sorcerer quick build.
Steg Fam
I only watch for Sam's jingle.
Not really, but it is great!
Rafe Valley
Amazing! <3
Joseph Van Jaarsveld
You guys probably don't do requests but can you do a sorcerer guide please?
Eric Lawson
They need her to have a guest spot on Critical Role
Justin Pruett
That shirt, though. 😍
HishUnderscore
Typically when you make your saving throw you take half damage I'm pretty sure that the only way you can evade all damage is by going Rouge with the evasion skill.
Edit: Even then evasion is not applicable to all saving throws just the dex ones from aoe stuff
Daniel Burnley
If you multi class do you get to add your proficiency bonus to more stuff or just your first class stuff?
Baraz
D&D 5th edition is so simple… but if these videos help, fine.
( some rules though are too simple, lack clarity and cause needless discussions.)
Nate Hastings
WOAH! It's a wild Rachel! Good to see you abouts on the interwebs. I am also super glad that our dumb RP group in the dorms didn't turn you away from the hobby forever.
MPKvegeta
As an experienced DM with inexperienced players, these are great tools to show to noobies.
S Toy
34 people failed their ability check…
Laura Aki
As someone who started their first campaign ever three days ago after many years of wanting to play, this series is extremely helpful and also has great timing!
zacksporen
MOIRA!!! ❤
Squirrel Games
Girls, Guts, Glory!
ttam 809
PLEASE TELL ME Travis McElroy's doing the fighter one.
Mortegris
I have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the PH but I'm watching every episode, they're so good.
Majestyc
Its log, its log; its big, its heavy, its wood; plus DING!
Jasmine Stairs
Well this was a much better explanation than the 15-minute monologue I put my new players through tonight.
Joseph Rundin
And to confuse the issue Bards have an ability called Jack of all Trades where they add half prof bonus to any skill check they arnt proficient in, including things like controlling a vehicle you've never seen before and initiative. Short version is, he read a book about that once. Building a boat? Jack of all trades. Open Heart Surgery? Jack of all Trades. All those years of Bard College really pay off.
Dakota Wright
Me: Has been played D&D 5E for 5 years now, knowing how to play the game in my fucking sleep
Also me: Still watches these
Surfingbird52
Ding!
Mcleod2525
Holy Kittens, thanks for telling folks about Girls Guts Glory!
Nik Nak
I always thought DC meant like Dice Check not Difficulty Class
Roman Penna
This was really good, nice work Rachel and team, very clear and easy to understand :D. WIll deffs show this to new players
Mykil Rusl
There's something strangely calming and reassuring about Rachel.
Maarten Kros
I enjoy the spoils of victory over that log every morning.
Elias S-Logan
I think I'll save these videos and then let any new players watch them. I'm no good a teaching, I always make it look so much harder.
mattmark94
so… I subscribed for the Critical Role cast… not for random people that work for them
Salvador Rodriguez
She rolled natural 1 on charisma…
StormTemplar
New host, who dis?
gabrielhound
She's soooo soothing! I would like to hear her narrating something
Charles Hollingsworth
Awesome explanations Rachel! Appreciate it much! This will be great for the up and coming campaign I'm running for newcomers to D&D! STOKED!
goblinoid
OK, I love Sam, but I hate that jungle so much!
Mazdakg111
Why does it give an example of Acrobatics check when she's talking about seeing an enemy through rain and fog? Seems like an oversight.
Get Germanized
Thanks for helping us noobs out! 😀
chazz30000
On today's episode on Handbooker Helper, we tackle some fundamentals of acting, and we fail at it…
eddie drood
Fun one!
Wootai82
"Proficiency Bonus" is only determined by your character's Level.
"Skills" you are proficient in, are determined by your class and background
Olivia Seitz
Hi Rachel!!! You did such a great job!! <3 Also deja vu haha! It's almost like we just went through all this…
J Redfield
Proficient in Handbooker Helper?
~spots an annoying fly, reaches fo0r the Player's Handbook and tries to remember if you use Strength or Dexterity when trying to squash a bug~
Mary
For some reason I've been struggling to follow proficiencies and saving throws, this cleared up a lot! Thanks!
David Golding
I thought Easy had a DC of 5?
Doer of Stuff
(ding!)
NothinButRags
But how do you increase your modifier to be so high like how Scanlan was with Deception and persuasion?
Shelahir
I'm starting to think the topic for the episodes are just chosen a bit at random. They spin a wheel, throw a dart and that's it.
ITPalGame
doors = 30
Teagan P
Dammit, now you've got me singing along to the jingle. Handbook, handbook, handbook, handbook…er helper!
Teagan P
Victory over that log, victory over that beholder, victory over that dragon, but that…door. That door is barred.
CommanderS579
The only thing I could see being confusing for really new people is the explanation on proficiency. Normally you add the proficiency to the skill from the start and then that's just the skill modifier. The way she describes it could be taken as you add your proficiency every time you do a check. I could see a player accidentally double adding the proficiency bonus to a skill because they don't realize the difference.
Chuck Johnson
One thing it might have been good for them to provide clarity to people on has to do with using the combination of ability, skill, and proficiency checks when it comes to using a skill in such a way that it does not utilize the 'regular' ability associated with it. It is possible to use a skill with a different ability that the one that is shown in parentheses next to it on the character sheet in some circumstances. In those cases, you would use the ability modifier of the ability that is being used plus the proficiency modifier if the skill attempted is one the character is proficient with. A good example of this is when a character attempts a performance check on an attempt at juggling. The DM can rule that this is more dexterity based than charisma (the normal ability associated with performance) and thus the total bonus would be their Dex modifier plus their Performance proficiency (if any).
The CheeseN1P
showing new folks how to play, they always look at the character sheet and scream. A video that breaks down a character sheet would be great.
How to D&D
Really good stuff. A lot of material covered in a short space of time.
Roark The Half-Orc
My gosh this person has a terrible actor
Silent Runner
I got so lost after she said ability check.
Sam Sargeant
I just became the 4,100 person to like this video. And then also realized I didn’t get an achievement for it sooooo…..*Achievement Unlocked!* 💪
K McD
Another great video with just the teeniest nit-pick.
There is rarely a time that some skill or another does not apply to something the character is attempting to do. I know, Matt Mercer does these "general stat" checks. I have found VERY few instances where there was not a skill to apply to the roll. Like that "jump over a log" example. That's clearly Athletics or, possibly, Acrobatics. Some things are tied to tool proficiency (lock picking, carpentry, etc), but 5e skills are deliberately broad. They cover a lot of situations.
Perhaps Matt Mercer is saying "general stat check" to withhold information on what sort of knowledge skill category the information would fall under. Maybe it's just a way to move the story along without spending too much thought on what skill would apply. I've no way of knowing.
For players, I'd say asking for an attempt at something and layering in a skill suggestion is a good technique. Just don't be surprised if your DM asks for a different roll. Also, remember that a lot of knowledge falls under 2 or more skills. EG: information about undead may be a Religion or an Arcana check (History for those "big horde of skeletons ran through here decades ago" moments.)
For everyone, have a little bit of flexibility with skills. I always tell my players to make suggestions, because they might come up with a use that I hadn't considered. If you are considering an action, it's totally OK to ask what skill would apply if you WERE to try this thing BEFORE you actually commit to it.
danteelite
I don't mean to be rude, but her makeup and the lighting combination make her nose look bulbous and crazy like a dwarf nose or something.
She's very pretty though, and I'm sure it's the makeup and lighting, it sucks that pretty women wear so much makeup. Natural skin is beautiful! It literally glows! Human skin is a bit translucent so light makes the skin seem… idk glowy and nice, and humans actually radiate light in a barely visible spectrum and intensity, but it is totally discernible!
That's why makeup makes skin look… flatter, and fake. Because it doesn't allow light to pass through, and we end up looking at a face painted on top of another face! Makeup is a choice and I'll never tell someone not to wear it, if they enjoy it for themselves that's fine. But in my opinion it looks worse than imperfect skin. Makeup can look awkward, or create dwarf noses or orange faces or other strange effects. Also, where you apply makeup often isn't the same lighting as where you work/hang/spend time so it can look fine at home but then look strange once you get to work, or on camera. Just too much hassle to me. I like women just how they are. This example was irritating because she's so pretty, and I can tell her nose doesn't actually look that way lol but oh well.. her choice, and she still looks good. That's one sexy dwarf!
eboy sorfome
this is genuinely the most helpful video. I can never find straightforward videos on DND, looks like im gonna be revisiting this series!
manuferreri
there is also a very easy dc wich is 5 btw
Mohave_j
I quickly began to hate this loud song.
Joshua Levandoske
How would it be possibile to win a DC o 30 if the d20 would require a 10 as a modifier?
Asking because I've never played.
Lanna's Missing Link
Proficiency bonuses still confuse me.. so if you have a +1 in strength and in dexterity, do those add to your acrobatics to give you a +2 proficiency bonus in acrobatics…?
Lunar Scorpio
I made our wizard do a constitution saving throw because he was helping his sister who had diarrhea from her terrible chicken making.
Anger Tone
I can't get passed the dookie brown nail color >.<
Ryan
Question: For proficiency, do I add the roll + modifier + proficiency? Or is it just roll + proficiency?
ahuman 1127
So your profiency bonuses are only added to saving throws that relate to the threat on your person or do I add it even if it doesnt relate to it
Hamilton Ward
I'm still confused. So there's a difference between Ability Checks and Proficiency Ability Checks? How do I know which one to use?
kojo354
I need quick clarification: say you have a prof. bonus of 2, your stealth is 3 and are prof. in it. If you roll for stealth do you add up to 5 or does the 3 have the prof. Incluuded?
TS
But how do u get a dc 30 roll with a d20 which is max 20 + modifier which is max 4? The highest u can get is 24…
ThePenguinGamer
Welcome to nerd club 101 :))
adrian piedra
im still stupid
Ricky Briggs
You guys seem great, but not the intro song
Colby Nelson
But do you have expertise? 😉
Peder Morrill
Dear crit role,
What if you did an episode of handbooker helper about player etiquette. I really love your Chanel and I’m rewatching the first season so I can bundle the second one cause I’m not patient enough to wait week to week 😂 but I’ve played campaigns and one shots with people who’s only introduction is critical role. They usually know most of the rules but don’t understand players etiquette. You could talk about concepts like meta, rail roading, and player talk vs in character rpg. I think the key to an episode like this would be an emphasis on the fact that each group will have their own culture and etiquette but when playing with a new group it’s best to be polite to the dm and not jump of the rails immediately.
raharu000
Holy shit who's dumb idea was it to put that theme annoying theme song twice in every video?
Koty Williams
DING!!!!!!
RedPanda07
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
I JUST STARTED PLAYING D&D AND WAS SOOOO CONFUSED AS TO HOW ABILITY CHECKS WORKED.
THANK YOU!!!!
Cooler Than You
Thank you I'm DMing and playing for the first time and this was EXTREAMLY helpful. It was super simple.
Regent
What if I determine a log is somewhat hard to jump over and say has a DC of 20, and someone with 19 DEX wants to jump over it. Would they fail, or would they instead apply an Athletics check and roll a d20 and apply all modifiers. I'm trying to determine when abilities are applied themselves instead of skills. Is it a "Well, my DEX isn't high enough, can I roll an Athletics check instead?"
Obsidian Sirius Blackheart
I love that the DM illustration looks like Matt Mercer haha
Jethro Loredo
Question: so here's a scenario. You're trying to cross a gap using a tight rope, you're able to balance yourself half way but then a strong wind gust passes on to you. Is that a dex saving throw or acrobatics to balance yourself?
Peter Estrada
Hey i have a question how can you find ur proficiency bonus
Marajor The Mighty
I’ve watched a few of these for fun but I watched this one cause I didn’t how these rolls work ( I’m dm,ng I group of five) and this was very helpful
TheGLfilms
that nose
SeanMcGCostumes
This video was posted exactly one year ago today and I'm watching it for the first time. What perfect timing!
cat kook
I've been noticing people I play with use their saving throw modifier when they should be useing their ability modifier.
So, let's say a lvl 1 rogue with a Dex of +4 were to jump over that log
The people I play with would add their proficiency too, making it +6
Not home brew rules, just mix ups on modifiers