#Tales from the yawning portal errata plus

The DMG, which came out after MearlsвЂ™ tweet but before CrawfordвЂ™s, matches that last rule. For example, trying to open a lock requires proficiency with thievesвЂ™ tools, so a character who lacks that proficiency canвЂ™t help another character in that task. The rule on вЂњWorking TogetherвЂќ implies that lockpicking requires proficiency:ДЄ character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she could attempt alone. I read it as saying that you need this tool proficiency to add your bonus whenever you do attempt it вЂ“ but it doesnвЂ™t explicitly state either way. Proficiency with these tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make toвЂ¦ open locks. Two pages later, in the ThievesвЂ™ Tools section, we have the following text which in my opinion creates the real ambiguity: That is a rule for the generic lock (PH, 152), not for tools in general or even all locks.

#Tales from the yawning portal errata plus

The answer linked to a lot of research in the books, plus this tweet by Mike Mearls shortly after 5eвЂ™s release: This question has come up before and I found an extensively-researched answer on the Role-Playing Games Stack Exchange. But because the game in question occurs under the auspices of the AL, I needed to make certain I hadnвЂ™t misunderstood the rule. When rules questions do arise, thatвЂ™s how we should do it. The player accepted the ruling and contacted me privately later to discuss вЂ“ which I greatly appreciated! He didnвЂ™t bog the game down, and the discussion was friendly and open. When a situation arose recently in which a character not proficient with ThievesвЂ™ Tools wanted to attempt to pick a lock, I ruled that the character would be unable to succeed. For the sake of parity, adhering to RAW matters. In organized play like Adventurers League, however, the situation changes a little. Unless the DM asks what the rule is or a given ruling legitimately seems to be a mistake (it happens to all of us!), it just doesnвЂ™t come up for me. Similarly, when I play in other peopleвЂ™s games, I try really hard to rein in my inner rules lawyer. As the DM, everything in the rulebooks and subsequent clarifications from the authors are still just guidelines, and I can make a call and run with it. Normally, I donвЂ™t really have to deal with rules at a detailed level.