How to Play Dungeons and Dragons 5e - Abilities and Skills 

Yea, one of my friends was a paladin, and rolled a critical success and caught a cannonball during a city siege

Was playing d&d today, our fighter (yes, fighter) tried to pick pocket someone. They rolled a natural 1, and instead of pickpocketing someone, they slapped their ass. The fighter failed the pick pocket, and as our DM put it, they aroused their target.

One time I was playing with some friends and We were fighting a giant snowman, it brought it's fist down to smash me, but I decided to dig a hole to protect myself,I roll and get a 20 and We decided that meant I dug the sh*t out of the snow so it ended up as a labyrinth that I got lost in.

This series is really good at teaching me the rules, because it actually captivates my baby like attention span.

Holyshit this beats all the other videos trying to explain dnd. I have been searching for so long. Very clear and concise. Thanks man, can't wait for more!

It's baffling that there haven't been ANY other good videos explaining this! Almost all other videos are with several different narrators/hosts who keeps bringing up out out-of-context jokes or ramble about useless anecdotes. *Thanks a lot!*

Strength 1 (-5): Morbidly weak, has significant trouble lifting own limbs 2-3 (-4): Needs help to stand, can be knocked over by strong breezes 4-5 (-3): Knocked off balance by swinging something dense 6-7 (-2): Difficulty pushing an object of their weight 8-9 (-1): Has trouble even lifting heavy objects 10-11 (0): Can literally pull their own weight 12-13 (1): Carries heavy objects for short distances 14-15 (2): Visibly toned, throws small objects for long distances 16-17 (3): Carries heavy objects with one arm 18-19 (4): Can break objects like wood with bare hands 20-21 (5): Able to out-wrestle a work animal or catch a falling person 22-23 (6): Can pull very heavy objects at appreciable speeds 24-25 (7): Pinnacle of brawn, able to out-lift several people Dexterity 1 (-5): Barely mobile, probably significantly paralyzed 2-3 (-4): Incapable of moving without noticeable effort or pain 4-5 (-3): Visible paralysis or physical difficulty 6-7 (-2): Significant klutz or very slow to react 8-9 (-1): Somewhat slow, occasionally trips over own feet 10-11 (0): Capable of usually catching a small tossed object 12-13 (1): Able to often hit large targets 14-15 (2): Can catch or dodge a medium-speed surprise projectile 16-17 (3): Able to often hit small targets 18-19 (4): Light on feet, able to often hit small moving targets 20-21 (5): Graceful, able to flow from one action into another easily 22-23 (6): Very graceful, capable of dodging a number of thrown objects 24-25 (7): Moves like water, reacting to all situations with almost no effort Constitution 1 (-5): Minimal immune system, body reacts violently to anything foreign 2-3 (-4): Frail, suffers frequent broken bones 4-5 (-3): Bruises very easily, knocked out by a light punch 6-7 (-2): Unusually prone to disease and infection 8-9 (-1): Easily winded, incapable of a full day’s hard labor 10-11 (0): Occasionally contracts mild sicknesses 12-13 (1): Can take a few hits before being knocked unconscious 14-15 (2): Able to labor for twelve hours most days 16-17 (3): Easily shrugs off most illnesses 18-19 (4): Able to stay awake for days on end 20-21 (5): Very difficult to wear down, almost never feels fatigue 22-23 (6): Never gets sick, even to the most virulent diseases 24-25 (7): Tireless paragon of physical endurance Intelligence 1 (-5): Animalistic, no longer capable of logic or reason 2-3 (-4): Barely able to function, very limited speech and knowledge 4-5 (-3): Often resorts to charades to express thoughts 6-7 (-2): Often misuses and mispronounces words 8-9 (-1): Has trouble following trains of thought, forgets most unimportant things 10-11 (0): Knows what they need to know to get by 12-13 (1): Knows a bit more than is necessary, fairly logical 14-15 (2): Able to do math or solve logic puzzles mentally with reasonable accuracy 16-17 (3): Fairly intelligent, able to understand new tasks quickly 18-19 (4): Very intelligent, may invent new processes or uses for knowledge 20-21 (5): Highly knowledgeable, probably the smartest person many people know 22-23 (6): Able to make Holmesian leaps of logic 24-25 (7): Famous as a sage and genius Wisdom 1 (-5): Seemingly incapable of thought, barely aware 2-3 (-4): Rarely notices important or prominent items, people, or occurrences 4-5 (-3): Seemingly incapable of forethought 6-7 (-2): Often fails to exert common sense 8-9 (-1): Forgets or opts not to consider options before taking action 10-11 (0): Makes reasoned decisions most of the time 12-13 (1): Able to tell when a person is upset 14-15 (2): Can get hunches about a situation that doesn’t feel right 16-17 (3): Reads people and situations fairly well 18-19 (4): Often used as a source of wisdom or decider of actions 20-21 (5): Reads people and situations very well, almost unconsciously 22-23 (6): Can tell minute differences among many situations 24-25 (7): Nearly prescient, able to reason far beyond logic Charisma 1 (-5): Barely conscious, probably acts heavily autistic 2-3 (-4): Minimal independent thought, relies heavily on others to think instead 4-5 (-3): Has trouble thinking of others as people 6-7 (-2): Terribly reticent, uninteresting, or rude 8-9 (-1): Something of a bore or makes people mildly uncomfortable 10-11 (0): Capable of polite conversation 12-13 (1): Mildly interesting, knows what to say to the right people 14-15 (2): Interesting, knows what to say to most people 16-17 (3): Popular, receives greetings and conversations on the street 18-19 (4): Immediately likeable by many people, subject of favorable talk 20-21 (5): Life of the party, able to keep people entertained for hours 22-23 (6): Immediately likeable by almost everybody 24-25 (7): Renowned for wit, personality, and/or looks

These are masterfully produced, and deserve far more attention. Wizards of the Coast or Pazio needs to hire you.

Serio confirmed as Chin-Chin's underling.

The "Don't roll to enter unlocked doors" part reminded me of my first game. Our warrior decided that he didn't want to open a door normally, and instead kick it down. He got a natural 1, and got his leg stuck in the door. He never learnt from this, and would still get nat 1 when busting down a door. I swear he was the most unlucky guy out there.

I laughed out loud at the trampoline and "weird guy" examples. Enjoying this series so far!

People looking for a good dnd guide: follow this guy. I've been through several channels such as dnd dudes, etc and so far this is the best explanation I've heard. This guy is good at teaching.

I would like to breathe some oxygen .... Rolls a 1 -1

I'm just now teaching my boy to play and these videos are perfect. Thank you.

My homebrew roleplaying group loves crits. We apply crits to everything that can be rolled for.

I loved it, as always! I don't think you should have said Charisma is "ridiculous" though because it's going to make the impression to new players that they shouldn't try to use it.

Late to this party. I haven't played D&D since 2nd edition and I decided to get back into it. The game has changed so much since the last I played it over 25 years ago. Paladins no longer has to be lawful good? *mind blown* Your guides explain everything so easily and well put together. Probably one of the best beginner D&D guides. It helped me out greatly.

As a man who breaks sticks with his head for a living in the real world, you're dead wrong about it not being an athletic pursuit (although it feels more like a CON check, especially if you have someone else swing the stick for you.) Otherwise, this video is perfect. ALL of your videos are super helpful, dude. Thanks!

Just want to say that three years ago I used this video playlist to learn how to play D&D. Tonight I sent a group of new players this playlist in preparation for the Session 0 of a campaign I’m DM-ing. Thank you for this helpful and welcoming series! I see you have DM guides now. I’ll definitely check them out!

I... i freaking understand! I can actually follow! Thank you so much!

my first character parachuted off an exploding sky ship after taking a barrel of rum loosing his pants button landing on another ship now with his junk hanging out in front on their captain requesting permission to come abord. and that was how i joined ghe campaign xD

My D&D I.Q went up by a point after watching your videos. Thank you for making these videos, especially with captions available. Will watch the rest of the videos. I am yearning to play D&D.

I am all for having critical success's on skills, our groups most memorable moment was when our rouge was back up ageist a wall and he convinced an ENTIRE ARMY he he did-int exist!

Awesome stuff. Only gripe is having the intro music at like 200% ... so I have to turn it down to get through the channel intro and then back up to hear you talking.

Hey do you think you can do a video on how to dm? Like reading and understanding the bestiary, and monster manual. Basic trap damaged and so on?

My friend tried to teach me dnd, got super specific about the races I could choose from, and never explained this to me. I was so discouraged and confused, I gave up trying to learn. I really appreciate this series for walking through this so clearly and easy to understand.

Just when I was starting to think there were actually no straight forward tutorial vids out there, I find this. Great video, answered all my questions. Very clear and informative. Great job!

This was so helpful! I couldn’t make heads-or-tails of the rule book. Edit. Also, because of your character creation vid, I just started making a half-elf Monk, Martial artist. Thanks So much!!!!!!

When ur trying to jump a pit but pink guy is distracting you

Was that Pink Guy

12:35 Charisma is not abusable if you rule it right as a DM. Deception/Intimidation/Persuasion is not mind control, even with a NAT 20. You won't be able to convince the blacksmith that 5 copper is a reasonable price for plate armor. Your gnome bard won't turn the tide of battle by "intimidating into submission" the 5 orcs that have him surrounded. You won't convince the guard that totally saw you steal something that you're innocent. No matter how charismatic you are or how eloquent you express yourself or how straight faced you tell a lie, there are things you can't accomplish with words alone.

I just cant believe that i have finally found THE best tutorial guide for DnD . ( Is the editor feeling ok ? )

This is helping me a lot. Recently my friend invited me to watch a session this upcoming week as i told him im trying to get into dnd. Just watching these videos already help me enough to understand the basics

These are probably the best "D&D Explained" videos on RU-vid. Thank you!

This is one of the best video series on how to play D&D I've ever seen. Top notch! I can't wait for more in this style.

Like many before me have said, your videos are teaching me way more in the last 20 minutes than literal hours of watching others

I've been playing D&D for years and I always get bogged down in character creation and I have to get 1-on-1 time with the DM to actually make a character. This helps me consolidate what I've tried to learn over the years so I know I'm getting the whole picture. Thanks!

Can you not be so good at everything? It's gonna tear this world apart... Of sadness and bring joy and happiness. Thanks for the help you're great!

I just have to say this. This video helped me so much. I didn't understand what skills were. So many other tutorials and videos were more confusing, but this one wasn't. Thanks so much.

This needs more subs. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! Thank you!

Wow thanks so much for this! I was having a little trouble understandings some things and your video made it so easy :) I appreciate it.

Wow these videos are so helpful I have never played D&D, but you explained it in a way that makes it easy to understand in such a short period. Thank you very much for making these videos.

I have not played in over 30 years, but with teen son who is interested in role playing, I thought this would be a great way to bond. Thank you for these videos, some other videos I have watched I couldn’t even understand what they were talking about.

Great Videos, thank you. Most youtubers concerned with D&D teach a lot of things, but they don't teach how the mechanics of the game are. Thank you for that kind of videos, now I understand the mechanics and can start playing

Been playing since 3.5 and recently picked up 5e after a long pathfinder stint. These videos have been very helpful. I'll have to recommend them to the new guy we picked up.

thanks for this guide. its REALLY clear

wow the work you put into this..why does this not pop up first thing when searching "how to play d and d" this is hands down the best love the skill tree you made for this

8:32 Just to spite you, I’m going to make a campaign based around the fact that this is a sport. Your videos are insanely helpful! Thanks a lot.

im glad i found this channel because i just started my first dnd game and we ended off with me having fallen into a pit trap and taking quite some damage whilst runnng from a weird worm creature with like four mouths or something so im trying to learn as much as i can in order to somehow survive when we start back from where we left off

Wow this was really helpful I just bought the core rulebooks and these were really helpful in understanding some of the rules.

This is the best d&d guideline on RU-vid. Good job!

This has been very helpful! I am dm-ing players who have never played dnd before, and having someone explain the basics in a clear concise way has been a real time saver

You’re going to help me love being a DM. I was doing a test run with the wife tonight. Watched your video to confirm what I was doing. I was right on her skill check rolls! SUBSCRIBING ❤️

These videos are a blessing because now I don’t have to explain this all to my friends who are trying to start playing

your animations are perfect for this thx dude you have helped me understand this game so much

thank you so, SO much for making such an understanable and overall nice video. I only had 1 session of d&d (as I'm writing this) and I'm really nervous thinking that I'm just bringing the group and campaign down, that I'm being stupid and don't understand such simple things. I came there quite unprepared, but this video made me understand this stuff more, so thank you!

Going through the comments reading these stories about rolling natural 1 or 20 is hilarious and I love it

You forgot to mention is that though the skills are tied to a certain attribute, there might be instances where you'll use a different attribute but retain the proficiency bonus. The example given in the rule books is towards the athletics skill, where swimming against the current might be a feat of strength that tries your athletic abilities, swimming the miles from one island to another would be more a test of endurance, which falls under constitution.

Thank you - completely new to this game and trying to find out if this is something for our family to start playing together during these isolated Covid-times...

This is very helpful and giving me more confidence to play D&D with my cousin who is also curious about this beast, thank you sir!

Best player description of Skills. And I agree, that whole system is now so much more logical and usable.

Such an inviting and informative way to introduce people to DnD. These videos are the perfect tool to explain this game to my wife!

Your videos are awesome! I have been struggling with the character sheets and just couldn't wrap my head around the numbers. Now it clicked for me and I'm feeling ecstatic that I'm learning this game. I have watched your other videos and will watch all DnD related content for sure! With your help, I hope to be a great DM for my daughter once she is older. So so many hugs and thanks

OK I've watched a LOT of tutorial videos for starting D&D and this is by far the best I've ever seen. This deserves WAY more views and plenty of attention. Thank you kind sir! Now, off to slay those pesky Gnolls!!

Finally! I had watched so many videos trying to clarify the difference of when and how to use ability modifier vs proficiency bonus in said ability. Such a simply informative video. Thank you so much! :)

Thank you, kind Indian man. You are the only person who explained this in a way i'd get it.

Finally plain english. I fully understand how to play now. You are the best teacher.

Best D&D channel for learning.

Very clear and informative. The animation helps a lot. Thank you for breaking it down into 15 minute segments for each topic. Super helpful video. Thanks!

You explain everything really good!

me and my friends recently got into dnd and these videos helped me a lot. Thank you CJ

We just started playing for family game night, and these videos have been very helpful. Thank you!

Very good video. Always had an issue with Medicine being a Wisdom based proficiency. I get they had to make a decision between insight based skills being applied and knowledge based intelligent proficiency, but medicine is such a fine line. Game does not need to be too complicated, but this implies that medicine is Intuitive vs studied. Sure you have to identify the issue, and that is wisdom but best treatment is often from studying or critical thinking of one med is not working and a change needs to be made. Just thinking out loud, your videos are great.

Very thankful for these helpful videos. As a GM who is just getting started these have been beneficial.

Thank you! I've been a player since 1E, but I'm now finding myself the dm of a large 5e open group! Very good, straight-forward advice, with a nice dose of humor!

I really love these videos- well done animation. I have been a 3-3.5 edition player for YEARS and now i am about to get into 5th ed. Very excited. Great work. I will tell you, slow down your speak a little....you have a TON of great info and a total newbie needs time to process it! Thanks again!!!!

Absolutely the finest explanation of the skills rules... thank you so much for putting it together!

I love the example of being distracted by a weirdo. I'm definitely going to use that :) Excellent content.

Thanks for such an easy and clarifying explanation of what is one of my first ever tabletops!

One of my wizard friends tried a sleep potion on an orc in a cave ahead, rolled a 1, and made a fighter fall asleep into the river that lined the main entrance of the cave. Safe to say most of the damage dealt there was friendly fire from then on

thanks for explaining it! Me and my friends are completely new to this, and even as the DM, I couldn't figure out how skill check bonuses worked, since we had never played before!

VERY well done PowerPoint/Camptasia/Audio overlay. Love it!! Crystal Clear explanation too!!

This series of videos have inspired me to start playing again. Thanks! Awesome content.

Played 1e and 2e extensively, but D&D 3e lost me. Returning to the game with 5e, this series is OUTSTANDING for getting up-to-speed. Thank you so much for creating this, CJ, you're the best!

i love using the performance skill when the time is right because i love making npc's feel entertained and inspired if ever

I stumbled over a link to your videos on Reddit, and I like what I'm seeing so far ^_^ One small thing of note though: As I've had it explained to me, Passive checks are more a convenience thing, rather than "not even trying". For instance, if a character spends the whole time during a dungeon crawl looking out for traps, you use Passive perception instead of having the player roll dice every step they take. If the character is not paying attention, such as spending the time drawing a map of the dungeon, they instead have no chance of noticing the trap at all. If the characters are otherwise disadvantaged, such as by thick mist or floating dust, their Passive perception is 5 + Ability modifier. Passive checks can also be used by the DM if they don't want to tip the players off by calling for a check. The "not even trying" angle is a bit like rolling a 20 or a 1 on a non-combat check, it's not the rules as written, but some groups use the method that way (Which is fine, of course!). I hope I explained myself properly ^_^ I did very much enjoy the rest of the video, in particular the explanation about the difference between Perception and Investigation. /Jelly

I don't like doing auto success for nat 20, but I do like adding a flat bonus (like +2) to the check. That way, some tasks still remain impossible for the character, but they can still get incredibly lucky and do something they normally wouldn't be able to.

Crystal clear ! Thank you from France !

Critical rolls also apply to saving throws against certain things, most notably Death Saving Throws.

This was super useful to use as a Refresher course for an upcoming game, good job

These videos are all great. I have suggested to all my players to watch this whole series. Keep them coming!

Thanks for the video, my group have been having difficulties in playing the game.

Well done Cj.thank you for your informative videos!

This was amazing, best video I"ve ever seen to explain D&D. Thank you!

thanks for the videos man, my friend wants me to try d&d and this makes it easier then reading off a screen, start on saterday

I know I'm 2 years late, but I feel the need to mention that depending on the context you might use a skill and ability that don't match. Wanna intimidate someone by smashing a table? Strength (Intimidation). Wanna avoid leaving tracks? Dexterity (Survival). Wanna run/swim for miles? Constitution (Athletics). Wanna play a really difficult song on guitar? Dexterity (Performance). Wanna play through Freebird? Constitution (Performance).

Dude, this was so helpfull, deffinately best D&D tutorial ever. Keep up the good work!

I'm about to DM my first campaign only after ever playing once. My sister's kids are playing with me but I don't think anyone is going to make a cleric. I think I may allow them to eat three times a day and let them regain HP after eating a meal but it will only work if they're hungry. I might even allow for bonus HP if they eat breakfast after a long rest but only after a long rest.

this is the best into series. I refer all new players to it. thank you.

great video series, I saw them linked to a new player recently in discord and figured I'd check them out so that I'm better equipped to help people get into the hobby. something did puzzle me with this video though, and I don't see a comment below about it, sorry if it's been answered before, I did at least look first... PHB page 182 has fixed distances for jumping from both a standing start and with a run-up; any particular reason you used jumping as an example and used rules that seem counter to RAW? I'm aware DMs can change what they want and make a call on certain things, the ground may be weak, or uneven or the distance may be slightly beyond what they can jump and you want to give them a shot at making up the distance or grabbing on, etc. It just struck me as an odd choice, as jumping comes up a lot in D&D and i've never seen anyone require an ability check, either your strength and run up is enough that you clear it, or players found another way.