Talk:Psychologist (5e Feat)

Hello, fellow wikian! The feat sounds nice, but I'm afraid it could be better by adjusting some things here and there. Here are my comments:

• Prerequisites. Note that pretty much all feats listed in PHB has a prerequisite of 13 ability scores. This is because on even numbers, you gain a +1 bonus to the modifier, and having a prerequisite of 13 abilty score guarantees at least +1 modifier. Plus, it is rather unusual to have a proficiency as a prerequisite.

• You might want to consult the Medicine skill: it clearly states that it "lets you try to stabilize a dying companion or diagnose an illness." This is more of physical diseases and injuries, rather than mental trauma. Although I find this rather interesting, so it would be better to keep things like that, yet change things a bit more differently. I'll put my version at the end of this suggestions.

• Note that you usually make a Wisdom saving throws when resisting the effect of spells that makes you see illusion, and make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) checks to discern an illusion that you already see. I think the former is what you intended, yet "illusions cast only on you" is rather vague. I think there must be a way to edit this more clearly.

• Auto-lie detector is, frankly speaking, a no-no; you must make a Wisdom (Insight) check to discern if one is lying. I think a conditional advantage to that check would be better.

I find good potentials in your work, and came up with my version. Here is my version of Psychologist (5e Feat):

Psychologist (5e Feat)

Prerequisites: Wisdom 13 or higher

• Whenever you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check to diagnose a mental illness or madness, you are considered proficient in the Medicine skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

• You have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) checks to discern illusions.

• If you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with a creature, you have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks to discern if the person is lying or giving a false impression to you.

--WeirdoWhoever (talk) 06:01, 9 June 2017 (UTC)

I like the proposed rewrite, WeirdoWhoever (talk). The feat is still fairly limited in scope, so I might change the prerequisite to be "Wisdom or Intelligence 13 or higher" instead of just wisdom. In addition, I might boost that last benefit. I think interacting with someone should give you a better idea about how to read their feelings and intentions in general, not just seeing if they're lying. In addition, knowing how someone things can also help you better influence them. Here's my proposed change to the proposed change:

• If you spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with the person, you have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks made towards them.

--Carcabob (talk) 22:43, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

Prerequisites are used to make sure the feat is useful for the character, not to act as a gateway. I'm rewriting this, as it's been over a month since the above suggestions. Marasmusine (talk) 02:12, 21 August 2017 (MDT)

Why 10 minutes instead of 1? --Carcabob (talk) 13:37, 21 August 2017 (MDT)