One D&D - Making Dwarven Tremorsense Make More Sense

 In the new One D&D playtest materials “Unearthed Arcana: 2022 Character Origins” we are presented with a new version of Stonecunning for Dwarves which gives them access to Tremorsense.

The current fifth edition Player’s Handbook reads

“Stonecunning: Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.” (page 20)

Let me tell you how many times this has been useful in my game which has three dwarven characters in the party…absolutely ZERO!

I have always had a problem with the Dwarven Stonecunning ability in fifth edition. It was such a huge step back from earlier editions. Let’s look at what dwarves once had access to with their abilities which eventually became Stonecunning.

In second edition the abilities dwarves gained were not called Stonecunning yet, in fact they had no name they just were listed abilities. They read like this:

“Dwarves are miners of great skill. While underground, they can detect the following information when within 10 feet of the particular phenomenon (but they can determine their approximate depth below the surface at any time).

• Detect grade or slope in passage 1-5 on 1d6
• Detect new tunnel/passage construction 1-5 on 1d6
• Detect sliding/shifting walls or rooms 1-4 on 1d6
• Detect stonework traps, pits, and deadfalls 1-3 on 1d6
• Determine approximate depth underground 1-3 on 1d6

Note the dwarf must deliberately try to make these determinations; the information does not simply spring to mind unbidden.” (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: 2nd ed., 21)

These skills were very useful in underground environments. They made dwarves of any class useful for finding secret doors, traps, and other features.

In the third edition of D&D the dwarven abilities were given the name Stonecunning. The ability was slightly changed but still true to the nature of a dwarf’s intimate relation with stone. It read as follows:

“Stonecunning: This ability grants a dwarf a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A dwarf can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up. Dwarves have a sixth sense about stonework, an innate ability that they get plenty of opportunity to practice and hone in their underground homes.” (Dungeons & Dragons: Players Handbook: 3rd ed., 14-15)

The older editions of D&D highlighted the multifaceted ability of dwarves being in tune with the stone from which Moradin forged them from. While not having as many varied uses, the new Stonecunning rule in the One D&D playtest materials does shift the needle back towards being useful in adventuring and in keeping with the dwarves' connection with the stone.

The One D&D playtest materials “Unearthed Arcana: 2022 Character Origins” changes Stonecunning to read:

“Stonecunning: As a Bonus Action, you gain Tremorsense* with a range of 60 feet for 10 minutes. You must be on a stone surface or touching such a surface to use this Tremorsense. The stone can be natural or worked.

You can use this Bonus Action a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.*” (5)

The Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, 5th ed. provides as description for Tremorsense on page 9 under the descriptions of senses monsters in the book may possess. The UA gives an updated description for this sense replacing the original wording of monster with creature. The UA reads

“Tremorsense: A creature with Tremorsense can pinpoint the location of creatures and moving objects within a specific range, provided that the creature with Tremorsense and anything it’s detecting are both in contact with the same surface (such as the ground, a wall, or a ceiling) or the same liquid.

Tremorsense can’t detect creatures or objects in the air, and Tremorsense doesn’t count as a form of sight.” (20)

As I mentioned, I like that this change moves the needle back in the direction of being a useful ability and in keeping with the nature of dwarves. That said, I do not like the implementation Wizard’s have chosen to go with. The current rule allows a dwarf to only use this new sense a number of times per long rest equal to their proficiency bonus. This would allow for its use two to six times per day. The new rule also makes it feel like some form of activated magical ability which stays active for 10 minutes once “turned on” instead of being about dwarves' connection to the stone.

When I picture a dwarf using tremorsense I think of them feeling and listening to the stone. They are so intune with the stone that once they focus on it they can feel and hear even the tiniest vibrations within the stone. It’s a skill that has helped their people feel disturbances in the stone to try and avert potential cave-ins and locate others who have been trapped if one does happen. Tremorsense, much like other senses that characters and monsters possess, should be unlimited.

I have spoken with my players and others about the new Stonecunning ability. For my group we will be playtesting a revised version of the UA Stonecunning. My version reads,

“Stonecunning: as an action, you can spend the round in contact with a stone surface feeling and ‘listening’ to the stone. If you do so, you gain Tremorsense* with a range of 60 feet as long as you don’t move and are concentrating (this works as if concentrating on a spell) on the stone. You must be on a stone surface or touching such a surface to use this Tremorsense. The stone can be natural or worked.”

This revision moves the UA version away from being a form of activated semi-magical ability.

It returns Stonecunning to be that sixth sense that dwarves have had in past editions due to their close connection with stone. It also remains a limited ability as, unlike other creatures with Tremorsense that can use it regardless of the surface, the dwarf and those they detect must be on the same shared stone surface. Tell me what you think in the comments.