AD&D Rule Spotlight: Player Skill Bonuses
Older rules let you reward the player, not the sheet. If someone brings the right poem or can perform a step of the skill, you give a small bonus and keep the game moving.
Keep it tight. Cap it at +2. One scene only. No auto-wins. Use it when a player adds something real. A verse. A diagram. A clean step-by-step plan.
At my table, a player laid out a ladder rush. Up the rungs, roll through the sill, rise into two quick strikes. It was clear and believable. I gave +2 to the surprise check. They earned a round before the guards could shout. The rule did its job. It turned a plan into a moment.
Use this rule to reward clarity and effort. Your game stays fast, and the scenes stick.
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Very interesting discussion, this was certainly a thing when I played, whilst you could make a skill roll the DM would always give a bonus (or a penalty) if the player didn't provide a commentary.