Bonus Proficiencies

Unlike traditional 5e, Star Wars 5e places a significantly greater emphasis on the use of tools. Additionally, Star Wars 5e has substantially more languages than traditional 5e, since it spans an entire galaxy, with hundreds if not thousands of species, each speaking their own language. Using this variant rule, you can add additional proficiencies in tools and languages to your players beyond those offered by their species, class, or background.

Proficiency Points

Each character gains a number of proficiency points equal to their proficiency bonus. These proficiency points can be spent to learn languages or tool proficiencies at a ratio of 1 point per language or tool.

Tool Expertise

If a character wants to instead use their points to gain expertise in a tool, the GM might allow them to spend 2 proficiency points to gain expertise in a tool in which they are already proficient.

When Are They Chosen?

Each character can choose to spend their proficiency points at any time to gain proficiency in a language or tool. If they would do so in a moment when that language or proficiency would become relevant to the story, they must first justify how they already know that language or tool proficiency. For instance, if the party encounters a particular species from which they need to glean information, and they have no way to communicate with that species, one of your players might spend a proficiency point to learn the language that species speaks. In order to do so, however, they must first explain how they would know that language. Perhaps they grew up with a wandering member of that species who taught it to them? Or maybe they took this specific language as an elective during their education?

Alternative Proficiencies

Alternatively, you might allow your players to spend their proficiency points to gain proficiency in weapons or armor. A character could spend 1 proficiency point to gain proficiency in a singular weapon, or 2 proficiency points to gain proficiency in a weapon category (all blasters, lightweapons, or vibroweapons). A character could also spend 2 proficiency points to gain proficiency in a type of armor. However, they would first need to have proficiency in the lesser armors. For instance, to gain proficiency in heavy armor, you must first have proficiency in medium armor. To gain proficiency in medium armor, you must first have proficiency in light armor.

Skill Expertise

If a character wants to instead use their points to gain expertise in a skill, the GM might allow them to spend 4 proficiency points to gain expertise in a skill in which they are already proficient.