Help on Guidance Cantrip Global Skill Modifier

Game:   D&D 5E Character Sheet:  D&D 5E by Roll20 Maybe I've misunderstood Ability Checks for a long time, but some reliable players and other DM's have concurred with how I had been applying the cantrip Guidance over the years, which is you can add it to any Ability Check, which to me includes STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA, but when my players (yes all PC Character Sheets, I double checked) select the Guidance Global Skill Modifier, and then roll one of the 6 main abilities, Guidance isn't rolled for automatically.   So again, have I misunderstood Ability Check all these years?  Does Guidance really only apply to Acrobatics through Survival?  Or am I just missing a Game Setting or something? In the pictures below, the "9 + 3" roll was "Acrobatics" and the "21" roll was Strength.  This character is also a Bard, so the Strength has the Jack of All Trades added to it. Thanks in advance for any help in clarifying this issue for me and the players!!

This has been an issue with the D&D 5e by Roll20 sheet for a long time. Guidance is definitely applied to ALL Ability checks.  An Ability check is basically any d20 roll which uses one of the abilities (Strength, Dexterity, etc) and is NOT an Attack or Saving Throw. This even includes initiative rolls.  So yes, guidance applies to every d20 roll with an ability added to it except for attacks or saves.   It is worth noting that the Token Action macros that the Token Action Maker script creates includes Guidance in the macro for Ability rolls. 

Thanks again Gauss for all the great info and work arounds!!  Always appreciated!!! Also glad to know I wasn't so wrong about using Guidance all these years.  Whew!! The Token Action Maker is an API Script, correct?  Which I'm considering going Pro so I can utilize some of the scripts I've seen mentioned over and over in the forums.  But for now without Pro account, I'll just have the players manually roll it. Thanks again!

You don't need Token Action Maker to do those macros. I copied them long ago and made tweaks to the Ability/Skill macro (splitting it into two) and then later the Skill macro (v2 below).  Ability Macro: (includes the Global Skill field) @{wtype}&{template:simple} @{rtype}?{Ability|Strength,+@{Strength_mod}@{jack_attr}[STR]]]}} {{rname=Strength}} {{mod=@{Strength_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Strength_mod}@{jack_attr}[STR]]]|Dexterity,+@{Dexterity_mod}@{jack_attr}[DEX]]]}} {{rname=Dexterity}} {{mod=@{Dexterity_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Dexterity_mod}@{jack_attr}[DEX]]]|Constitution,+@{Constitution_mod}@{jack_attr}[CON]]]}} {{rname=Constitution}} {{mod=@{Constitution_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Constitution_mod}@{jack_attr}[CON]]]|Intelligence,+@{Intelligence_mod}@{jack_attr}[INT]]]}} {{rname=Intelligence}} {{mod=@{Intelligence_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Intelligence_mod}@{jack_attr}[INT]]]|Wisdom,+@{Wisdom_mod}@{jack_attr}[WIS]]]}} {{rname=Wisdom}} {{mod=@{Wisdom_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Wisdom_mod}@{jack_attr}[WIS]]]|Charisma,+@{Charisma_mod}@{jack_attr}[CHA]]]}} {{rname=Charisma}} {{mod=@{Charisma_mod}@{jack_bonus}}} {{r1=[[ @{d20} + @{Charisma_mod}@{jack_attr}[CHA]]]}}} {{global=@{global_skill_mod}}} {{type=Check}} {{typec=Check}} @{charname_output} Skill macro:  @{wtype}&{template:simple} @{rtype}?{Ability|Acrobatics,+@{Acrobatics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Acrobatics]]]}} {{rname=Acrobatics}} {{mod=@{Acrobatics_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Acrobatics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Acrobatics]]]|Animal Handling,+@{Animal_Handling_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Animal]]]}} {{rname=Animal Handling}} {{mod=@{Animal_Handling_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Animal_Handling_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Animal]]]|Arcana,+@{Arcana_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Arcana]]]}} {{rname=Arcana}} {{mod=@{Arcana_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Arcana_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Arcana]]]|Athletics,+@{Athletics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Athletics]]]}} {{rname=Athletics}} {{mod=@{Athletics_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Athletics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Athletics]]]|Deception,+@{Deception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Deception]]]}} {{rname=Deception}} {{mod=@{Deception_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Deception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Deception]]]|History,+@{History_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[History]]]}} {{rname=History}} {{mod=@{History_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{History_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[History]]]|Insight,+@{Insight_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Insight]]]}} {{rname=Insight}} {{mod=@{Insight_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Insight_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Insight]]]|Intimidation,+@{Intimidation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Intimidation]]]}} {{rname=Intimidation}} {{mod=@{Intimidation_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Intimidation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Intimidation]]]|Investigation,+@{Investigation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Investigation]]]}} {{rname=Investigation}} {{mod=@{Investigation_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Investigation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Investigation]]]|Medicine,+@{Medicine_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Medicine]]]}} {{rname=Medicine}} {{mod=@{Medicine_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Medicine_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Medicine]]]|Nature,+@{Nature_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Nature]]]}} {{rname=Nature}} {{mod=@{Nature_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Nature_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Nature]]]|Perception,+@{Perception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Perception]]]}} {{rname=Perception}} {{mod=@{Perception_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Perception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Perception]]]|Performance,+@{Performance_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Performance]]]}} {{rname=Performance}} {{mod=@{Performance_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Performance_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Performance]]]|Persuasion,+@{Persuasion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Persuasion]]]}} {{rname=Persuasion}} {{mod=@{Persuasion_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Persuasion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Persuasion]]]|Religion,+@{Religion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Religion]]]}} {{rname=Religion}} {{mod=@{Religion_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Religion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Religion]]]|Sleight Of Hand,+@{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Sleight]]]}} {{rname=Sleight Of Hand}} {{mod=@{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Sleight]]]|Stealth,+@{Stealth_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Stealth]]]}} {{rname=Stealth}} {{mod=@{Stealth_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Stealth_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Stealth]]]|Survival,+@{Survival_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Survival]]]}} {{rname=Survival}} {{mod=@{Survival_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Survival_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Survival]]]}}} {{global=@{global_skill_mod}}} {{type=Check}} {{typec=Check}} @{charname_output} Skill macro v2: (where I added the skill value after the name) @{wtype}&{template:simple} @{rtype}?{Ability|Acrobatics @{Acrobatics_bonus},+@{Acrobatics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Acrobatics]]]}} {{rname=Acrobatics}} {{mod=@{Acrobatics_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Acrobatics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Acrobatics]]]|Animal Handling @{Animal_Handling_bonus},+@{Animal_Handling_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Animal]]]}} {{rname=Animal Handling}} {{mod=@{Animal_Handling_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Animal_Handling_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Animal]]]|Arcana @{Arcana_bonus},+@{Arcana_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Arcana]]]}} {{rname=Arcana}} {{mod=@{Arcana_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Arcana_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Arcana]]]|Athletics @{Athletics_bonus},+@{Athletics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Athletics]]]}} {{rname=Athletics}} {{mod=@{Athletics_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Athletics_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Athletics]]]|Deception @{Deception_bonus},+@{Deception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Deception]]]}} {{rname=Deception}} {{mod=@{Deception_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Deception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Deception]]]|History @{History_bonus},+@{History_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[History]]]}} {{rname=History}} {{mod=@{History_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{History_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[History]]]|Insight @{Insight_bonus},+@{Insight_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Insight]]]}} {{rname=Insight}} {{mod=@{Insight_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Insight_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Insight]]]|Intimidation @{Intimidation_bonus},+@{Intimidation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Intimidation]]]}} {{rname=Intimidation}} {{mod=@{Intimidation_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Intimidation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Intimidation]]]|Investigation @{Investigation_bonus},+@{Investigation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Investigation]]]}} {{rname=Investigation}} {{mod=@{Investigation_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Investigation_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Investigation]]]|Medicine @{Medicine_bonus},+@{Medicine_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Medicine]]]}} {{rname=Medicine}} {{mod=@{Medicine_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Medicine_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Medicine]]]|Nature @{Nature_bonus},+@{Nature_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Nature]]]}} {{rname=Nature}} {{mod=@{Nature_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Nature_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Nature]]]|Perception @{Perception_bonus},+@{Perception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Perception]]]}} {{rname=Perception}} {{mod=@{Perception_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Perception_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Perception]]]|Performance @{Performance_bonus},+@{Performance_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Performance]]]}} {{rname=Performance}} {{mod=@{Performance_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Performance_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Performance]]]|Persuasion @{Persuasion_bonus},+@{Persuasion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Persuasion]]]}} {{rname=Persuasion}} {{mod=@{Persuasion_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Persuasion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Persuasion]]]|Religion @{Religion_bonus},+@{Religion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Religion]]]}} {{rname=Religion}} {{mod=@{Religion_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Religion_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Religion]]]|Sleight Of Hand @{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus},+@{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Sleight]]]}} {{rname=Sleight Of Hand}} {{mod=@{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Sleight_Of_Hand_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Sleight]]]|Stealth @{Stealth_bonus},+@{Stealth_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Stealth]]]}} {{rname=Stealth}} {{mod=@{Stealth_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Stealth_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Stealth]]]|Survival @{Survival_bonus},+@{Survival_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Survival]]]}} {{rname=Survival}} {{mod=@{Survival_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20} + @{Survival_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[Survival]]]}}} {{global=@{global_skill_mod}}} {{type=Check}} {{typec=Check}} @{charname_output} Saves macro:  @{wtype}&{template:simple} @{rtype}?{Saving Throw|Strength, +@{Strength_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[STR SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Strength Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Strength_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Strength_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[STR SAVE]]]|Dexterity, +@{Dexterity_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[DEX SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Dexterity Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Dexterity_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Dexterity_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[DEX SAVE]]]|Constitution, +@{Constitution_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[CON SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Constitution Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Constitution_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Constitution_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[CON SAVE]]]|Intelligence, +@{Intelligence_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[INT SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Intelligence Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Intelligence_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Intelligence_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[INT SAVE]]]|Wisdom, +@{Wisdom_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[WIS SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Wisdom Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Wisdom_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Wisdom_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[WIS SAVE]]]|Charisma, +@{Charisma_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[CHA SAVE]]]}} {{rname=Charisma Save}&#125 {{mod=@{Charisma_save_bonus}}} {{r1=[[@{d20}+@{Charisma_save_bonus}@{pbd_safe}[CHA SAVE]]]}}} {{global=@{global_save_mod}}} {{type=Save}} {{typec=Save}} @{charname_output} The main benefit of Token Action Maker isn't the PC macros, it is the NPC macros. 

Oh okay, well then I may still be interested in that API cause it would make NPC's a lot easier!! Thanks again sir!!

Colby, The Dungeon Mann said: Oh okay, well then I may still be interested in that API cause it would make NPC's a lot easier!! Thanks again sir!! Absolutely, it makes my life much easier.