DND 5E GM Techniques – How to Handle Cheating on Rolled Stats in Character Creation

From the sorcerer page:

Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Since the modifier for an 18 int is +4 (source), that means you get 6 skill points. If you choose Sorcerer as your favored class, you may choose to get one extra skill point OR one extra hit point.

As a first-level character, you have 1 HD. Therefore, you can only put up to one rank in each skill:

You can never have more ranks in a skill than your total number of Hit Dice.

If you put a rank into any of the sorcerer class skills, however, you gain an extra +3 bonus on your check with that skill. The sorcerer class skills are:

Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Some sample calculations

Let's run down some scenarios, for completion's sake. If you put skill ranks into, say, Appraise, Craft (something), Knowledge (arcana), and Spellcraft, your total modifier for each of those skills would be:

1 rank + 3 for class skill + 4 int bonus = 8

and you would roll 1d20+8 to use each of those skills.

If you put one rank into Bluff, you would have:

1 rank + 3 for class skill + 2 cha bonus = 6

so you'd only roll 1d20+6 for a Bluff check.

If you put one rank into Knowledge(nature), which is not a class skill for Sorcerer, your total would be:

1 rank + 4 int bonus = 5

so you'd roll 1d20+5.

If you don't put any ranks into Acrobatics, which is also not a class skill but can be used untrained, you would roll:

0 ranks + 1 dex bonus = 1

so 1d20+1.

If you don't put ranks into Appraise, you don't get the class bonus either, so you'd roll:

0 ranks + 4 int bonus = 4

1d20+4 for a check.

I hope that helps!

It depends on which spell/method you are using.

Polymorph (as well as True Polymorph) states:

PHB pg. 166

The target’s game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. It retains its alignment and personality.

As for Wild Shape, it specifically states:

PHB pg. 67

Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead of yours.

The Druid spell Animal Shapes also states that the targets retain their Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores.

The text does not specify, so this would be something to ask your DM. I would probably rule that regardless of the method get the proficiencies in the same way that Wild Shape does, just for consistency, but your DM might differ.