Software Engineer and Old-School Gamer.

30+ years of gaming started in AD&D then went back to Basic then to 2nd. Got fed up with the complexity and Monty Haul of 3.X/PF tried 4e but hated it but have settled on 5e as a nice middle ground on both a framework and open minded game play.

The answer to every question is "Work with your DM". All other answers posted here are interpretation from experience and opinion. Even if the published book says X it is still entirely up to your DM.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

--George Bernard Shaw