Occasionally, some actions will have listed "sample [action] tasks" section listed underneath, with various example listed alongside the proficiency ranks.

How exactly do I read this? I know there are some actions that cannot be taken unless a character has the prerequisite proficiency rank, but also that proficiency ranks are sometimes used to quickly ascribe DCs to actions without a predefined DC, but that anyone can attempt these. I'm not sure which of these, if either, covers the sample task list. For example, in the Force Open action entry on AoN, Sturdy wooden doors are listed under master proficiency; how do I interpret that? If a character wanted to force open a sturdy wooden door, would they have no chance to do so unless they were master proficiency in Athletics? Or is it that characters with master proficiency in Athletics would more or less be able to open the door with some difficulty, while characters with lower proficiency would have a harder time but still have the potential to do it?

I'm so confused.

Edit (5/31/2025): For anyone else curious about this, I found this page on AoN. Basically, take a guess which proficiency rank best matches the obstacle or situation, then follow the chart to set a DC for it without putting any additional thought into it. In the description, it says that you typically don't need that same rank to actually attempt the task. Level isn't a factor for these types of DCs.

Weirdly enough, in the same entry, it gives an example about a master proficiency character attempting to recall knowledge, saying "only someone with master proficiency ... would know," which seems to directly contradict with the earlier interjection about not needing to be that rank to attempt the task. I guess they mean instead that only someone with master proficiency would stand a good chance at recalling that knowledge, but people with less training might have heard it? Or perhaps instead they took the situation as an exclusion to the "usually" doesn't require that proficiency rank, and in this case, you would need at least that level of training to recall the knowledge about it. It's kind of vague and slightly frustrating.

To answer my own question from the main body, it probably falls under the second possibility; a character below master proficiency stands a low chance of forcing open a sturdy wooden door (listed as a master proficiency task), but can still try, whereas a master would be able to do it with some difficulty (depending on rolls). It opens the possibility for a master of athletics to fail a roll and an expert to pass, showing up someone who's supposedly better at that skill, but I leave that to any GMs reading this to figure out how to resolve that odd conflict.