paizo.com - Messageboards / Rules Questions / Learning a Language without Linguistics being a class skill

Lael Treventhius Nov 16, 2009, 05:39 PM

I've come across a situation which I apologies if this has been already talked about. Have can a character learn a new language without having the Linguistics skill has a class skill.

Linguistics can't be used untrained, which means you need to have it as a class skill to be able to take any ranks in this right? So how them can a character learn a new language?

Speak Language in 3.5 was a special trained skill that you could spend to ranks to learn a skill, so converting a 3.5 to prpg will lose languages known.

Anyone shine some light on this please.

Disciple of Sakura Nov 16, 2009, 05:58 PM

No. If a skill can't be used untrained, you can't make rolls with it without ranks in it. Class skill or no, you can put ranks in any skill you have available. Exclusive skills went the way of the dodo after 3.0.

If you want to learn a new language, you just put one of your skill ranks in Linguistics.

Qstor Nov 16, 2009, 06:09 PM

The way I read it is:

From http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/usingSkills.html

"Each level, your character gains a number of skill ranks dependent upon your class plus your Intelligence modifier. Investing a rank in a skill represents a measure of training in that skill."

Yes you have to be trained but under Pathfinder there's no penalty for cross class skills like in 3.5 ONLY a bonus if you're trained. So...Say a fighter at their next level can just invest one skill point to learn a new language.

Mike

Farabor Nov 16, 2009, 06:14 PM

The term "class skill" meant a lot more in 3.0 and 3.5 than it does in pathfinder. _All_ "class skill" means in pathfinder is that if a skill that you have ranks in is on the class skill list for _any_ class you have, you get a one time +3 bonus on that skill. (No matter how many class skill lists it shows up on). That's it.

This allowed them to both eliminate the *4 at level 1 skill mechanic (And still have a total effective +4 at level 1 in class skills), as well as the "at what different levels did your multiclass character put his skillpoints in his various abilities"...which helps a lot on simplifying things.

On another simplification, they also give you retroactive skillpoints if your int goes up (from wish/level bumps)...so you don't have to keep track of at what levels that occurred at, either.

Lael Treventhius Nov 16, 2009, 06:22 PM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh *click*

I see where I was going wrong. I was assuming you have to have a skill as a class skill to be trained in it, not the fact that you need ranks in an "trained" skill to be able to use it.

Thanks all.

Zootcat (Pathfinder Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber) Nov 16, 2009, 07:02 PM

Farabor wrote:

On another simplification, they also give you retroactive skillpoints if your int goes up (from wish/level bumps)...so you don't have to keep track of at what levels that occurred at, either.

Really?! I didn't notice that. Please tell me where to find this in the Core Rulebook. I need to know!

wraithstrike Nov 16, 2009, 07:30 PM

Zootcat wrote:

Farabor wrote:
On another simplification, they also give you retroactive skillpoints if your int goes up (from wish/level bumps)...so you don't have to keep track of at what levels that occurred at, either.

Really?! I didn't notice that. Please tell me where to find this in the Core Rulebook. I need to know!

I forgot what page it was on in the book but here it is from the PRD

Permanent Bonuses: Ability bonuses with a duration greater than 1 day actually increase the relevant ability score after 24 hours. Modify all skills and statistics related to that ability. This might cause you to gain skill points, hit points, and other bonuses. These bonuses should be noted separately in case they are removed.

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/glossary.html

Zootcat (Pathfinder Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber) Nov 16, 2009, 10:42 PM

Thank you! I typed Permanent Bonus into the search function of my Core Rulebook PDF. It took me to page 555.

I have been spending hours and hours over the past week and a half trying to make sense out of the black dragon's skills. Now my problem is solved! Permanent Bonus was the answer all along.

I also found the answer on page 296 (Step 4) of the Bestiary. If only I had read that sooner it would have saved me hours of confusion and deep meditation!

Thanks again! :)

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