Monster Skills

Skills The first number is the creature’s base skill modifier, which you add to the relevant ability modifier for any skill not listed.

This would seem to be (mostly?) the proficiency modifier. For example, the base skill modifier for goblins is -2, which suggests to me that they are untrained in skills not specifically listed. But the training modifier for "untrained" has been changed from -2 to -4 (for characters, anyway). Should base skill modifiers for monsters now be two less than what's listed in the Bestiary?

Monster skills will be less than what is currently listed for a number of reasons. But, it doesn't look like they are going to errata the bestiary during the playtest so we're stuck with higher numbers for a while.

For final release, expect a better balancing of the item bonus in general, how it is calculated in Monster assumptions and PC DCs etc. Expect monster perception to be fixed, its currently being treated like a skill, but it isn't one.

If you're running a home game, I'd go right ahead and make that adjustment. You also wouldn't be far off subtracting 1 from skills and perception levels 1-10, and 2 from levels 11-20.

Basically, Monster skills are a known problem and will be addressed, its just they most likely won't be adjusting them in the playtest.

Thanks, Zman.