Kelynmor's page

4. Hybrid System: In this system, characters would get a number of skill ranks equal to the number of skill choices granted by the Skills chapter of the Pathfinder RPG. Skill ranks granted by the first level of your class must be spent on class skills. Skill ranks granted after first level and those granted by a high Intelligence score at first level could be spent on any skill. Instead of the class skill/cross-class skill distinction, your bonus in a skill would be determined in the following method.

0 ranks – Untrained: Bonus = ability modifier + racial modifiers (or modifiers)
1 ranks – Trained: Bonus = 1/2 your character level + modifiers
2 ranks – Skilled: Bonus = your character level + modifiers
3 ranks – Expert: Bonus = your character level + 3 + modifiers
4 ranks – Master: Bonus = your character level +6 + modifiers

There are a few additional rules to go with this. At first level, you can have no skill higher than 2 ranks (or the skilled level). Many of the prestige class requirements would need an alteration to require expert or even master standing in some skills.

My vote is for Hybrid. The more I look at this option, the more it seems to be the best compromise between...

a) the intent of simplifying skill tracking, and...
b) allowing customization for a character

However I would like to propose the following tweaks:

0 ranks – Untrained: Bonus = modifiers only
1 rank - Trained: Bonus = 3 + modifiers - - - should be a flat bonus, i.e. you know the absolute basics there is to know about this skill
2 ranks - Skilled: Bonus = 3 + 1/2 your character level (rounded down) + modifiers - - - you now have the confidence needed to challenge yourself with this skill
3 ranks - Expert: Bonus = 3 + your character level + modifiers - - - now you know what you're doing and, typically, the best way to go about doing it
4 ranks - Master: Bonus = 8 + your character level + modifiers - - - you have been using this skill most of your life and have studied or experienced practically every nuance possible, very few people could be better than you

Two extra rules to go along:

• cross-class skills should never go higher than Skilled (rank 2)
• Master rank should only be achievable and retainable for class skills of the highest level class (or combination of classes if it is a class skill for more than one class) a character has, or on a prestige class skill list.

Advancing: characters should gain a number of skill ranks equal to 2 + int mod every even level.
Multi-classing: characters should get a number of bonus skill ranks equal to half of the new class' starting skill ranks.

With these thoughts in mind, a character could potentially master 5 skills on a class list, not including starting skills or bonuses from high Int. It also makes it important what class(es) a character stays in to master any skills while at the same time mitigating what class to take at 1st level.

For the rogues-should-have-silly-amounts-of-skills purists, add to rogues a class ability "Skilled: starting at 3rd level and every odd level thereafter rogues gain an additional skill rank." Alternatively, instead of 2 + int mod every even level change that to half of the highest level class' starting skill ranks + int mod every even level.

In general, I feel that the hybrid skill system should please the most people for ease of use and customizing a character.

~Kel