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Dot!

RTM wrote:

Are there any changes you would make to Pathfinder's skill system? Are there any situations that frequently come up that don't really have a set skill that governs it? How would you work to remove redundancy?

I ask because I am designing a system where skills are handled a little differently. There are groups of skills and (most) skills fall under one of these groups. For example, Speech governs Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, etc. You can invest in the skills individually or, if you want to make a diplomancer-type character, you can invest in the entire Speech tree for slightly cheaper (the system is built around a point system).

So, in short, what would your ideal list of skills be? Thanks

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I've always been dissatisfied with how skills are dependent on just a single ability score, and have always felt that in reality, certain skills would involve the use of multiple faculties as opposed to just one.

So I've thought about modifying the mechanic so that skills are dependent on two ability scores: a primary ability and a secondary ability.

The total ability related modifier would be the sum of half of the primary ability score (rounded up) and the secondary ability score (rounded down)

For example, if Intimidate is dependent on Cha and Str - with +3 modifiers for Cha and Str each, the net ability score modifier for Intimidate would be the sum of (+3 divided by 2 rounded up = ) +2 and (+3 divided by 2 rounded down = ) +1 = +3.

I think with the halves rounded up/down - the resulting numbers would be fairly compatible numerically with normal skill modifiers. This is especially important when dealing with NPC/monster skill ranks - so as to avoid restatting if you don't have the time to do so.

I've outlined a possible set of ability score dependencies below (listed as Primary/Secondary ability scores):

Acrobatics - Dex/Str
Appraise - Int/Wis
Bluff - Cha/Int
Climb - Str/Dex
Craft - Int/Wis
Displomacy - Cha/Wis
Disable Device - Dex/Int
Disguise - Cha/Int
...

Hmmm. I definitely like this idea. It gives players more flexibility rather than being pigeonholed into certain skills. Have you thought about modifying the skill list itself?

Are there any changes you would make to Pathfinder's skill system? Are there any situations that frequently come up that don't really have a set skill that governs it? How would you work to remove redundancy?

I ask because I am designing a system where skills are handled a little differently. There are groups of skills and (most) skills fall under one of these groups. For example, Speech governs Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, etc. You can invest in the skills individually or, if you want to make a diplomancer-type character, you can invest in the entire Speech tree for slightly cheaper (the system is built around a point system).

So, in short, what would your ideal list of skills be? Thanks