A note about skills... again

[Arnim Thayer]

I understand that some posters are against the consolidation of skills. At my playtesting, we used a list of combined skills that numbered at around 25, with EVERY class getting 4 + INT modifier skill points to spend, and using the Pathfinder "+3 to class skills" system.

So far, it has worked out great, with no skill-monkey-dipping into Rogue for jacked up skill points. For consolidation, we based it loosly on Star Wars Saga, combining no more than two skills (and thus eliminating both synergies and "+2/+2" feats). Skill Focus takes the place of most of the "+2/+2" feats now, with familiars granting Skill Focus instead of Alertness (when players take familiars!) We have experimented with Initiative as a skill (also as Star Wars Saga), but no overwhelming response so far (it DID take quite some conversion for Monsters). Tjis involved replacing Inproved Initiative with Skill Focus (Initiative). But best of all, skill points are easy to spend as a DM, since the chart is just 4/level or HD. Speeded up NPC creation tremendously.

Okay, feel free to slam or comment now.

[Arnim Thayer]

I'm surprised no one had any thoughts on this... consider this a bump.

[The Real Orion]

I think if you do that, you need to give the Rogue something to compensate. The concept behind a Rogue is that they get access to things that are akin to the old Thieving Skills, thus they just are skill monkeys. They can still sneak attack and have special affinity with traps, but other than that, they're just sucky Fighters. Once you add their skill points, then they're Rogues again. The problem isn't high skill points per level. I think it's the x4 modifier at first level that makes the one-level-dip a real concern. I haven't decided how I'd like to address that, if and when I house rule anything.