One idea I had to deal with some problems I've had with Pathfinder and its 3.5 predecessor is to create a second modifier in addition to the normal one for your base ability score.
Basically, you would have two modifiers for your score; the base one (the existing bonus)and a Greater modifier that would be higher.
It would be like this:
Base Greater
Score Bonus Modifier
8 -2 +0
9 -1 +1
10 +0 +2
11 +0 +3
12 +1 +3
13 +1 +4
14 +2 +5
15 +2 +6
16 +3 +6
17 +3 +7
18 +4 +8
19 +4 +9
20 +5 +9
What would it be used for?
*Your AC when unarmored could be 8+Greater Dex modifier.
*When using two hands with a melee weapon you would add your greater bonus to the damage instead of your base bonus.
*Higher level feats could enable you to use your greater modfier in many ways such as Toughness could let you use your great modifier for figuring HP at each level.
*Instead of a fixed bonus for Barbarian rage, it simply enables you to use your greater modifier for Str and Con
*Instead of skill ranks, a trained skill use the Greater modifier + 1/2 your class level, while cross class skills would use the Basic Modifier +1/2 the class level, and untrained skills would just be the basic modifier with no class level added.
I have other ideas, but let me know what you think of it so far.
That's very clever. It reduces some on the fly math a little, which I like even though I'm a math teacher. :)
Yeah, the more I look at it, the more applications I could see for it.
Personally, I kind of like the Pathfinder skill system the way it is, but whatever works for you.
Some people will probably be along shortly to trash it, but everyone has to get their kicks in their own way.
I think it's a pretty fun idea, good job!
It would be an interesting idea to work with, but there are a couple of considerations:
*Your AC when unarmored could be 8+Greater Dex modifier.
This is a great boon for the monk and the duelist (who rarely if ever wear armor), Increasing there already good AC, while being of little use to others. and would you still be able to benefit from armor items (Such as the bracers of armor), and does unarmored also include shields?
I also prefer the current pathfinder skill system (What about learning new languages?)
all in all I like the concept, it just needs some fine tuning.
This is a pretty interesting concept. On the skills thing, you could have the greater intelligence modifier be the bonus to class skills people get. So instead of a +3 to class skills with ranks in them, a character with a 16 Intelligence gets a +6 to class skills with ranks in them. That seems a little high to me but that could be something to work on.
I also like the skills system for Pathfinder...just brainstorming new uses for the greater modifier. Anybody got some others?
Using it for AC would also be a boon for wizards. I mean, in general you put your second highest score into dex...I actually put dex higher than Int sometimes as a wizard for protection...and yes it would stack just like the ordinary Dex bonus does. It would also work well for Rangers who are archers as they could put their highest score into Dex and forgo light armor and increase their accuracy with the bow.
Also, I can imagine a Greater Dodge feat that would use the greater dex bonus against your designated dodge opponent.
You could also make a prestige class feature like an Archmage who can use their greater Int bonus for the saves DC on their spells.
And some races, instead of adding +2 to a base score can instead use a greater modifier with a specific skill or attack.
Also, I can imagine a Greater Dodge feat that would use the greater dex bonus against your designated dodge opponent.
Designated Dodge opponents don't exist anymore, you gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC in general.