I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I wanted peoples opinions.
Specifically reguarding Spellcraft, I'm thinking of allowing casters to use their casting stat instead of int. For wizards, the current rules are great, because everthing for a wizard is generated off int.
Spellcraft is knowledge and skill in casting magic. I understand why it is by RAW based on int, but it seems like everyone except wizards are getting shafted.
It makes sense to have the skill that represents a casters skill with magic be based off their primary casting stat.
What say everyone?
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I wanted peoples opinions.
Specifically reguarding Spellcraft, I'm thinking of allowing casters to use their casting stat instead of int. For wizards, the current rules are great, because everthing for a wizard is generated off int.
Spellcraft is knowledge and skill in casting magic. I understand why it is by RAW based on int, but it seems like everyone except wizards are getting shafted.
It makes sense to have the skill that represents a casters skill with magic be based off their primary casting stat.
What say everyone?
Wizards get the advantage because their magic works because they know all the details. They MUST study and learn the ins and outs of magic. Sorcerers just smile at the universe to get their way, divine casters ask the gods for their juice. Yes, they can learn the intricacies of magic (and there are many advantages for them to do so) but it is not key to their power.
The opening line of the spellcraft description says "You are skilled at the art of casting spells, identifying magic items, crafting magic items, and identifying spells as they are being cast." But it is not actually used for your skill at casting. That's either a concentration check, or a straight caster level check. The things it really does are very much INT based.
I don't think other casters are getting "shafted" If they don't dump their INT and invest ranks into spellcraft, they can still be quite good at it. Yes, the INT based casters will be better, but I'm fine with that.
|
I'd be cool with it so long as you handed out freebies to everyone equally. You could just say that every PC gets to sub the ability for one skill with another ability if they want to.
There is also this feat:
"Alternate Key Ability [General] (Source: Tests of Skill v3.5)
This feat allows a character to approach the performance of certain skills in a different way than most people.
Benefit: A character with this feat can substitute one physical or one mental key ability for another for purposes of skill checks. For example, an Expert craftsman could opt to use her Wis score instead of her Int score for skills normally governed by Intelligence, such as Craft and Search. Or, a Rogue might choose to substitute Dex for skills keyed to Str, such as Climb and Swim.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times to affect different combinations of physical or mental ability scores."
I have done this to a limited degree on a few skills that I've consolidated in my skill list.
For instance I've combined Ride and Handle Animal before and for Ride based functions I used Dex + Handle Animal, in the case of empathy/training based function I used Cha + Handle Animal.
Ultimately though I found that solution to be unsatisfactory and have instead gone with Cha + Handle Animal for both training and riding functions. I think a connection with your mount is as least as important as dexterity and honestly it coincides with Charisma focused knight archetypes like the Paladin and Cavalier.
I have done this to a limited degree on a few skills that I've consolidated in my skill list.
For instance I've combined Ride and Handle Animal before and for Ride based functions I used Dex + Handle Animal, in the case of empathy/training based function I used Cha + Handle Animal.
Ultimately though I found that solution to be unsatisfactory and have instead gone with Cha + Handle Animal for both training and riding functions. I think a connection with your mount is as least as important as dexterity and honestly it coincides with Charisma focused knight archetypes like the Paladin and Cavalier.
Interesting take. Do you keep the armor check penalty? IIRC in 3.5 ride was exempt (which was nice for the knight in shining armor) but in pathfinder you take the hit with all other DEX skills.
In the epic level handbook, they talked about letting casters use there primary spell casting attribute for spellcraft, of course this was because of epic level spells.
Interesting take. Do you keep the armor check penalty? IIRC in 3.5 ride was exempt (which was nice for the knight in shining armor) but in pathfinder you take the hit with all other DEX skills.I have done this to a limited degree on a few skills that I've consolidated in my skill list.
For instance I've combined Ride and Handle Animal before and for Ride based functions I used Dex + Handle Animal, in the case of empathy/training based function I used Cha + Handle Animal.
Ultimately though I found that solution to be unsatisfactory and have instead gone with Cha + Handle Animal for both training and riding functions. I think a connection with your mount is as least as important as dexterity and honestly it coincides with Charisma focused knight archetypes like the Paladin and Cavalier.
No ACP, people have been wearing heavy armor and riding horses for ages. I do make it so that people want to have their mounts combat trained though.
The ACP for riding makes sense though, the fact that they did it for ages doesnt mean it shouldnt get a penalty.
On the OP using a different ability for skill checks is fine, I use it on a case by case basis only though. Just like I might use intelligence for initiative on a purely mental action instead of dexterity.