One of the things I like to play with is balancing alternative in a class – and creating custom classes.
What do the Lords of the Board think of the following trade for Bards:
Trade Bardic Knowledge for an additional 2 skill points per level.
Personally I think an extra 2 skill points is a little weak.
Bardic knowledge is a unique class feature that covers all kinds of random trivia that can at the right moment be used to great effectivness.
My prime example of this is when the DM calls for a knowledge arcanna check and you role a 2. Unless the check is ridiculusly simple your going to fail and there are no rerolls on knowledge checks so you could be missing some pretty vital intel because of a low role.
Here comes the bard or in my case a cloistered cleric with a bard check to see if there are any stories, legends or anything like that associated with the topic.
the bardic knowledge check is the fail safe against low roles for the knowledge skills when failing could be disaterous.
Extra skill points are a good idea but I have gamed with too many players that will put all their points in non class related skills because thye think that those skills are more useful.
Prime example a 5th level cleric with no ranks in knowledge religion,planes,the heal skill or diplomacy but max ranks in spot,intimidate and appraise(player wanted the best loot)
unless you say"these points are extra but only for skills X,Y&Z" you could face the same problem.
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The treatment of bardic knowledge as being useful as a substitute for any possible knowledge skill has gained an inertia that is fairly robust. However, as written, bardic knowledge has limited scope (local notable people, legendary items, noteworthy places).
Bardic knowledge is one of the hallmark class abilities for bards. 8 skill points puts it at the same level of rogue, which is a bit of a sacred cow. If all that class distinction isn't important for you, 2 points is probably reasonable in comparison to how the ability is written. 2 points is not sufficient as the ability is normally used.