Looking through it i think i found a rather worthless alternate favored class bonus. With the ratfolk one for rogues you trade 1 skill point for 1/2 bonus on escape artist checks seriously? Hows that even make it into a book
It's a bonus that will stack with all of your ranks in a skill, even if you are at the cap.
So, at level 2, a ratfolk with maxed ranks in Escape Artist and this will have +1 extra bonus on this over one that has maxed ranks in Escape Artist but no bonus. By level 4, it'll add +2 over what someone will have.
It breaks caps. Lets you get a higher Escape Artist bonus than if you'd just maxed it without the alternate favored class bonus.
*Shrug.*
It's not entirely worthless. You can have full skill ranks in Escape Artist in addition to the +1/2 bonus per level. So it's good if you want to be truly exceptional at escaping.
I didnt look at it quite like that. I guess its the power gamer in me not seeing the value of losing 1 skill rank or hp for half of a skill
Escape Artist is also one of the ways you can get out of a Grapple.