[Making the Rogue relevant]: Hybrid 3.5/Pathfinder skill system. (Opinions Wanted)
The revised skill system in Pathfinder at first seemed like a welcome idea. It greatly simplified the number of skills in the game, seemed to eliminate redundant skills, and gave every class a fair chance at being good in the cross class skill category. Yet over time it seems that this simplification went too far. One particular issue was that of the Rogue, the 3.5 skill monkey, who, in Pathfinder, seems to have been made irrelevant due to the low cost of cross class skills, coupled with the reduction in the number of skills in the game, and the fact that certain skills (Disable Device) were made useable by any class.
So here are some thoughts I've had.
-What if we went back to a larger skill list like in 3.5 but with some important changes
So here is the "Why behind my reasoning"
-In 3.5 the sheer number of skills made the rogue necessary. While other classes had certain skills they could be good at, only the Rogue had the sheer number of skill points needed to be good at almost every field required to do his job proficiently. Also the separation of certain skills made more sense when these skills were assigned to different classes.
-I believe that Pathfinder fixed the problem with skills when they revised how class skills worked, the cross class skill cost, and the cross class skill rank system. This is why I believe that keeping the Pathfinder skill point per level system is better than reverting to the 3.5 system.
-I also appreciated the removal of the Concentration skill in Pathfinder and making it more of a level check for casters. This did free up valuable skill points for NON-Int-based casters.
So here is an example of the revised skill list:
Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Disable Device (includes Open Lock), Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Graphology (Decipher Script & Forgery), Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (all), Move Silently, Linguistics, Perception (Listen, Search, Spot), Perform, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spell Craft, Survival, Swim, Tumble, Use Magic Device, Use Rope.
*Please note that certain skills did remain grouped where they made sense.
*Like I said use the PF skill points per level. So a Fighter still gets 2+Int at each level.
Let me know what you think of this idea.
Rogue is relevant, just not required. The same way a cleric isn't required, or a wizard for the matter. Rogue is one if my favorite classes, and there are so many ways to play it. I don't believe revising the skills list will accomplish what you think it will.