So, I'm going to be running a 20-point buy game pretty soon and I was wondering about the skill ranks given every level. My question is this: if a PC in my game is a fighter, who gets 2+INT Mod skill ranks per level, with an INT score of 8, does that mean he gets 1 rank at first level due to the -1 INT Mod or does he at least get two, no matter the ability mod? I'm probably going to house rule it so that they would either way, but I still would like to know what the official rule would be.
He would only get 1. This can be proven by reverse engineering some of the animals in the bestiary, or any other low int creature.
Hmmmm? What about the bonus skill point for being human? If that Int 8 fighter was a human, he would have two skill points, certainly. But what if he was Int 7? Would be it 1 or does he still have two?
And does favored class bonus add on top of that?
MA
Do note that a human will receive a minimum of 2 skill points however (1 point from his class, 1 point for being human), instead of 1 like all other races.
The human bonus skill point and the favored class option are above and beyond what your class and intelligence give you. They are bonus skill ranks.
I see no ambiguity in the rules.
Intelligence (Int)
Intelligence determines how well your character learns and reasons. This ability is important for wizards because it affects their spellcasting ability in many ways. Creatures of animal-level instinct have Intelligence scores of 1 or 2. Any creature capable of understanding speech has a score of at least 3. A character with an Intelligence score of 0 is comatose. Some creatures do not possess an Intelligence score. Their modifier is +0 for any Intelligence-based skills or checks.
You apply your character's Intelligence modifier to:
The number of bonus languages your character knows at the start of the game. These are in addition to any starting racial languages and Common. If you have a penalty, you can still read and speak your racial languages unless your Intelligence is lower than 3.
The number of skill points gained each level, though your character always gets at least 1 skill point per level.
Appraise , Craft , Knowledge , Linguistics , and Spellcraft checks.
A wizard gains bonus spells based on his Intelligence score. The minimum Intelligence score needed to cast a wizard spell is 10 + the spell's level.
Table: Skill Ranks
Class Skill Ranks per Level
Barbarian 4 + Int modifier
Bard 6 + Int modifier
Cleric 2 + Int modifier
Druid 4 + Int modifier
Fighter 2 + Int modifier
Monk 4 + Int modifier
Paladin 2 + Int modifier
Ranger 6 + Int modifier
Rogue 8 + Int modifier
Sorcerer 2 + Int modifier
Wizard 2 + Int modifierThe number of skill ranks you gain when taking a level in one of the base classes is shown on Table: Skill Ranks. Humans gain 1 additional skill rank per class level. Characters who take a level in a favored class have the option of gaining 1 additional skill rank or an additional hit point . If you select a level in a new class, all of its class skills are automatically added to your list of class skills, and you gain a +3 bonus on these skills if you have ranks in them.
You get X+Int modifier per level, with a minimum of 1. Importantly, favoured class and human bonus skill ranks per level factor in after the minimum of 1 calculation, so it is possible for a human with Int 3 to still get 3 ranks per level.
Edit: scooped.
Okay. Thanks for the clarification. I'm still going to house rule it, but it's nice to know that for future reference.