Pathfinder needs new uses for Skill Points

[Morbius X]

Lately I have been feeling that the skill point use in Pathfinder is really redundant. A lot of PCs are just high in Intelligence and good in the same set of skills (Acrobatics, Perception, Spellcraft, Stealth, UMD) and it is really boring.

It only gets interesting if PCs actually spend the points on Crafts, Professions, and Perform checks.

The problem is, a lot of these skills have limited uses. Maybe if Paizo continued to release new uses for the skills, there'd be reason to branch to skills hardly ever taken such as Climb, Swim etc. (especially the skills that are always overcome by low level magic such as Climb and Swim). Maybe if Perform could do things other than be only useful for Bards and make very little cash would help enhance gameplay.

Another interesting thing is I don't see why Paizo couldn't release a new set of rules similar to WotC's Skill Trick system introduced in Complete Scoundrel. The Skill Trick system was an awesome way to spend skill points for the PCs to perform 1/encounter tricks that were really useful when needed.

Something I think Paizo should consider, and should have considered long ago.

[Liz Courts]

Rite Publishing released 101 New Skill Uses for Pathfinder that you might be interested in.

[Rynjin]

As well, more classes having something unique they can do with certain skills, or Feats that do the same would be cool.

Like how the Bard has Versatile Performance, giving a use to the Perform skills, or how Snake Style makes Sense Motive have a nifty in-combat usage.

[Ascalaphus]

I also like how Acrobatics 3 ranks gives you a boost to full defense. It might be nice to do more stuff like that for the other skills as well. Maybe give always-Take-10 to Climb and Swim at a certain number of ranks, and higher speeds? At a certain point your Climb speed is good enough that free climbing vs. expending a fly spell becomes a real choice instead of a no-brainer.