Skill Focus, no skill ranks given

[Glord Funkelhand]

I have a question regarding Skill Focus

Quote:

Skill Focus

Choose a skill. You are particularly adept at that skill.

Benefit: You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving the chosen skill. If you have 10 or more ranks in that skill, this bonus increases to +6.

I think that means that I could get the feat for a skill I have no ranks in (yet).

But what happens, if the skill can only be used trained? Can I use the skill, or not?

I know, it's a pretty academic question. I just have a low level char with not that many skill points but an open feat slot...

[Lifat]

Yes you can take the feat for a skill in which you have no skill ranks.
No you cannot use said "trained only" skill without any ranks in it, even with this feat.
As a GM I might be willing to houserule that having skill focus counted as being trained in the skill, but RAW it doesn't.

[Claxon]

I don't think the designers thought anyone would bother taking skill focus for a skill they didn't have any ranks in.

[Glord Funkelhand]

Yeah, I think it's a pretty strange thing to do. Not even sure if it's a clever idea myself :)

[claudekennilol]

It's not clever if you're trying to use a skill that requires training as then you still won't be able to use it as you're not trained in it.

[Gaberlunzie]

Depending on your exact level and exactly what you want to do, you might want to look at the Cosmopolitan feat. If you're heavy into mental skills and linguistics, it might give you 8 points worth of skills instead of 3 to 6.

[Glord Funkelhand]

Wow! Cosmopolitan is pretty awesome!
Thanks a lot!