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The Phantom Thief receives facility with skills that is second to none in exchange for Sneak Attack. This is chiefly the fruit of the Refined Education ability, which they gain at 1st level and says they pick one of their Rogue class skills to which they add 1/2 their class level - shouldn't there be a "(minimum +1)" clause to this? Otherwise, they get the ability at 1st level, but don't get any benefit from it until second level, which feels like a bit of a shortchanging, given both what they gave up for it and the fact that abilities like this include a "minimum +1" clause more often than not.
There are Favored Class Bonuses that are similar. It's not exactly common, but it does show up every now and then.
And the Refined Education ability is not entirely pointless at first level without that minimum -- they do still get those extra class skills.
The Phantom Thief receives facility with skills that is second to none in exchange for Sneak Attack. This is chiefly the fruit of the Refined Education ability, which they gain at 1st level and says they pick one of their Rogue class skills to which they add 1/2 their class level - shouldn't there be a "(minimum +1)" clause to this? Otherwise, they get the ability at 1st level, but don't get any benefit from it until second level, which feels like a bit of a shortchanging, given both what they gave up for it and the fact that abilities like this include a "minimum +1" clause more often than not.
Look at celestial healing once. "Duration 1 round/2 levels" that means that the spell has NO effect if cast at 1st level...
The phantom thief ability seems awesome compared the that spell.
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I won't try to defend celestial healing (it does need a way to be decidedly different from, and not superior to, infernal healing, but what they did was not that great), but I don't think that's a valid comparison.
A normal Rogue's Trapfinding, A Mesmerist's Consummate Liar, a Ranger's Track, Bardic Knowledge, several Wizard School powers...all these things and more include a +1 minimum to give 1st-level characters a much-needed leg-up. It's not a big deal, but I think it's a fair thing to ask for.
I won't try to defend celestial healing (it does need a way to be decidedly different from, and not superior to, infernal healing, but what they did was not that great), but I don't think that's a valid comparison.
A normal Rogue's Trapfinding, A Mesmerist's Consummate Liar, a Ranger's Track, Bardic Knowledge, several Wizard School powers...all these things and more include a +1 minimum to give 1st-level characters a much-needed leg-up. It's not a big deal, but I think it's a fair thing to ask for.
The thing is there are abilities floating around that DON'T list a minimum. Just because the majority do doesn't mean the one in question is incorrect.
Counterfeit Mage "Magical Expertise (Ex): At 1st level, a counterfeit mage adds 1/2 his level to Disable Device checks to disarm magical traps, Perception checks to find magical traps, and Use Magic Device checks to activate scrolls and wands. A counterfeit mage can use Disable Device to disarm magic traps." ACG
False Medium "Dim the Lights (Ex): At 1st level, while in dim light or darkness, a false medium adds 1/2 his rogue level as a bonus on Bluff, Disguise, and Sleight of Hand checks, and creatures without low-light vision or darkvision take an equal penalty on skill checks to oppose the false medium’s Bluff, Disguise, and Sleight of Hand checks. This ability replaces trapfinding." Occult book
Okeno Liberator "Bond Breaker (Ex): An Okeno liberator adds 1/2 her class level to Escape Artist checks, and never takes a penalty on Disable Device checks when using improvised tools to open locks." Inner Sea Combat
three book that have rogue archetypes with NO minimum of similar abilities using a fraction per level to skills. Add the archetype in question and you have 4 books with these types of archetypes.
Okay, but what's your point? Do you oppose my suggestion that Phantom Thieves get a minimum +1 bonus to their Refined Education skills? I'd see nothing wrong with applying such a thing to the counterexamples you mention as well.
My point is that it's not unheard of to NOT have a minimum. In fact, it's happened several times over several books. As such, there is no indication that it's incorrect for Phantom Thieves. And as pointed out above, the ability still does something at 1st without providing a bonus.
Secondly, I see no big disruption of the game to have abilities like this as we're only talking about a single bonus point at 1st level on a skill. It seems like it's a bit of a 'making a mountain out of a mole hill'. Even if the default was a minimum and the ones out there are an error, I can't see the real tangible gain from fixing them. There are plenty of things in the game that truly need fixing so something like this seems fine.
So I'm not opposed to a minimum for these kinds of abilities I just hope they spend their time better than 'fixing' a problem that's really not an issue.
Yeah there is precedent for abilities with no minimum but on the other hand, Phantom Thief has probably the worst level 1 in the game. It's got a great skill list, sure, but beyond that? D8 0 BAB 2 reflex and no other class features with limited weapon options and light armor only. That's pretty darn terrible and having something, even if that something is as limited as +1 to one skill, would be at least kinda nice.
Yeah, it (and abilities like it) should totally have a minimum of +1.
Otherwise, why not just say you get it at 2nd-level? FAQ'd.
And the Refined Education ability is not entirely pointless at first level without that minimum -- they do still get those extra class skills.
Which is multiple times a +3 bonus, if the phantom thief invests a few of their many ranks accordingly. At least Heal can be nice as a class skill at level 1 (makes stabilize checks easier), and you can't always rely on a wizard to do the Knowledge checks.