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So, sorcerers are stated to be trained in a number of skills equal to 5 + INT mod. However, there's a matter I'm unsure of how to handle, and it's in the section on how to read a bloodline entry.
Reading a Bloodline Entry
A bloodline entry contains the following information.
Spell List: You use this magical tradition and spell list.
Bloodline Signature Skills: You are trained in the listed skills and add them to your signature skills.
Emphasis mine. So, am I trained in 5 + INT mod skills, AND the bloodline signature skills? Or do I just get 5 + INT mod skills, and the bloodline signature skills are among those options? What is effectively 9 + INT mod trained skills is a lot for a sorcerer...
Yeah this is highly strange. A couple other classes like cleric and druid get a free proficiency too, and I wonder if it’s supposed to be included in their base number? So like the cleric 5+Int really means 4+domain+Int? But then sorcerer means 1+bloodline+Int which is a lot less choice than other classes ...
It is very oddly worded. If it is the case that those four skills you get from bloodline take up four of the trained skills for your class, then either the class sidebar or bloodline section need something to reflect that.
Trained and signature are distinct concepts.
Basically, signature skills have no affect on your character at all until 7th level. (unforeseen exceptions may apply)
The main reason this is confusing is because the character creation section doesn't mention signature skills, and even the class section on page 43 rather glosses over them.*
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You can be trained in any skills you like (exceptions: clerics and druids (maybe others) get one assigned based on deity/order).
Signature skills are skills where you can surpass 'expert' rank at 7th level using your skill increases gained at odd levels.
So as a first level sorcerer, you have 5 trained skills (selected however you like), and the signature skills of Crafting + whatever your bloodline says).
At 3rd level you can raise one of your existing skills to expert, or make a new skill trained. Same for 5th level.
At 7th level, if one of your signature skills is already expert, you can raise it to master. Or raise a trained skill to expert or make an untrained skill trained. This is true for 9th, 11th and 13th level. Non-signature skills can't be raised past expert.
At 15th level, you can make a master skill legendary, again assuming it is a signature skill. Or you can raise a different signature skill to master, or other skills to expert or trained. Same at 17th and 19th.
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* The class entry on page 43 barely mentions them beyond, 'trained skills and signature skills should probably be the same.'
This actually doesn't matter as long as you have a couple signature skills at expert when you hit 7th level, preferably 4, so you can start raising them to master in turn. (7th, 9th, 11th, 13th), then you can turn around and raise three of your master skills to legendary at 15th, 17th, 19th.
That's not the problem. Each bloodline says that they are both signature skills AND trained for you. Under Reading a Bloodline Entry:
Bloodline Signature Skills: You are trained in the listed
skills and add them to your signature skills.
Ah. I skipped over that as 'Bloodline Signature Skills' seemed self-explanatory. Yeah, that's an issue.
I'd hope the FAQ solution is delete the trained part, and they're just signature skills.
Even though Sorcerers get 9+int in skills, this is only at first level. No mention of trained skills in bloodline becoming expert skills when you get your first skill increase or it increasing every time. So I take it as 9+int in skills, but future skill increases in it is 5+int.
Now look at it. 9+int at first level. 5+int at 3rd level. 5+int at 5th level. Averages out to 6.33+int per increase at 5th level.
Now take it to level 11. Averages out to 5.66+int per increase at 11th level.
I'm hoping the FAQ solution is you are trained in 9+int skills but only at first level, more power to the sorcerers.
I'm talking training in more skills or making them an expert.
When you hit level 3, you can train 5 more skills or make trained skills into expert. At 1st level you train in 9+int skills+background. But at 3rd level, you only train in 5+int skills. Or make 5+int skills into expert. Same with 5th level.
Your bloodline automatically makes you trained in certain skills at first level. Your bloodline skills don't automatically hit expert or master.
My wording was a little off, but yes, all skills increase every level. You train skills or turn them into expert every odd numbered level.
Being a 3.5 and 1 E Pathfinder player where it is 5+int every level, I missed the part that says ONE, I still have plenty of time to fix my 5th level character.
Edit: 5th Level Sorcerer fixed.