Skill Expertise (Bluff) and Improved Feint (Soldier / Envoy Multiclass)

[Gromlak]

I created an SFS Soldier with typical Soldier stats with a Dex focus. His second scenario was the Solar Sortie and I role played him as a face despite his lack of skills (the rest of the party were Technomancers and Mechanics). I enjoyed playing him as a deceptive type, so when he gained 2nd level, I rebuilt him with the Space Pirate theme so he has Bluff as a class skill. I gave him a 16 Charisma and chose Improved Feint as a feat.

I didn't want to make him an Operative or an Envoy; I wanted him to be a twitchy Soldier with a glib smile who lies as easily as breathing.

He just earned his 4th level and I am now considering a level of Envoy to access other skills and get Skill Expertise. My specific question is this: Can I use Skill Expertise (Bluff) for the skill check for Improved Feint? I don't see anything that says I can't, but want to check in case I am challenged during Society play. If I can use Skill Expertise, I have a +13 and a +1d6 to Feint as a Move action, for a minimum of +14, which means at level 4 I have a 50% chance to Feint a CR6 creature!

I know it's not maximized, but I'm not looking to build a Spy Operative or a straight up Envoy. I just wanted to give my Soldier some flavor. Since I wrote more than necessary, the question again:

Can I use Skill Expertise (Bluff) for the skill check for Improved Feint?

[Nyerkh]

I don't see why not.
Nothing in the ability limits it to certain applications only. Which makes sense, considering Envoys can invest quite a bit in feinting.

Although if I may, if that d6 bonus is all you want out of Envoy, Skill Feats could be enough, and Soldiers can spare a feat or two.

[Gromlak]

Nyerkh wrote:

I don't see why not.

Nothing in the ability limits it to certain applications only. Which makes sense, considering Envoys can invest quite a bit in feinting.

Although if I may, if that d6 bonus is all you want out of Envoy, Skill Feats could be enough, and Soldiers can spare a feat or two.

True!

I already burned a feat on Skill Focus for Bluff, but I also wanted access to Culture, Diplomacy, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Perception, etc., without burning feats for Skill Synergy. I lose 1 combat feat but gain the equivalent of multiple Skill Synergy feats. Again, this build isn't optimized numerically, and I may go straight Soldier until 5th level, but wanted to make sure I was correct about stacking Skill Expertise with Improved Feint.

But thank you for weighing in and responding, I truly appreciate it!

[Nyerkh]

Oh, it's not a bad idea.

A bunch of class skills, expertise in two and a single improvisation isn't a bad trade for a slightly delayed soldier progression.
There are even a couple improvs that are both non-level dependent and interesting. Not the ones a pure Envoy would prioritize first, maybe, but very relevant to a build like yours

[Helvellyn]

Although not related to your initial post, and I might have misinterpreted your other post, but if you have skill focus (Bluff) that isn't going to stack with the Envoy expertise. Both are insight bonuses so only the highest will apply. Although this might be what you were after (effectively guaranteeing at least +3 even if you roll a 1 or 2 on your expertise die while it is still at only 1d6).