| Have you checked the new Appraise?
It's now the primary factor in Identifying magic items. 3 rounds and a successful check and you know the magical abilities of the item.
Identify gives a +10 to the Appraise check, but the DC is on a scaling difficulty... DC 20 is for anything 1001g to 5000g items, and it gets worse from there.
So having ranks in Appraise could be fairly useful to the group.
Heck, a Rogue could get Detect Magic with his Minor Magic ability, and then pump ranks into Appraise and be the group's Identifier.
With this kind of useability, I don't see it needing to be folded into any other skill. It would make "Observe" a bit too strong if you ask me.
Also, knowing prices on things is a bit more than just "noticing" something, it requires a bit of back knowledge of value of items... It doesn't fit like Disable Device being a Dex skill.
Lastly, regarding changing these skills.
Perception: I can see this kind of change working. It makes the distinction between actively searching for something, and the "Surprise!" factor.
Appraise: Well, you have my take on that up there.
Linguistics: I think languages need to be redone anyways. Make this skill about trying to speak/read a language you don't know, and then have a new mechanic for complicated skill checks in learning fluency in a language (and then adding to the list).
Disable Device: I can see the reason for both sides of this problem. Actually disabling a device requires manual dexterity... however knowing how a trap works requires Intelligence. For sake of reducing skills I'm still in favoring of mixing with Open Locks.
Ride/Handle Animal: Maybe the best way to handle this one is to make the skill use for general/simple things with an animal. Someone who knows how to ride a horse well, knows how to calm them, etc.
Perhaps the training animals aspect would work best as a feat enhancing this skill. Classes that should have the feat (Ranger and Druid) would get it for free, etc. |