I have been kicking around an idea for a variant skill system. I would appreciate some feedback. It works as follows:
At creation, each character gets a number of skills equal to their class’ number of skill points plus their intelligence modifier (plus one for humans). They have maximum ranks in these skills. They then choose a number of skills equal to their class’ number of skill points and receive those as skills. They have half (rounding down) maximum skill ranks in these skills. Characters are allowed to choose 2 skills not from their list and consider them as class skills. One can be at max the other at ½ max
Joe the Fighter (INT 12 (+1), Human) Chooses Climb, Jump, Swim, Survival (NON-class skill) (4 ranks each), and Ride and Intimidate (2 ranks each)
Characters that multi-class get skills equal to the class with the larger allotment of skill points. When multi-classing, maxed skills are figured from the time that a character took his first level in a class.
If Joe were to add a level of Ranger at 3rd level, He would get 8 skills at max (6 for ranger, +1 for INT, +1 for human) and 6 skills at half max. He could choose from the fighter and ranger list for available skills. Skills he already possesses would be maxed at 6 ranks, new skills added for ranger would be maxed at 4, and all half skills would be at 3 ranks regardless if he had them at creation or added them through maulti-classing.
Characters can change a half max skill to a max skill. The max skill cannot be advanced afterwards until the rank in that skill is equal to half the max. If a skill is changed in this manner, another cannot be changed on a consecutive leveling.
At 3rd level, Joe decides to make Ride a max skill in exchange for Jump. Jump would stay at 5 (its rank at second level) and Ride would bump up to 6. Joe could not improve his Jump skill again until his max skill rank reached 10. Furthermore, he would not be able to change a max skill in this manner again until he reached 5th level.
Languages are not purchased using skill points. A character can start with with his native tongue, plus bonus languages, plus a number equal to intelligence bonus. Thereafter, any new language must be learned from someone fluent in that language or by some other approved means and is considered a role playing exercise, or to happen during downtime.
At creation, each character gets a number of skills equal to their class’ number of skill points plus their intelligence modifier (plus one for humans). They have maximum ranks in these skills. They then choose a number of skills equal to their class’ number of skill points and receive those as skills. They have half (rounding down) maximum skill ranks in these skills. Characters are allowed to choose 2 skills not from their list and consider them as class skills. One can be at max the other at ½ max
Joe the Fighter (INT 12 (+1), Human) Chooses Climb, Jump, Swim, Survival (NON-class skill) (4 ranks each), and Ride and Intimidate (2 ranks each)
Characters that multi-class get skills equal to the class with the larger allotment of skill points. When multi-classing, maxed skills are figured from the time that a character took his first level in a class.
If Joe were to add a level of Ranger at 3rd level, He would get 8 skills at max (6 for ranger, +1 for INT, +1 for human) and 6 skills at half max. He could choose from the fighter and ranger list for available skills. Skills he already possesses would be maxed at 6 ranks, new skills added for ranger would be maxed at 4, and all half skills would be at 3 ranks regardless if he had them at creation or added them through maulti-classing.
Characters can change a half max skill to a max skill. The max skill cannot be advanced afterwards until the rank in that skill is equal to half the max. If a skill is changed in this manner, another cannot be changed on a consecutive leveling.
At 3rd level, Joe decides to make Ride a max skill in exchange for Jump. Jump would stay at 5 (its rank at second level) and Ride would bump up to 6. Joe could not improve his Jump skill again until his max skill rank reached 10. Furthermore, he would not be able to change a max skill in this manner again until he reached 5th level.
Languages are not purchased using skill points. A character can start with with his native tongue, plus bonus languages, plus a number equal to intelligence bonus. Thereafter, any new language must be learned from someone fluent in that language or by some other approved means and is considered a role playing exercise, or to happen during downtime.
