SteveC
Doing the best imitation of myself
Here is my variant for the skill system in the Star Wars Saga Edition. These rules make characters less competent overall, but allow you to be better in what you decide are the core skills for In the Saga Steve Variant (SSV) you represent knowledge and experience with a skill by spending skill points or SP.
Starting Skill Points
Starting characters receive 10 SP plus three additional three SP for each skill they would have received under the traditional system. Any time you take a feat, talent, receive a class ability, or increase your Intelligence score to receive an additional trained skill, you receive three additional SP.
Example
A human scoundrel with Int 15 receives 10 (base) + 12 (4 trained skills as a scoundrel) + 6 (2 trained skills for Int 14) + 3 (1 trained skill for being human) = 31. If this character improves his Int to 16 upon reaching fourth level, he would receive an additional trained skill. In SSV, he receives three additional SP instead, giving him a total of 34.
Spending Skill Points
You can spend SP to study a skill in three ways, with a fourth option at your GM’s discretion.
Skill Familiarity
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: None.
For one SP you may study the basics of a skill. Once you have done so, you receive a bonus on all checks with the skill equal to one-half your character level, rounded down. The skill you select does not need to be a class skill for you to purchase familiarity with it.
Special: selecting skill familiarity with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the familiarity applies to. You may select skill familiarity with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Proficiency
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: Skill familiarity with selected skill, skill must be a class skill for you.
Once you have become familiar with a particular skill, you may spend an additional SP to become proficient in its use. In order to select skill proficiency in a skill, it must be one of your class skills. Skill proficiency allows you to make skill checks that have “Trained Only” as a prerequisite for the skill you select.
Special: selecting skill proficiency with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the proficiency applies to. You may select skill proficiency with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Training
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: Skill proficiency with selected skill.
The final step in training a particular skill, skill training allows you to spend a SP to become fully trained in the skill’s use. In order to train a particular skill, you must already have proficiency with it. Skill training gives you a +5 bonus in all checks with the skill. Record a “+5” on your character sheet under the trained modifier in the skills section.
Special: selecting skill training with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the training applies to. You may select skill training with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Emphasis [Optional]
Cost: 6 SP
Prerequisites: Skill training with selected skill.
At the GM’s option, you may continue to study a particular skill after you have trained in it. Spend six SP to gain the Skill Focus feat for the selected skill. Choosing skill emphasis allows you to become an expert in a skill, at the cost of much of the rest of your training. Since skill emphasis gives you the benefits of the skill focus feat, it does not stack with that feat as it applies to a particular skill.
Special: selecting skill emphasis with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the emphasis applies to. You may select skill emphasis with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Well, what do you think?
--Steve
Starting Skill Points
Starting characters receive 10 SP plus three additional three SP for each skill they would have received under the traditional system. Any time you take a feat, talent, receive a class ability, or increase your Intelligence score to receive an additional trained skill, you receive three additional SP.
Example
A human scoundrel with Int 15 receives 10 (base) + 12 (4 trained skills as a scoundrel) + 6 (2 trained skills for Int 14) + 3 (1 trained skill for being human) = 31. If this character improves his Int to 16 upon reaching fourth level, he would receive an additional trained skill. In SSV, he receives three additional SP instead, giving him a total of 34.
Spending Skill Points
You can spend SP to study a skill in three ways, with a fourth option at your GM’s discretion.
Skill Familiarity
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: None.
For one SP you may study the basics of a skill. Once you have done so, you receive a bonus on all checks with the skill equal to one-half your character level, rounded down. The skill you select does not need to be a class skill for you to purchase familiarity with it.
Special: selecting skill familiarity with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the familiarity applies to. You may select skill familiarity with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Proficiency
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: Skill familiarity with selected skill, skill must be a class skill for you.
Once you have become familiar with a particular skill, you may spend an additional SP to become proficient in its use. In order to select skill proficiency in a skill, it must be one of your class skills. Skill proficiency allows you to make skill checks that have “Trained Only” as a prerequisite for the skill you select.
Special: selecting skill proficiency with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the proficiency applies to. You may select skill proficiency with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Training
Cost: 1 SP
Prerequisites: Skill proficiency with selected skill.
The final step in training a particular skill, skill training allows you to spend a SP to become fully trained in the skill’s use. In order to train a particular skill, you must already have proficiency with it. Skill training gives you a +5 bonus in all checks with the skill. Record a “+5” on your character sheet under the trained modifier in the skills section.
Special: selecting skill training with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the training applies to. You may select skill training with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Skill Emphasis [Optional]
Cost: 6 SP
Prerequisites: Skill training with selected skill.
At the GM’s option, you may continue to study a particular skill after you have trained in it. Spend six SP to gain the Skill Focus feat for the selected skill. Choosing skill emphasis allows you to become an expert in a skill, at the cost of much of the rest of your training. Since skill emphasis gives you the benefits of the skill focus feat, it does not stack with that feat as it applies to a particular skill.
Special: selecting skill emphasis with Knowledge requires you to pick a field of study that the emphasis applies to. You may select skill emphasis with Knowledge more than once, each time selecting a different field of study.
Well, what do you think?
--Steve
