Replacing Concentration skill with Will save

[whydirt]

This frees up a skill for spellcasters, but in the new game I'm planning my only spellcaster is a toned down version of the generic spellcaster class from UA. I'm trying to simplify the skill list a bit, which likely includes combining the pairs of hide/move silently and listen/spot.

Thoughts?

 

[raineym]

Instead of simplifying the skill list, increase the base skill points per level. It's a hell of a lot easier than combining skills.

 

[Cyberzombie]

Well, if you're using a generic spellcaster, I see no reason not to use the Will save. That would be a benefit for the "normal" spellcasters, but there's no reason not to free up the skill points for other skills. Or you could fold the ability into Spellcraft -- after all, concentrating on a spell in combat would be part of spell craft. Whatever works best for you.

 

[Baronovan]

Spellcraft is bordering on a redundancy anyway. Almost everything you can do with Spellcraft you could pull of with a Knowledge (arcana/religion) check. Spellcraft could be used for:

•Concentration checks. Eliminates the ambiguity between the two skills at the same time sparing Epic spellcasters (sorcerers in particular) the frustration of needing so many high skill ranks in Spellcraft when they've been trying to make sure they can cast defensively for the past 20-some-odd levels.
•Synergy bonus to caster level. Saps the skill points for ever and anon, but removes the need for spending feats on the nigh useless Spell Focus chain. Keeping this at max ranks balances caster level against the Fighter's Focus line. I don't feel this is a disadvantage for Fighters since their only real class ability is feats.

 

[Cyberzombie]

Good points, Baronovan. I think they threw in Spellcraft mainly to have something else for wizards to spend skill points on. Which is hardly necessary, since they have to buy Hide, Move Silently, and Spot as cross-class skills, anyway.

I'll have to think about the synergy bonus. I certainly agree on the uselessness of Spell Focus -- especially in 3.5 -- but I don't know if adding that might make Spellcraft *too* useful...

 

[Baronovan]

You may have a point there, Cyberzombie. Suppose there is only one feat for Spell Focus? It would allow you to add your synergy bonus derived from Spellcraft to your caster level. That might mitigate some balance into the situation while saving spellcasters one a fet or two.

 

[Cyberzombie]

Hmm. That has some possibilities. I'd have to see an exact wording on it, but that could work...

 

[milo]

If I were to implement the Spellcraft synergy w/ Spell Focus I would leave spell focus as is except make a prereg of being a specialist wizard of the school of magic the focus is taken for. Give a +1 bonus at 5 ranks, +2 at 15, +3 at 45. Possibly leave Greater Spell Focus in so if they want to they can spend two feats for a better boost. To open this up to sorcs and bards make it possible for them to take a specialty class w/ no other bonus than to take this feat and they only need to give up one other school.

 

[Baronovan]

How's this, then?:

Spell Focus [General]
You are especially adept at spellcasting.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast 1st-level spells.
Benefits: Add your synergy bonus from having ranks in Spellcraft to your caster level checks. This also affects the numeric effects of a spell (such as damage, duration, number of targets, etc.)
Special: Having high ranks in Spellcraft garners a higher synergy bonus. For every 20 ranks above 5, increase the synergy bonus granted from Spellcraft by +2 (i.e. +4 at 25 ranks, +6 at 45 ranks, etc.). For example, as a 2nd level cleric with this feat, Natalie gains her synergy bonus of +2 to her effective caster level for having 5 ranks in Spellcraft. At 26th level, Natalie gains a +4 synergy bonus to her effective caster level for having more than 25 ranks in Spellcraft.

 

[RisnDevil]

Don't synergy bonuses go off a multiple other than 20? Why not just leave the bonus to caster level equal to the synergy bonus? Do you think that is too much?