Falling Icicle
Adventurer
I think that characters in 5e should get a number of bonus skills equal to their Intelligence bonus. This would be a one-time bonus, not every level, and I wouldn't have characters lose skills for having an Int below 10. Here's a a few of my thoughts on the matter:
* I don't think characters in 5e get enough skills. They've just said that backgrounds will now grant 4 skills instead of 3, but IMO that's still not enough to make well rounded characters. They also said they might make skills even narrower than they are now.
* Intelligence right now is a very under used ability. I have yet to see a single instance of an Int saving throw, for example. Unless you're playing a wizard, there's little reason to have a high Intelligence score. Gaining bonus skills will make Int desired for all classes, the way all ability scores should be. People should respect the genius fighter, not mock him for "wasting" his points or good score on Int.
* If you worry that wizards will have more skills than rogues, don't. With Rogues getting two backgrounds (for 8 skills), the Rogue would have to have a 10 Int and the Wizard a 20 in order for the wizard to have more skills (and even then it would be only one more). Besides, I don't really see this as a problem. Even back in AD&D wizards got more non-weapon proficiencies than any other class, even rogues!
* To those who worry that this will make Int too valuable compared to the other abilities, I don't think it will. Having 1-5 narrow areas that grant you a +3 bonus is not as valuable as having a good score in another ability and being good at everything that ability covers. This just helps put Int on the same playing field with the other abilities.
* I don't think characters in 5e get enough skills. They've just said that backgrounds will now grant 4 skills instead of 3, but IMO that's still not enough to make well rounded characters. They also said they might make skills even narrower than they are now.
* Intelligence right now is a very under used ability. I have yet to see a single instance of an Int saving throw, for example. Unless you're playing a wizard, there's little reason to have a high Intelligence score. Gaining bonus skills will make Int desired for all classes, the way all ability scores should be. People should respect the genius fighter, not mock him for "wasting" his points or good score on Int.
* If you worry that wizards will have more skills than rogues, don't. With Rogues getting two backgrounds (for 8 skills), the Rogue would have to have a 10 Int and the Wizard a 20 in order for the wizard to have more skills (and even then it would be only one more). Besides, I don't really see this as a problem. Even back in AD&D wizards got more non-weapon proficiencies than any other class, even rogues!
* To those who worry that this will make Int too valuable compared to the other abilities, I don't think it will. Having 1-5 narrow areas that grant you a +3 bonus is not as valuable as having a good score in another ability and being good at everything that ability covers. This just helps put Int on the same playing field with the other abilities.