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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keldryn" data-source="post: 5572824" data-attributes="member: 11999">I see this as taking RC/BECMI D&D and applying modern game design to it.  Frankly, that's what I was hoping that 4th Edition would be -- the modern design sensibilities of 3rd Edition stripped down and used to build a leaner, more streamlined D&D game.I've considered lifting the 4e skill system directly for a B/X D&D game, but I think that's overkill and it also treads on the thief's niche.  One could simply fold the skill system into an ability check system, using some of the 4e skills as examples.  Set DCs for easy/medium/hard/heroic and use the relevant ability score bonus as the check modifier (5/10/15/20 come to mind, but those might be too high when the modifiers only run -3 to +3).  If the character's established background could reasonably provide a benefit then the DM could allow a +1 to +3 bonus (e.g. an elf or hunter might gain a +3 bonus to Wisdom checks made to track a deer or forage for food).  A similar bonus could be applied if the check is relevant to the character's class (e.g. a magic-user could receive a +3 bonus to Intelligence checks made when knowledge of arcane lore might be useful, and a cleric would receive a +3 bonus to Intelligence checks when trying to identify a holy symbol found tattooed to the dead assassin).This doesn't allow for general experience to have an effect on the check, but it's simple.  The general skills in the Rules Cyclopedia and Gazetteer series allow for additional slots to be spent on an individual skill in order to receive a +1 "specialization" bonus, and that could be used here.  Every 3 or 4 levels, a character could have the opportunity to specialize in a type of ability check, such as "Ride" (+1 to Dexterity checks to ride a mount).I haven't actually tried this in play yet, but it's an alternative to rolling under an ability score, which is a bit clunky to modern eyes.</blockquote>

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