Pathfinder 1E Confused on Some Character Creation Mechanics

[TabletopAndroid]

So what skill are you going to choose for your skill focus feat?

Hmm, I wonder if I'm reading this feat correctly. Based on the text below I thought each time you use this feat you can choose a different skill to apply it to? So; my thinking is to use it whenever it's necessary.

You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new skill.

d20pfsrd[dot]com/feats/general-feats/skill-focus---final

 

[knottyprof]

Hmm, I wonder if I'm reading this feat correctly. Based on the text below I thought each time you use this feat you can choose a different skill to apply it to? So; my thinking is to use it whenever it's necessary.


d20pfsrd[dot]com/feats/general-feats/skill-focus---final

Confusing use with actually learning more feats. A.K.A gaining a feat is when you learn a new one versus using a feat which is limited to the skill you chose for the feat when you gained (i.e. learned or acquired) the feat.

Thus, you must choose a particular skill for the feat when you choose to gain the feat and if you decide take the feat at a higher level then you must choose another skill for that particular usage.

 

[Nagol]

Hmm, I wonder if I'm reading this feat correctly. Based on the text below I thought each time you use this feat you can choose a different skill to apply it to? So; my thinking is to use it whenever it's necessary.


d20pfsrd[dot]com/feats/general-feats/skill-focus---final

Not each use -- each time you buy it. You get X feat slots to begin with and acquire more over the course of play. Each slot can be spent to purchase a feat. So at first level you buy Skill Focus: Riding. all Riding checks now get a bonus from that moment on. At a later level, you spend a new feat slot buying Skill Fous: Knowedge Arcana. From that moment on you gain a bonus on all Knowedge Arcana checks in addition your all Riding checks but still don't get a bonus on Survival checks bcause you haven't bought a Skill Focus with that skill yet.

 

[billd91]

knottyprof and Nagol covered the explanation nicely. Skill Focus is rarely a make or break a character feat, but it can certainly be put to good use. What skill do you want your character to be particularly good at? Perception and Stealth are usually good candidates, particularly for a rogue. But then so are bluff and diplomacy if you intend to be a talker, face-man, con artist, and so on. I chose Skill Focus (sense motive) for a half elf inquisitor once. He was pretty good at ferreting out liars.