Consolidating +2/+2 feats into one customizable feat?

[Khorod]

applause

In core rules, Spellcraft is a little more important than Hide, so maybe it shouldn't be quite as easy to make that item.

 

[Stalker0]

Well, leaving it up to DM interpretation is fine for some, but for others, they like to have some rule to fall back on. Personally, I don't think the skills have to be related. I mean, how many people in the world don't branch out in learning skills at least a little bit?

 

[Khorod]

Yes, and the chaotic skill development that real-people do is represented by the skill-system.

The feat that modifies the skill represents something more like a PhD in a specific area of study than extra development of non-combat abilities.

Of course, mechanics alone, either way is perfectly balanced, imo. Every skill point is equal, so no two skill combinations should be a problem.

 

[Lela]

Can anyone think of another pairing that would create a must-have feat for a particular class? At present, I can't think of one.

Uh, Spot and Listen are great for a Ranger.

 

[LostSoul]

As far as +2 Spellcraft/+2 Concentration go:

Is that better than Combat Casting? I don't think so. Both skills are nice to have, but it's not essential to max them out. At early levels, perhaps, but Improved Initiative is still going to be a better choice. Even Toughness would help a low-level Wizard/Sorcerer more than +2/+2.

In my opinion.

 

[Stalker0]

Every skill point is equal, so no two skill combinations should be a problem.

This is one thing where I disagree whole heartedly. One of my problems with the 3e skill system is that some skills are inherently superior to others. This is balanced by teh cross-class system, which I hate also

So certain combinations of skills would be superior to others. However, a +2 bonus to a skill is not a huge deal, so I don't think it would be a problem.

Although if you allow skill focus (the fixed version and this to stack, now you have a +5 in the stat, which for some maybe problematic.

 

[haiiro]

Uh, Spot and Listen are great for a Ranger.

Great, yes, but not good enough to make every Ranger take Alertness, IMO.

Although if you allow skill focus (the fixed version and this to stack, now you have a +5 in the stat, which for some maybe problematic.

IMO, there are enough ways to jack skills up to ridiculously high levels that +5 versus +4 with the un-fixed Skill Focus doesn't make that much of a difference.

Edit: spelling.

 

[Khorod]

Which is why I probably wouldn't let them stack.
Maybe these feats should provide a competence bonus?

That way they don't stack, and some forms of magical enhancement will also not stack.


I agree, the skill system would be more realistic if different skills have different point costs. But they don't, so by the numbers all skills are equal. That creates a slight imbalance, but its too small to be a real concern.

If I were playing a Wizard, I doubt I would take Spellcraft/Concentration like this unless I had a particular character concept or prestige class in mind. Adventuring wizards just have so many feats they NEED.

 

[Hashmalum]

IMC, an idea that I'm considering is having feats that give unnamed bonuses give a feat bonus instead. Epic feats would work the same way, except that they give an epic feat bonus. Like any named bonuses, feat and epic feat bonuses don't stack; only the best such bonus applies. A feat bonus will stack with an epic feat bonus, however. The exception would be feats that only apply to a limited subset of a given type of roll (such as Combat Casting, Resist Poison, and so on). Comments?

 

[Lela]

IMC, an idea that I'm considering is having feats that give unnamed bonuses give a feat bonus instead. Epic feats would work the same way, except that they give an epic feat bonus. Like any named bonuses, feat and epic feat bonuses don't stack; only the best such bonus applies. A feat bonus will stack with an epic feat bonus, however. The exception would be feats that only apply to a limited subset of a given type of roll (such as Combat Casting, Resist Poison, and so on). Comments?

I don't know. Some feats are already geared to watch that (Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus for instance). In many cases it would be redundent.

But, now that I think about it, it would help iron quite a few things out. Skill Focus and Alertness fit in here.

Go for it.