frankthedm
First Post
With the release of the Complete scoundrel, the concept of skill tricks has seen much adoration and also much derision. I’ll admit being on the side of they look & smell like feats. But maybe they are salvageable for those who are not intrested in giving the rogue more or less free pseudo feats. The section in the CS does have some really good ideas, so mayhap converting skill tricks to expanded uses of skills and feats has potential. Input please? [sblock=Skill Tricks intro]Skill tricks are an exciting new way of customizing your scoundrel, allowing her to perform such cinematic effects as swinging across a chasm hanging from a whip, leaping off a warhorse while swinging a sword, jumping and running up a wall, and other similar actions popular in movies but until now unsupported in the D&D rules. Because they require the expenditure of skill points, skill tricks appeal most strongly to members of those character classes that focus on skills.
The four types of skill tricks are interaction, manipulation, mental, and movement. Each type focuses on a different subset of skills. While any character can learn tricks of any type, members of certain classes favor particular types of tricks (whether due to the class's skill list, the character's areas of expertise, or both).
Interaction: These skill tricks influence social interaction between PCs and NPCs. They typically rely on skills used in those situations, such as Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive. Bards are the most common masters of these skill tricks, but anyone who relies on social interaction to achieve their goals -- from bold paladins to boisterous sorcerers -- can benefit from them.
Manipulation: A manipulation skill trick depends on the character's manual dexterity to perform some act of legerdemain. Such tricks use skills that employ similar talents, including Disable Device, Open Lock, and Sleight of Hand. Rogues and ninjas often boast a few manipulation tricks in their repertoire.
Mental: These tricks pit the mind and senses of the character against an opponent. Mental tricks focus on skills such as Concentration, Knowledge, and Spot. Since this category includes a wide range of skills, many different characters dabble in such tricks.
Movement: As the name suggests, movement tricks typically involve the character physically moving from one location to another. They use skills that come into play during movement, such as Balance, Jump, Move Silently, and Tumble. Monks, barbarians, and scouts are most likely to learn such tricks, but anyone looking for an edge on the battlefield has something to gain from them.
Learning Skill Tricks
Learning a skill trick costs 2 skill points. Whenever you acquire skill points, you can choose to spend skill points to acquire a skill trick instead of purchasing ranks in skills.
You can learn any skill trick, as long as you meet the prerequisite and can afford to expend 2 skill points. If you later no longer meet the prerequisite for a skill trick, you can't use it again until you once more qualify.
You can't learn more than one skill trick at any given level, and your total skill tricks cannot exceed one-half your character level (rounded up). Certain feats and prestige class features allow a character to exceed these limits. If you use the retraining rules in Player's Handbook II, you can choose to unlearn any one skill trick when you attain a new level, assigning the reclaimed skill points as you wish (either to buy skill ranks or to learn a different skill trick).
You can learn a skill trick only once; you either know it or you don't.[/sblock]
Table 3-2: Skill Tricks
Interaction~Prerequisites~Benefit
Assume Quirk~Disguise 5 ranks~Familiar viewers get no bonus to see through your disguise
Group Fake-Out~Bluff 8 ranks~Feint against multiple foes simultaneously
Never Outnumbered~Intimidate 8 ranks~Demoralize multiple foes in combat simultaneously
Second Impression~Bluff 5 ranks, Disguise 5 ranks~Make Bluff check to reestablish blown disguise
Social Recovery~Bluff 8 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks~Make Bluff check to replace a failed Diplomacy check
Timely Misdirection~Bluff 8 ranks~Successful feint allows you to avoid attacks of opportunity
Manipulation~Prerequisites~Benefit
Clever Improviser~Disable Device 5 ranks, Open Lock 5 ranks~Ignore penalty for Disable Device and Open Lock checks made without tools
Conceal Spellcasting~Concentration 1 rank, Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Spellcraft 1 rank~Conceal your spellcasting from onlookers
Easy Escape~Medium or smaller size, Escape Artist 8 ranks~Gain bonus on check to escape grapple or pin
False Theurgy~Bluff or Sleight of Hand 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks~Your spell appears to be another spell of the same level
Healing Hands~Heal 5 ranks~Heal 1d6 damage when you stabilize a dying character
Hidden Blade~Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Quick Draw~Draw hidden weapon as move action; treat foe as flat-footed
Mosquito's Bite~Sleight of Hand 12 ranks~Flat-footed target does not notice damage you deal with a light weapon
Opening Tap~Open Lock 12 ranks~Open a lock as a swift action
Quick Escape~Escape Artist 12 ranks~Escape from grapple or restraints more quickly than normal
Shrouded Dance~Hide 8 ranks, Perform (dance) 5 ranks~Use move action to gain concealment for 1 round
Sudden Draw~Sleight of Hand 8 ranks, Quick Draw~Draw hidden weapon as part of attack of opportunity
Whip Climber~Use Rope 5 ranks, proficiency with whip~Use a whip as a grappling hook
Mental~Prerequisites~Benefit
Clarity of Vision~Spot 12 ranks~Notice invisible enemies for 1 round
Collector of Stories~Knowledge (any) 5 ranks~Gain +5 bonus on Knowledge checks to identify monsters
Listen to This~Listen 5 ranks~Perfectly repeat what you've recently heard
Magical Appraisal~Appraise 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Spellcraft 12 ranks~Determine properties of magic items
Point it Out~Spot 8 ranks~Grant ally a free Spot check to see something you've spotted
Spot the Weak Point~Spot 12 ranks~Make your next attack a touch attack
Swift Concentration~Concentration 12 ranks~Maintain concentration on spell as swift action
Movement~Prerequisites~Benefit
Acrobatic Backstab~Tumble 12 ranks~Move through foe's space to render it flat-footed
Back on Your Feet~Tumble 12 ranks~React immediately to stand up from prone
Corner Perch~Climb 8 ranks~Perch in chimney or corner to leave hands free
Dismount Attack~Ride 5 ranks~Make a fast dismount from moving mount to charge a foe
Escape Attack~Escape Artist 8 ranks~Make an attack the same round you escape a grapple
Extreme Leap~Jump 5 ranks~Horizontal jump of at least 10 feet allows 10 extra feet of movement that round
Leaping Climber~Climb 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Add jump distance to start of climb
Nimble Charge~Balance 5 ranks~Run or charge across difficult surface without Balance check
Nimble Stand~Tumble 8 ranks~Stand from prone safely
Quick Swimmer~Swim 5 ranks~Swim 10 additional feet with successful check
Slipping Past~Escape Artist 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Move into tight space without penalties
Speedy Ascent~Climb 5 ranks~Climb 10 additional feet with successful check
Tumbling Crawl~Tumble 5 ranks~Crawl 5 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity
Twisted Charge~Balance 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Make one direction change during a charge
Up the Hill~Balance 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Move up slope or stairs at normal speed
Walk the Walls~Climb 12 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Run straight up wall for 1 round
Wall Jumper~Climb 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Leap from wall as if making a running jump
The four types of skill tricks are interaction, manipulation, mental, and movement. Each type focuses on a different subset of skills. While any character can learn tricks of any type, members of certain classes favor particular types of tricks (whether due to the class's skill list, the character's areas of expertise, or both).
Interaction: These skill tricks influence social interaction between PCs and NPCs. They typically rely on skills used in those situations, such as Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive. Bards are the most common masters of these skill tricks, but anyone who relies on social interaction to achieve their goals -- from bold paladins to boisterous sorcerers -- can benefit from them.
Manipulation: A manipulation skill trick depends on the character's manual dexterity to perform some act of legerdemain. Such tricks use skills that employ similar talents, including Disable Device, Open Lock, and Sleight of Hand. Rogues and ninjas often boast a few manipulation tricks in their repertoire.
Mental: These tricks pit the mind and senses of the character against an opponent. Mental tricks focus on skills such as Concentration, Knowledge, and Spot. Since this category includes a wide range of skills, many different characters dabble in such tricks.
Movement: As the name suggests, movement tricks typically involve the character physically moving from one location to another. They use skills that come into play during movement, such as Balance, Jump, Move Silently, and Tumble. Monks, barbarians, and scouts are most likely to learn such tricks, but anyone looking for an edge on the battlefield has something to gain from them.
Learning Skill Tricks
Learning a skill trick costs 2 skill points. Whenever you acquire skill points, you can choose to spend skill points to acquire a skill trick instead of purchasing ranks in skills.
You can learn any skill trick, as long as you meet the prerequisite and can afford to expend 2 skill points. If you later no longer meet the prerequisite for a skill trick, you can't use it again until you once more qualify.
You can't learn more than one skill trick at any given level, and your total skill tricks cannot exceed one-half your character level (rounded up). Certain feats and prestige class features allow a character to exceed these limits. If you use the retraining rules in Player's Handbook II, you can choose to unlearn any one skill trick when you attain a new level, assigning the reclaimed skill points as you wish (either to buy skill ranks or to learn a different skill trick).
You can learn a skill trick only once; you either know it or you don't.[/sblock]
Table 3-2: Skill Tricks
Interaction~Prerequisites~Benefit
Assume Quirk~Disguise 5 ranks~Familiar viewers get no bonus to see through your disguise
Group Fake-Out~Bluff 8 ranks~Feint against multiple foes simultaneously
Never Outnumbered~Intimidate 8 ranks~Demoralize multiple foes in combat simultaneously
Second Impression~Bluff 5 ranks, Disguise 5 ranks~Make Bluff check to reestablish blown disguise
Social Recovery~Bluff 8 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks~Make Bluff check to replace a failed Diplomacy check
Timely Misdirection~Bluff 8 ranks~Successful feint allows you to avoid attacks of opportunity
Manipulation~Prerequisites~Benefit
Clever Improviser~Disable Device 5 ranks, Open Lock 5 ranks~Ignore penalty for Disable Device and Open Lock checks made without tools
Conceal Spellcasting~Concentration 1 rank, Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Spellcraft 1 rank~Conceal your spellcasting from onlookers
Easy Escape~Medium or smaller size, Escape Artist 8 ranks~Gain bonus on check to escape grapple or pin
False Theurgy~Bluff or Sleight of Hand 8 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks~Your spell appears to be another spell of the same level
Healing Hands~Heal 5 ranks~Heal 1d6 damage when you stabilize a dying character
Hidden Blade~Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Quick Draw~Draw hidden weapon as move action; treat foe as flat-footed
Mosquito's Bite~Sleight of Hand 12 ranks~Flat-footed target does not notice damage you deal with a light weapon
Opening Tap~Open Lock 12 ranks~Open a lock as a swift action
Quick Escape~Escape Artist 12 ranks~Escape from grapple or restraints more quickly than normal
Shrouded Dance~Hide 8 ranks, Perform (dance) 5 ranks~Use move action to gain concealment for 1 round
Sudden Draw~Sleight of Hand 8 ranks, Quick Draw~Draw hidden weapon as part of attack of opportunity
Whip Climber~Use Rope 5 ranks, proficiency with whip~Use a whip as a grappling hook
Mental~Prerequisites~Benefit
Clarity of Vision~Spot 12 ranks~Notice invisible enemies for 1 round
Collector of Stories~Knowledge (any) 5 ranks~Gain +5 bonus on Knowledge checks to identify monsters
Listen to This~Listen 5 ranks~Perfectly repeat what you've recently heard
Magical Appraisal~Appraise 5 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Spellcraft 12 ranks~Determine properties of magic items
Point it Out~Spot 8 ranks~Grant ally a free Spot check to see something you've spotted
Spot the Weak Point~Spot 12 ranks~Make your next attack a touch attack
Swift Concentration~Concentration 12 ranks~Maintain concentration on spell as swift action
Movement~Prerequisites~Benefit
Acrobatic Backstab~Tumble 12 ranks~Move through foe's space to render it flat-footed
Back on Your Feet~Tumble 12 ranks~React immediately to stand up from prone
Corner Perch~Climb 8 ranks~Perch in chimney or corner to leave hands free
Dismount Attack~Ride 5 ranks~Make a fast dismount from moving mount to charge a foe
Escape Attack~Escape Artist 8 ranks~Make an attack the same round you escape a grapple
Extreme Leap~Jump 5 ranks~Horizontal jump of at least 10 feet allows 10 extra feet of movement that round
Leaping Climber~Climb 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Add jump distance to start of climb
Nimble Charge~Balance 5 ranks~Run or charge across difficult surface without Balance check
Nimble Stand~Tumble 8 ranks~Stand from prone safely
Quick Swimmer~Swim 5 ranks~Swim 10 additional feet with successful check
Slipping Past~Escape Artist 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Move into tight space without penalties
Speedy Ascent~Climb 5 ranks~Climb 10 additional feet with successful check
Tumbling Crawl~Tumble 5 ranks~Crawl 5 feet without provoking attacks of opportunity
Twisted Charge~Balance 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Make one direction change during a charge
Up the Hill~Balance 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Move up slope or stairs at normal speed
Walk the Walls~Climb 12 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks~Run straight up wall for 1 round
Wall Jumper~Climb 5 ranks, Jump 5 ranks~Leap from wall as if making a running jump
