creating skill groups

GlassJaw

Hero
(I originally posted this in the OGL forum but this is fairly universal.)

I've been tinkering with the rules to add a more cinematic and swashbuckling style of play. I've been looking at True 20, Iron Heroes, Conan, and Spycraft 2.0 for ideas. One idea I really like from Iron Heroes (True 20 and Spycraft have hints of it as well) is skill groups.

The basic idea is that each skill group has a small list of related skills. Each skill point a character places in the group gives 1 rank to each skill in the group.

Design Goals:

1. Make each character's skill points go farther without tinkering with the number of skill points each class gets. With skill groups, each character has the ability to spread their skill points around to more skills, thus making each character more versatile and giving them access to skills they wouldn't have had otherwise.

2. Limit each skill group to 2-3 skills. A lot of the skill groups in Iron Heroes have 4 (or more) but that's a bit too much for what I want.

Here are the groups I have so far. Any comments or suggestions welcome.

Code:
[B]Academia[/B]		[B]Linguistics[/B]
Decipher Script (Int)	Decipher Script (Int)
Knowledge (Int)		Forgery (Int)
Research (Int)		Speak Language
		
[B]Acrobatics[/B]		[B]Mechanics[/B]
Balance (Dex)		Disable Device (Int)
Escape Artist (Dex)	Open Lock (Dex)
Tumble (Dex)		
		
[B]Animal Lore[/B]		[B]Motor Skills[/B]
Handle Animal (Cha)	Sleight Of Hand (Dex)
Ride (Dex)		Use Rope (Dex)
		
[B]Athletics[/B]		[B]Social[/B]
Climb (Str)		Diplomacy (Cha)
Jump (Str)		Gather Information (Cha)
Swim (Str)		
		
[B]Awareness[/B]		[B]Stealth[/B]
Listen (Wis)		Hide (Dex)
Spot (Wis)		Move Silently (Dex)
		
[B]Influence[/B]		[B]Theatrics[/B]
Bluff (Cha)		Disguise (Cha)
Intimidate (Cha)	Perform (Cha)
		
[B]Investigate[/B]		[B]Wilderness Lore[/B]
Gather Information (Cha)Heal (Wis)
Research (Int)		Survival (Wis)

[B]Keen Eye[/B]		
Appraise (Int)		
Search (Int)
 

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I took out research and broke out the Knowledge skills. Also added an Ungrouped group...




Code:
Academia			Linguistics
Decipher Script (Int)		Decipher Script (Int)
Knowledge (History)(Int)	Forgery (Int)
Knowledge (Geography)(Int)	Speak Language
		
Acrobatics			Mechanics
Balance (Dex)			Disable Device (Int)
Escape Artist (Dex)		Open Lock (Dex)
Tumble (Dex)			Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering)(Int) 
		
Animal Lore			Motor Skills
Handle Animal (Cha)		Sleight Of Hand (Dex)
Ride (Dex)			Use Rope (Dex)
				Craft (Int)
		
Athletics			Social
Climb (Str)			Diplomacy (Cha)
Jump (Str)			Profession (Wis)
Swim (Str)			Knowledge (Nobility & Royalty)(Int)		

Awareness			Stealth
Listen (Wis)			Hide (Dex)
Spot (Wis)			Move Silently (Dex)
		
Influence			Theatrics
Bluff (Cha)			Disguise (Cha)
Intimidate (Cha)		Perform (Cha)
		
Investigate			Wilderness Lore
Gather Information (Cha)	Heal (Wis)
Sense Motive (Wis)		Survival (Wis)
Knowledge (local) (Int)	        Knowledge (Nature)(Int)

Keen Eye			Ungrouped
Appraise (Int)			Concentration (Con)
Search (Int)			Spellcraft (Int)
Knowledge (Dungeoneering)(Int)	Use Magic Device (Cha)
				Knowledge (Arcana)(Int)
				Knowledge (Religion)(Int)
				Knowledge (The Planes)(Int)
 


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