DM awarded bonus skill points

[Kahuna Burger]

One of the things I don't like about the d20 skill system is that unless you are a rogue (maybe even then), its impractical to spend skill points to reflect background or the experince of a given level. Say for instance my fighter spends one adventure, taking place over two months of in campaign time, living among elves, listening to them talk, constantly asking for translations, etc. At the end of that time, she still doesn't speak elvish unless she spends BOTH of her precious skill points on it (and thus somehow didn't get better at any of her usual skill focuses during that time).

Sure a given player could choose to lose advancement in the areas the character is counted on by the party in order to realisitcly raise Knowlege: the planes (to a level that will still never matter as long as the wizard is around) but is it fair to expect that?

What if after each level up, the DM awarded 2 or 3 bonus skill ranks to each character to reflect role played learning experiences? It could be knowlege or language skills, if the character was paying attention and asking questions, a skill that the player had to make several untrained checks in for whaever reason, or a cross class skill that the player was actively roleplaying his character's dedication to. The bonus ranks couldn't raise the total ranks above the class skill limit, but could raise the cross-class skill limit.

Any thoughts?

 

[Endovior]

Interesting idea. I'm generally in favor of it... so long as the players don't start trying to abuse it by stretching out the behind-the-scenes in an effort to grab extra points.

 

[Li Shenron]

I like the skill system with all its difficulties, and to be honest I think it's fair that a character has to forsake one or more traditional skills of her class if she wants to be different. I don't like my players to request extra skill points beside those their fighters waste in never-used climb and jump (who said that all fighters should be alpinists and long-jump athlets? ).

But I definitely like your idea of rewarding roleplaying with bonus to skills (better not to go farther than skills tho...).

The only comment I have to give is that perhaps it could be thought about giving a competence bonus instead of skill points, just to avoid the need to keep track of those max ranks, which you mention that they would not be all the same IIUC. However it's probably just fine as you have planned already.

 

[JimAde]

I think it's a great idea. Consider it yoinked. My group is about to have several months of down-time and I will probably give them all the option of taking the local language and/or a rank or two in Knowledge(Local) for the area.

 

[Sravoff]

Great idea! *yoink!*

-Sravoff

 

[Thia Halmades]

I've already done this as a DM; I had a problem in that my PCs didn't have the appropriate skill points to purchase those things that were covered in their training. So for once I'm totally against Li Shenron (which is remarkably rare). I think the skill system is utterly broken. But, trying to fix it has generated even more headaches. Hence.

You're probably best served by doing one of the following:

- Lower specific costs of skills that people work on in-game (removing class restrictions if they spend the RP time working up to it, including OO class & Cross Class).

- Grant specific skill points and make it clear what your rules are for doing so. Make sure that if people want to spend the time & effort, they can do it, without running into gross "gimme points!" abuse.

- Fighter skills structure is weak.

 

[Kisanji Arael]

I find that this is realistic for a few skills (specifically Craft, Perform, and Know Language), but for many of the others, I would have to be convinced that they earned the points.

As an example:

A character is given great distinction among the Orcish nation. A potential war breaks out between an Orc tribe and the character's hometown.

How the character handles this --
A: The character says one brave, inspirational speech that reminds both sides of the value of peace.

B: The character spends the next three days with both sides on negotions. He doesn't sleep much, but makes sure that both of the Orc tribal leaders have the best rooming conditions and that nothing bothers their sleep. Ultimately, after long tribulation, he manages to evade the war.

Situation A warrants no points. He did one thing, but didn't really have to tress much over the details. Situation B, on the other hand, is heroic. The character had to roleplay three days. It deserves additional skill points to diplomacy, as well as possibly gather information, depending on the RPing.

Personally, I prefer giving inherent bonuses over skill ranks. A.K.A. give a bonus of +2 to Diplomacy. If he does something equally heropic again, no bonus. He would have to surpass this feat for a greater bonus.

 

[Crothian]

Sure, the DM can hand out extra skill points for characters, but its always been my experience thwat players that want more skill points place a higher ability score in Int and get the more skill points. I really dislike people who purposely take a low or average Int and then complain they don't have enough skill points. Now there are lots of variable that come in in character generation and stuff like that but for the most part its what is seen around here.

 

[Coredump]

I have given out a few skill points as bonuses, but not 2-3 per level per character. With 7 characters now level 4, I have given out about 6-8 points.


Another idea, if you want players to 'invest' in the skill... put them 'on sale'.

Lets say they have been spending a lot of time on a ship, and the fighter has been 'helping out' a lot, give him a 2 for 1. If he puts one of his points into prof(sailor) you will give him 2 ranks.

 

[The Edge]

Makes sense. Ive already done this a teny bit.

I had a player who had to stay at an apple farm for about a month. Dureing this he saw a lot of cider being made, and as such I gave him a skill point in cider brewing. Just one, and so specific it probably will never be needed. But its nice to watch the expression of 'oh goody' when you tell them, and its all part of the role play.