Do you think this would unbalance the game?

[Gez]

I can see problems with PrC requirements being harder to meet.

As I said on a RPG.net thread with a roughly similar topic (removing the skill point multiplication), if you reduce the max rank, you also reduce the required ranks for feats, classes, and other stuff.

The only real problem it would cause would be, in effect, increasing skill DC overall.

 

[Ace]

We just added 2 points to everybody across the board--

It worked well rnough for us that 4/5 of the folks in our group who DM use the rule

As for 12 for Rogues.. Well I think that a bit much myself YMMV

 

[Mouseferatu]

Well, I've been pondering the notion of doubling the skill points, as suggested. And yes, that would lead to people having more skills maxed out.

But I'm wondering, is that really such a bad thing? People still have to pay double for cross-class skills, and people still have a maximum limit per level. So all it does is make any given character a little more broad-based. (And not so much at low levels, since I wouldn't be granting the x4 at first level.)

I'm not sure that's a problem, honestly. I don't think the game is so tightly balanced that having more well-rounded characters is going to be a game breaker.

Yes, the idea of going from 0 ranks in a skill to max ranks over the course of one level is a bit unrealistic, but there are ways around that, even if it's just the DM saying "Hey, you can't put all your points there just yet, you haven't had time to learn all that." Right now, I'm more concerned with the bigger game balance issues. The details I can work out later.

So, am I missing something? Is there really a balance-related reason not to double the skill points for everyone?

(BTW, the campaign in question is lower-magic than average, particularly when it comes to items that boost abilities and the like, so at least some of the boost they get here will be mitigated by having lower ability levels than characters who are finding lots of Tomes and Manuals and Headbands and all that.)

 

[Grayhawk]

(BTW, the campaign in question is lower-magic than average, particularly when it comes to items that boost abilities and the like, so at least some of the boost they get here will be mitigated by having lower ability levels than characters who are finding lots of Tomes and Manuals and Headbands and all that.)

My campaign is similar to this.

I'm sorry if this is slightly off topic, but here's how I'm handling skill points:

1 extra skill points at each level to be used with a knowledge, craft or profession skill (4 at 1st level).

All skills cost 1 point per rank, regardless of them being cross-class or not. The max rank limitation remains the same (3+level for class skills, 3+level/2 for cross-class skills).

These changes allows for characters with more depth (the free skill point), as well as allowing for greater customization, by for instance letting the fighter be able to spot without it being at the cost of all his skill points, and while still letting those with spot as a class skill be better at it (especially at higher levels).