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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 2650125" data-attributes="member: 12037">Maybe, as in if they put the ranks in those particular skills? Well, they don't necessarily do that, but I should have pointed out that my assumption was that they would put the points there.Did that on purpose. Otherwise, it could have been a strawman making it pointless. Strawman bad.You bring up lots of points. It's difficult to choose where to begin.First of all, on the knowlege versus ability side of things. Intelligence, and thus knowlege, definately comes into play on how well you are able to do things, that can't be argued because Int adds to skill points gained per level. The smarter you are, the better at multiple things you can be, or the quicker you learn so you can devote yourself to more, or the easier you remember, etc etc. Whatever you want to say about it.So here's a question. How much does one rank represent? How knowlegable would a PC have to be before he could have three ranks? Four? Five? With retroactive skill points this changes based on level. A 4th level character who gains a little Int can learn 4 ranks worth of stuff with retroactive points. An 8th can learn 8, and so on. Why is this? The 8th level character hasn't spent more time than the 4th level character cooking (they both have 1 rank), but for some reason, he can gain far far more ability.So, yes, I say pure ability. Ranks represent what you have learned. Just because you're smarter doesn't mean you know how to cook a suflet. You have to read the recipie, spend time working with it, and then finally figure out what works.I know programming. You can't just get smarter and know how to set up a dynamic website. You have to read about the technology and actually try it yourself. Same goes for any skillset that I've ever attempted. A brilliant person who has never riden a bike doesn't know how to ride a bike purely off being smart. I'm smart and there are tons of things I can't do because I've never attempted them. Like cook. Well, beyond microwavable things and pastas.As to relative ability. They might have differing ability scores, but the potential is still there for the cook who suddenly gets smarter to be as good as the cowboy at riding a horse. He'll jump on and start standing in the saddle and other tricks. Because he got smarter. It just doens't click for me.I'm not saying This is the Way it Is. But, it is the way I see it.</blockquote>

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