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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 376253" data-attributes="member: 3146">I don't think that it's reasonable to assume that most commoners have maxed out their ranks and taken the skill focus feat. Many commoners, I would imagine do one or the other. However, I would expect commoners to also put ranks into a variety of things.If the typical commoner is human and has a 10 or 11 int, I would expect to see the skill distribution more like this:Profession 2 to 4 ranksCraft 2 ranksCraft 2 ranksDiplomacy 2 ranksPerform (dance, storytelling) 2 ranksWilderness lore 0 to 2 ranksI don't know if those are all on the commoner's skill list but if they're not, they'd probably be purchased cross class. Perform, diplomacy, and one of the craft skills might be switched out for more wilderness lore, bluff, sense motive, run, jump, or swim ranks--maybe even for knowledge religion, literacy, or another language.Typical feats would probably include: alertness, simple weapons, militia (FRCS), skill focus: (bluff, diplomacy, perform, sense motive, wilderness lore, craft, profession, handle animal), armor proficiency, dodge, martial weapon proficiency, endurance, run.I actually think that skill focusses in bluff, diplomacy, and sense motive, wilderness lore, and perform would be more common than skill focus in their profession.After all, their lord or landlord takes most of their yield from farming anyway so being a little bit better at it doesn't make a big difference to their lives. OTOH, being respected in the village as the fastest runner, best swimmer, or best storyteller would be something. So would being considered wise and persuasive and being on the town council (sense motive and diplomacy). Of course, being good with the ladies or able to wrap men around their fingers would be something that others might aspire to (bluff--it's not as if we're talking about an honest person with the interests of their lover at heart here).So, I would think that a diligent farmer probably has 4 ranks in profession (farmer) and a very skilled farmer probably has max ranks in profession and skill focus but most peasants are neither unusually diligent nor skilled. They probably have two or three ranks in their profession and devote the rest of their attention to other pursuits.In that case, we might have three different results:Unskilled Laborer: 1 sp/day=36.5 gp per yearLazy peasant: Skill check 11-12=286 to 312gp per yearNormal peasant: Skill check: 13=338gp per yearSkilled or diligent peasant: Skill check 14-15=352-390 gp per yearSkilled and diligent peasant: Skill check 16=416 gp per yearClearly, the unskilled laborer lives a rather dismal existance compared to even a lazy dirt farmer. Assming that taxes take 50% of this, the difference between the skilled and diligent peasant and the normal peasant is about the cost of one riding horse every two years. Or a suit of studded leather armor, a large shield, and a morning star. So, if the normal peasant just gets by and would turn out for militia duty in an old blanket (padded armor) carrying his trusty club, the skilled and diligent peasant might show up with studded leather armor, a large shield, a morning star, and a light crossbow.</blockquote>

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