Improved Expert Class for PC

[Lladnar]

Mostly I like it, my two sugestions would be: Firstly, go with the levelless one skill per application version of skill mastery. Secondly make Skill Specialty give a +2 bonus. Or if your dead set on a +1 bonus, at least make it a bonus rank rather than just a bonus.

 

[woodelf]

Hello all!

I've tried making an Expert PC Class. Here's what I've put together :

[snip]
Alternatively, the character can choose one of the following special abilities instead of a feat.

• Skill Mastery : Upon gaining this ability, she selects a number of skills equal to 3 + her Intelligence modifier. When making a skill check with one of these skills, she may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent her from doing so. This ability can only be taken once. She must be at least a 10th-level expert to take this ability.
  
  [snip]
  Now, here is the reason for some of the changes.
  [snip]
  • Class Features : I found the fighter's 1 feat/2 levels appealing for this class, especially given the increased number of "skill" feats in 3.5e. I decided to add the special abilities to give an incentive to take the class once you get the skill focus and +2/+2 feats you want for your character. I decided to put a level limit on Skill Mastery to duplicate the fact that the rogue can only gain this ability at 10th level, and because it would unbalance things too much in my mind for a 2nd level expert to be able to take 10 in any situation with up to 7 skills.

• 
  
  How about this: let the expert take Skill Mastery at any level, but it applies to (Int mod) skills, rather than (3+ Int Mod) skills. You can then either allow it to be taken multiple times, or have it add another skill every N levels after you first take it.
  
  I don't think that Take 10 is very unbalancing in any case, but i certainly don't see a problem with a skill-oriented character being able to do it at an earlier level than Rogues.