Is Inquisitive really broken

[Michael Morris]

Just asking (and playing with the new feats bbcode). [feat]Inquisitive[/feat]. There's already a debate about it in the feats database itself but digging the feat out can be troublesome so I'm drawing attention to it here

 

[Thanee]

Hmm... the problem comparing it to Skill Focus is, that Skill Focus adds a bonus on top of the maximum rank possible. And Skill Focus is a very weak feat to begin with.

I don't really think the feat is so horribly overpowered. It's certainly quite good, tho.

A good comparison would be Toughness (~ Skill Focus) and Improved Toughness.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Scion]

Looks like a very interesting feat indeed.

skill focus gives less overall bonuses, but it lets one go above the normal limit of what one can do.

I actually already have something like that in my game though, so not a big deal for me

 

[Darkness]

I tried to comment, but apparently I can't reply to the feats database. Quote and quick reply bring me to the feat index, and new reply pretends to work, then eats my post and brings me to the feat index.

User group problem?

 

[Fieari]

Looks like a good feat to me. No balance problems here.

 

[Sammael]

WotC-published (XPHB and CAdv) feat Open-Minded adds +5 skill points. So, in the context of that feat, this is a bit overpowered. I believe there is also a feat in Races of Destiny that gives half-elves and half-orcs +1 skill point per level, but it must be taken at 1st character level (and those two races are subpar at any rate).

 

[FireLance]

I like the feat. The only problem is bookkeeping. If the skill points aren't retroactive, when you take the feat becomes significant. Also, what happens if your Intelligence drops below 13 and you no longer meet the prerequisites of the feat? Do you lose skill points and if so, which ones?

I would personally prefer the following approach, and I might post it to the database when it re-opens for submissions.

Skill Savant

Choose a skill which is a class skill for any of your classes. Your ranks in that skill are equal to your character level + 3, and increase with increases in your character level.

If you had skill points assigned to the selected skill, you may re-assign them to any other skill when you select this feat, provided it is a class skill for any of your classes. Skill points that are not re-assigned are lost.

 

[Thanee]

I like the feat. The only problem is bookkeeping. If the skill points aren't retroactive, when you take the feat becomes significant.

Yep, you should write down the level when you picked up the feat. Not much bookkeeping, really, just one number.

Also, what happens if your Intelligence drops below 13 and you no longer meet the prerequisites of the feat? Do you lose skill points and if so, which ones?

The same that happens with your other "skill points" (which are rather skill ranks now), when your intelligence drops. Nothing.

Bye
Thanee

 

[FireLance]

WotC-published (XPHB and CAdv) feat Open-Minded adds +5 skill points. So, in the context of that feat, this is a bit overpowered. I believe there is also a feat in Races of Destiny that gives half-elves and half-orcs +1 skill point per level, but it must be taken at 1st character level (and those two races are subpar at any rate).

As Thanee pointed out, the difference between Open-Minded and Inquisitive is like Toughness and Improved Toughness. The difference between Toughness and Improved Toughness is even more stark as the hit point increase is retroactive. Improved Toughness is strictly superior at character level four and up. As Inquisitive is not retroactive, it requires you to gain six levels before it provides you with more skill points, and you don't get as much benefit as Open-Minded for four of those levels.

I don't have my Races of Destiny with me, but I think the feat in question (Human Blood?) also allows a half-elf or half-orc to be treated as human, for better or worse. The extra skill point/level isn't all there is to it. But I could be misrememering.

 

[Creamsteak]

I think the feat should probably apply retroactively. I dislike feats that are "better" or "worse" depending on when you take them. If this were a 3.0 feat, that ruling would make sense somewhat (int boosting magic items), but given that 3.5 removed that nuance, I wouldn't add it again in a different form.

That said, the feat may in-fact be "Stunningly Overpowered" compared to strictly the other core feats or perhaps the feats in the wizards splat-books that provide skill point boosts or racial skill points boosts.

Despite being "overpowered" for what it does, it isn't unbalanced. It is more powerful than comparative feats depending on your standards, but certainly wouldn't unbalance a game. Does a single +2 intelligence for the purpose of skill points alone unbalance a game? Probably not. Your not breaking any thresholds for skills, just adding a bit more choice and versatility.

As written, I'd give your feat a 2 if I could vote on the database. With the retroactive change being added (making it similar to improved toughness, but for skills instead of hit points), I'd bring that up to a 3. Fix the name to something that fits what the feat does (inquisitive has nothing to do with maxing out your jump skill), and I'd give it a 4.