Loremasters and instant knowledge

[RangerWickett]

One of the loremaster abilities lets you get 4 ranks in a skill you have no ranks in. I have some questions about this:

Say this is a cross-class skill normally, like Move Silently. I have 4 ranks, but have spent no skill points. I'm 8th level, so I can have up to 5 ranks in cross-class skills normally. But can I spend skill points to get 5 extra ranks (total 9), or am I limited to 5?

More importantly, say I take my first level of loremaster and choose this ability to gain 4 ranks of Move Silently. Does this happen before or after I assign my skills for that level? Can I get my 4 free ranks, then spend the same level's skill points to improve that?

I dont' suppose anyone can tell me that the ability will make the chosen skill a class skill, eh?

I really want a wizard 7/loremaster 3/rogue 1/assassin 1/arcane trickster.

 

[Thanee]

Say this is a cross-class skill normally, like Move Silently. I have 4 ranks, but have spent no skill points. I'm 8th level, so I can have up to 5 ranks in cross-class skills normally. But can I spend skill points to get 5 extra ranks (total 9), or am I limited to 5?

Limited to 5, it just gives you free ranks, not a bonus on the skill.

More importantly, say I take my first level of loremaster and choose this ability to gain 4 ranks of Move Silently. Does this happen before or after I assign my skills for that level? Can I get my 4 free ranks, then spend the same level's skill points to improve that?

I would say, yes you can.

I dont' suppose anyone can tell me that the ability will make the chosen skill a class skill, eh?

I can!

“It will make the chosen skill a class skill.”

See?

Ok, it's wrong, but I have told you.

I really want a wizard 7/loremaster 3/rogue 1/assassin 1/arcane trickster.

Play a human. Pick up Able Learner. Goes a long way to make your skills more pretty.

For the advanced version, pick up Human Paragon as well (or if you only want one skill as class skill, instead of Able Learner), you will have more 'effective class skills' than is good for you.

If you are looking to save two levels of rogue instead of picking assassin for background reasons, you can also just pick up a level of spellthief for the sneak attack.

Bye
Thanee