Making 1 skill from 2, good or bad?

[Norfleet]

Because you don't think the gruff and tumble streetwise jerk is lying when he says he's going to rip you a new one?

ciaran

That's not Bluff, that's Intimidate! There are already option rules for using your Strength bonus instead of Charisma bonus for Intimidation through strength.

 

[Norfleet]

I've never quite gotten why there's a difference between "search" and "spot". What's the key difference between searching for a trap, and spotting a hidden person, anyway? Because the person is hidden, your ability to find things is suddenly completely null and void, because he's a person, and not a thing? That makes no sense. Search is often used for rummaging. Rummaging is not a skill! Anyone can rummage. The key is in spotting the object you are rummaging for as you rummage. And why is Search dependent on Int, while Spot is dependent on Wis, anyway? That would seem to suggest that scientists are better at rummaging, which we all know is untrue: The absent-minded, high-Int, low-Wis scientist, is the individual most prone to losing something and being unable to find it.

Also, since searching for a trap does not entail any odds for accidentally setting off the trap, merely not finding it, it's safe to say that searching does not involve poking it. Otherwise, it might go off if you did it badly. It makes sense that traps are searched for visually, I.E., using spot. I suppose in some very odd cases, one might LISTEN for secret doors and traps, but do secret doors and traps make noise? The removal of the spot/search thing could then free up space for a smell skill. I suppose then you could smell for secret doors, traps, and hidden people,. Hey, maybe you're a police dog looking for bombs and hidden drugs.