Monster Class Skills

[DM-Frost]

I'm wondering how you determine class skills for monsters. I ask this because the Bestiary seems to contradict itself.

On Page 292, under "Appendix 1: Monster Creation":
"Using Table 1-4, determine how many skill ranks your creature has based on its type and Hit Dice. Assign these ranks as determined by the creature's concept. Any skill that you put points into is considered a class skill for the creature."

Then, starting on Page 306, under "Appendix 3: Glossary", and even further under "Creature Types", it describes the different types and how each type has its own specific class skills.
Example: "Aberration" states: "Skill points equal to 4 + Int modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. The following are class skills for aberrations: Acrobatics, Clinb, Escape Artist, Fly, Intimidate, Knowledge (pick one), Perception, Spellcraft, Stealth, Survival, and Swim."

I'm designing a series of custom monsters in one of my campaigns (they happen to be aberrations, which is why I chose it as my example) and I'm wondering which of these two rules I use.

 

[TanisFrey]

I would rule that any skill points in the base creature are class skills plus skill based on type. From there you can advance the creature and give it cross-class skills.

 

[James Jacobs]

The piece from page 292 is an error; an artifact from the 3.5 SRD where monsters did not have class skills based by type. Go with page 306's ruling.

Of course, you should also feel free to simply give monsters whatever class skills you want. We do that a fair amount (the bugbear's a good example); you just need to record it as a special quality.