my fighter and his odd skill selection......

[Illvillainy]

My air genasi wizard (who worshiped Lliira) had few ranks in both Escape Artist and Perform (dance). Of course, wizards have the Int to have a good number of skill points. I say had, because once the DM put both the Frostwolf orc clan from Warcraft and a 445 strong frost giant camp within the environs of the Snowflake Mountains, I knew it was time to leave...

 

[Dancer]

You could actually drop the cross class system, make all the skills cost 1 per rank and give class bonuses to specific classes to represent superior training in those skills (such as Rangers getting say +3 ranks if they take tracking or thieves getting the same bonus for taking stealth). Or you could give each class a certain number of skill points to be spent on a specific selection of skills and still make the cost 1 per rank.

 

[Boddynock]

I've got no problem with cross-class skills. It's a pain, but it's one of those limitations which helps with balance. The cross-class system is realistic up to a point, since certain skills are more "typical" of a particular class - although the system breaks down when a fighter working for the thieves' guild still can't pick up, frex, tumble easily while still remaining a fighter. But hey - I'm willing to suspend my disbelief enough to accept magic, so why not this?

At least the system is relatively simple - 1 point per rank for class skills, 2 points per rank for cc. Not a problem!

 

[Capellan]

I think this can be a useful technique. A fighter or barbarian with a few points invested in Knowledge(geography) might well make sense for a well-travelled character, for instance. And professions are always useful for that kind of flavour. The 1st-level barbarian I just created has invested 2 skill points to get a rank of profession (sailor).

 

[reveal]

I love skillful characters. If possible, I will take cross-class skils to "balance" them out. For example, Tumble is a must for any fighter I make.

One of the best feats, if not the best, I have ever seen for a skillful character is "Jack of All Trades" from Complete Adventurer. You have to have an INT of 13 to use it, but that's usually not a problem for a skillful character. It allows you to use any skill as if you had 1/2 a rank in it. So things like Decipher Script, Spellcraft, Tumble, can be used at any time. It's an awesome feat. Especially for the Knowledge skills.

 

[iwatt]

One of my players however did suggest a rule i like, as a means of simplifying the math and shenanignas needed ror multiclassing and skills. His suggestion is to drop the 2-1 skill cost difference. Every pt spent on a skill is a rank. He thinks the "cross class cannot exceed half your class skill" creates the needed difference between them and that making a multiclass guy spend 2-for-1 when one class buys a skill and 1-for-1 when another class buys the same skill is needlessly complicated.

QUOTE]

Hey, I like this. Consider it yoinked. (Will also help me with bookekeping of skills).

But how do you handle the skill cap for multiclass characters?

 

[Ace]

I sually put a point or two into spot and listen if they aren't class skills -- and a few points into a profession or craft (which is a class skill) for flavor --fortunetly every DM in the groups I play with gives 2 extra points per level after I started doing it so I have points to burn

In my current game we modifed the skill rules a bit to encourage variety without multi classing

we have background skills (usually knowledge based) at 3 per person that are always class skills and we give +2 skill points a level

This works OK (not great but OK) it adds a layer of unneeded complexity IMO

In the next game I am thinking about dropping class skills completely and just letting the number of points be the guide. Any class can take any skill

My reasonings

I don't use PRC's so I don't need to wrry about the skill level balance

It allows for interesting characters -- athletic mages, bookish fighters, social barbarians etc

The fighter is the primary combat specialist and he almost never has spot or listen at a decent amount. Thus they will almost l always get ambushed. They also don't have professions or any knowledge -- I don't like this effect

The simplest solution IMO is to allow anyone any skill -- The points per class (4,6,8,10) will be the deciding factor not the class