skill cost and limit for multi-class

[DarkMaster]

I would like to confirm some skill questions with you. For example ranger 6/rogue 6
can have up to
15 rank in hide
15 rank in tumble
7.5 rank in knowledge arcana

lets say he goes up a level in ranger
he can increase hide ranks 1 for 1, up to 16
he can increase tumble ranks 1 for 2, up to 16 (my problem is here 1 for 1 or 1 for 2)
he can increase knowledge arcana ranks 1 for 2, up to 8

I have this problem because I feal the SRD is not clear about it and it doesn't make sense for the PC who took a ranger level to be able to increase tumble rank. since during the last level he focused on improving the ranger aspect of his character, only the ranger class should be considered as class skills.

 

[Coredump]

That is correct. All of it.

.

 

[Camarath]

The SRD is pretty clear on multiclass and maximum skills ranks.

"Skills: If a skill is a class skill for any of a multiclass character’s classes, then character level determines a skill’s maximum rank. (The maximum rank for a class skill is 3 + character level.)
If a skill is not a class skill for any of a multiclass character’s classes, the maximum rank for that skill is one-half the maximum for a class skill."

I believe that if you gain skill points from a class you use that class's class skill list when spending the skill points. I the closest passage I could find in the SRD was this (I can explain why I think this supports my view if you wish). I think there may be a clearer passage in the PHB but I don't have mine with me right now.

"Each skill point you spend on a class skill gets you 1 rank in that skill. Class skills are the skills found on your character’s class skill list. Each skill point you spend on a cross-class skill gets your character 1/2 rank in that skill. Cross-class skills are skills not found on your character’s class skill list. (Half ranks do not improve your skill check, but two 1/2 ranks make 1 rank.) You can’t save skill points to spend later.
The maximum rank in a class skill is the character’s level + 3. If it’s a cross-class skill, the maximum rank is half of that number (do not round up or down).
Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3."

 

[DarkMaster]

The SRD is pretty clear on multiclass and maximum skills ranks.

Agree with that

"Each skill point you spend on a class skill gets you 1 rank in that skill. Class skills are the skills found on your character’s class skill list. Each skill point you spend on a cross-class skill gets your character 1/2 rank in that skill. Cross-class skills are skills not found on your character’s class skill list.

That is what I don't like, basically if your wizard has 1 level of rogue he can keep on maximising 1 for 1 tumble even if this skill is completly unrelated to the wizard. basically I troubled with Class skills are the skills found on your character's class skill list, basically a fighter/rogue/wizard can consider almost 95% of the skill class skill, for any level he takes, hard to swallow

 

[Camarath]

That is what I don't like, basically if your wizard has 1 level of rogue he can keep on maximising 1 for 1 tumble even if this skill is completly unrelated to the wizard. basically I troubled with Class skills are the skills found on your character's class skill list, basically a fighter/rogue/wizard can consider almost 95% of the skill class skill, for any level he takes, hard to swallow

I don't agree. If you gain a level in a class your "class skill list" is, I believe, limited to that class's skill list for those skill points. Nothing states that your class skill list includes all of the class skills from all of your classes. The rules only say that if a skill is a class skill for any of your classes your maximum rank equals your total character level +3. They do not say that if a skill is a class skill for any of your classes it is considered a class skill for all your classes.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Camarath is correct.

 

[DarkMaster]

I don't agree. If you gain a level in a class your "class skill list" is, I believe, limited to that class's skill list for those skill points. Nothing states that your class skill list includes all of the class skills from all of your classes. The rules only say that if a skill is a class skill for any of your classes your maximum rank equals your total character level +3. They do not say that if a skill is a class skill for any of your classes it is considered a class skill for all your classes.

I play like you say but while I was rereading the SRD that sentence bugged me "Class skills are the skills found on your character’s class skill list"
it mention character's list and not class list. I don't have an official copy of the player handbook, always felt it was a waste of money since everything is on the net,( if you search carefully you might even find the official one but that's another story).

But if the general concensus is that when you level up class skill with respect to cost of improving rank are only the class skill of the leveling class then I will not bother anymore with this sentence.

 

[Coredump]

Right. I am fighter/rogue. i go up a level in fighter. My characters class is fighter, so I look on the fighter skill list.
Hence Characters class skill list.

 

[DarkMaster]

Right. I am fighter/rogue. i go up a level in fighter. My characters class is fighter, so I look on the fighter skill list.
Hence Characters class skill list.

no your character classes are fighter and rogue, the leveling class is fighter. I guess the Player Handbook provides a better explanation will have to call one of my player.

 

[PaulGreystoke]

no your character classes are fighter and rogue, the leveling class is fighter. I guess the Player Handbook provides a better explanation will have to call one of my player.

PHB p.59 "Remember that you buy skills based on the class you have advanced in, so that only the skills given as class skills for that class can be purchased as class skills for this level, regardless of what other classes you may have levels in."

PHB p.62 "Regardless of whether a skill is purchased as a class skill or a cross-class skill, if it is a class skill for any of your classes, your maximum rank equals your total character level + 3."

So a multiclass character with levels in rogue who is advancing as a ranger pays cross-class rates for Tumble, but can choose to buy enough ranks to raise the skill to maximum rank for a class skill.