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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 1085313" data-attributes="member: 3146">I haven't taken them but I've thought about it.In my view, there are two uses for them (other than qualifying for prestige classes):1. You're a dumb character who doesn't have skill points. My friend had an 8 int dwarf cleric who got one skill point per level. He took Combat Casting so that he could have both a decent chance of casting defensively and still have skills other than concentration. I wouldn't normally recommend Combat Casting but I think his was a wise decision.2. You've already maxed a skill but want that extra bump so that you can succeed when taking ten. Or because that extra bump will make it practically impossible to fail. Or because the extra bump will let you pull off difficult tricks (like taking the -10 to hide for moving at full speed and still succeeding).So, for instance, a 12 int 6th level rogue with a +12 disable device (9 ranks, 1 int, 2 mwk tools) could invest in Nimble Fingers for a +14 or Skill focus for a +15. That would pump his skill high enough that he'd just need a heroism and a guidance spell to disarm a glyph of warding while taking ten. If he's starting to run into magical traps, that's probably worth it.Similarly, a sneaky character who's already done everything he can to maximize his hide and move silently but regularly still runs into foes who can spot him if he rolls poorly and they roll well might take the feats so as to have a better chance of sneaking when he needs multiple rolls to succeed. (Sneaking past a gate guarded by 8 sentries for instance--especially if he needs to cover 60-90 feet in order to do that. (In that case, even if his hide/move silently is 16 points better than his enemies' spot skills, he's still only got just over a 50% chance of succeeding). The character might also do it so that he will usually stay hidden and silent even when taking the -10 penalty for moving full speed. (Even a 9th level ranger with a 20 dex, mithral chain shirt, max ranks, and elven cloak/boots would only be at +12 to hide/move silently after the -10 penalty. And that means that he'd only have a 40% chance of sneaking past 8 guards with a +1 modifier. Adding another +2 makes that a 65% chance).The first case obviously doesn't fit your ranger.The second will only fit your ranger if you plan on either LOTS of sneaking or sneaking at full speed.</blockquote>

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