I'm gonna have a crack at guessing the 4E skill list. I'm sure it'll be way off-base, but, hey, it's something to do!
So we know that (a) there are about half the number of skills; (b) combining thematically is the way forward; (c) "knowledge" seems to be out.
Here's the 3.5 skill list for reference:
OK, first to apply changes we know about for sure, taken from the 4E Info page and adding in the latest R&C info:
Applying those changes, I get the following:
Arcana
Balance
Bluff
Climb
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Disable Device
Disguise
Dungeoneering
Escape Artist
Handle Animal
Heal
History
Insight
Intimidate
Jump
Open Lock/Sleight of Hand
Perception
Perform
Religion
Ride
Speak Language
Stealth
Streetwise
Survival
Swim
Tumble
Use Magic Device
That drops the list to 28 skills. We're looking for a list of about 18 skills (give or take), so we need to cull that by another 8-10 skills somehow.
Complete guesses now:
So my list now looks like this:
Acrobatics
Arcana
Climb
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Disguise
Dungeoneering
Escape Artist
Handle Animal
Heal
History
Insight
Intimidate
Open Lock/Sleight of Hand/Disable Device
Perception
Perform
Religion
Ride
Speak Language
Stealth
Streetwise
Survival
Swim
That brings us down to 22, which is the right ballpark. Things which don't "feel right" now, given those changes, include:
Decipher Script
Speak Language
Thoughts? Have I missed anything? Would you interpret the info differently?
So we know that (a) there are about half the number of skills; (b) combining thematically is the way forward; (c) "knowledge" seems to be out.
Here's the 3.5 skill list for reference:
SRD said:Appraise
Balance
Bluff
Climb
Concentration
Craft
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Disable Device
Disguise
Escape Artist
Forgery
Gather Information
Handle Animal
Heal
Hide
Intimidate
Jump
Knowledge
Listen
Move Silently
Open Lock
Perform
Profession
Ride
Search
Sense Motive
Sleight Of Hand
Speak Language
Spellcraft
Spot
Survival
Swim
Tumble
Use Magic Device
Use Rope
OK, first to apply changes we know about for sure, taken from the 4E Info page and adding in the latest R&C info:
- Getting rid of tailor [I read that as Craft/Profession], Rope Use, etc. (source).
- Can roll critical failure on a skill check (source).
- History, Streetwise, Religion, Diplomacy, Intimidation, Insight (source).
- Listen & Spot; Move Silently & Hide; Open Lock and Sleight of Hand is combined. Knowledge (Arcana), Spellcraft and Read Magic is combined to Arcane (source: R&C).
- Arcana, Insight, History, Diplomacy, Dungeoneering (source).
Applying those changes, I get the following:
Arcana
Balance
Bluff
Climb
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Disable Device
Disguise
Dungeoneering
Escape Artist
Handle Animal
Heal
History
Insight
Intimidate
Jump
Open Lock/Sleight of Hand
Perception
Perform
Religion
Ride
Speak Language
Stealth
Streetwise
Survival
Swim
Tumble
Use Magic Device
That drops the list to 28 skills. We're looking for a list of about 18 skills (give or take), so we need to cull that by another 8-10 skills somehow.
Complete guesses now:
- Jump/Tumble/Balance to combine to Acrobatics.
- Bluff/Diplomacy to combine to Diplomacy.
- Use Magic Device to go (just a gut feeling since the magic system is being so revamped).
- Disable Device into Sleight of Hand/Open Lock (need a name for that).
So my list now looks like this:
Acrobatics
Arcana
Climb
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Disguise
Dungeoneering
Escape Artist
Handle Animal
Heal
History
Insight
Intimidate
Open Lock/Sleight of Hand/Disable Device
Perception
Perform
Religion
Ride
Speak Language
Stealth
Streetwise
Survival
Swim
That brings us down to 22, which is the right ballpark. Things which don't "feel right" now, given those changes, include:
Decipher Script
Speak Language
Thoughts? Have I missed anything? Would you interpret the info differently?