D&D 3E/3.5 Skill point adjustments to 3.5 D&D

[arche]

My game group has been talking a bit more about skill points and how few some classes get. As the DM, I'm seriously thinking of making the adjustment, but really would like feedback before I initiate something as someone here may have had other experiences with it or thoughts.

I would like to increase the number of skills offered to certain classes so that players have the opportunity to make more interesting characters. The idea is not to change the rogue or bard as they're just fine, but I'd like to make the minimum skill points earned per core class to be 4 rather than 2. This would bump up all classes that have only 2 skills to 4, but leave the others alone.

Now the main reason I don't think this would be a problem is that I'd still keep the same class/cross-class tables. This would allow there to still be a limit on some of the skill points a character can have in one skill, but will allow for players to take more skills.

Has anyone tried this or are there any thoughts on this type of change?

 

[Laman Stahros]

This is what I do in my current campaign, and I have not had any problems. Personally, I think the whole thing about number of skill points per level being a balancing issue between classes is bunk. If it wasn't, then I would be having problems left and right. Ah, well.

 

[Darren Ravenshaw]

I have a houserule that all classes(core and prestige) have a minimum of (4+Int) skill points per level and have found no problem with it. It helps character creation because players don't have to have a high Intelligence just to have enough skill points to have the skills they want their characters to have. It also allows for not so bright characters(Low Intelligence) without completely crippling their skill selection.

 

[fourthmensch]

I've wanted to do this for some time, ever since I played Star Wars (all classes in SW but Soldier have 4skills[level). So no one's had any problems with it?

 

[Vrecknidj]

You could have problems with adding in skill points, I think, if the right skills were selected. For example, maxing out Tumble and Jump makes a character a lot more powerful in melee combat. Also, maxing out Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate and Sense Motive could alter the outcome of some encounters.

I think that if you're going to mess with the skills, then you have to either 1) give the same option to NPCs and monsters, or 2) restrict what skills can be selected with the extra skill points you're giving away, or 3) bump all the classes up by the same amount, and then maybe tweak the CRs, ELs or xp of encounters downward just a touch.

Dave

 

[ARandomGod]

My game group has been talking a bit more about skill points and how few some classes get. As the DM, I'm seriously thinking of making the adjustment, but really would like feedback before I initiate something as someone here may have had other experiences with it or thoughts.

I would like to increase the number of skills offered to certain classes so that players have the opportunity to make more interesting characters. The idea is not to change the rogue or bard as they're just fine, but I'd like to make the minimum skill points earned per core class to be 4 rather than 2. This would bump up all classes that have only 2 skills to 4, but leave the others alone.

Now the main reason I don't think this would be a problem is that I'd still keep the same class/cross-class tables. This would allow there to still be a limit on some of the skill points a character can have in one skill, but will allow for players to take more skills.

Has anyone tried this or are there any thoughts on this type of change?

First I want to point out that increasing some but not all is not completely fair to those who remain unincreased...

OK, so you're only changing fighters and some primary casters... but still, making those effective in this way tangentially decreased the effectiveness of the rogue and the ranger.

Having said that, a lot of people have increased the number of skill points available.

Others have instead changed skills so that they encompass more than one current skill. Like Hide/move silently and spot/listen.
Or swim/balance/jump (athletics).

One houserule that I always favor is the human +1 skill point per level always working as if it were a class skill... IE, you can put that skill point in anything, as if it were a class skill. It's an interesting variation and it makes humans even more flexible. If you want increased flexibility for all give every race this +1` and give humans +2....

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I set minimum Skill Points at 4, as well. No problems so far.

 

[Jeb McDonald]

What I've done (and may have gotten the idea from the ENWorld site) is to eliminate cross-class skill costs while keeping the maximum ranks in a cross class skill equal to half the max ranks of a class skill. Thus, a fighter can pick up a rank of Knowledge (religion) for only one skill point, but his max ranks is still (level + 3)/2 for his cross-class skills.

 

[Elrik_DarkFury]

Give a small number of free skill points per level that everyone can in less potent skills(knowledge (history) or profession ).
That way you can add flavor to the characters without unbalancing the game by decreasing the efectiveness of classes as rogue or bard.


_________________
The Wizard

 

[Merlion]

It doesnt decrease their effectiveness. They still have just as many skill points as they did before.

Rogues are hard not to impinge on a bit because everything they do and have is stuff anyone should be able to do via skills and/or feats


Bards and Rangers have all sorts of other class features anyway.

Its really more realstic for everyone to have more skill points, because most people have what would be at least a few ranks in a freak of a lot of skills.