skill points and cross class skills(kinda long)

[durath]

OK I got the game Never Winter Nights and the game has spawned a big question for me.

Here is the problem. Everyone knows that if you purchase a cross class skill it costs 2 skill points for 1 rank and that you cannot raise cross class skills have a max. rank of half of your class skills. Simple enough.

So, let's say you have 2 classes(let's say rogue/wizard). As a rogue move silently is a class skill, but as a wizard it would be cross class. Now let us assume your first level was rogue and you pumped 4 skill points into move silently(4 ranks). Now when you hit level 2 and take a level in Wizard move silently is a cross class skill. Simple enough.So for class skills your max ranks is 5 and cross class is 2.5 Here's my question...finally

Can you raise your move silently to 5 ranks if you pay the 2 skill points required even though it is cross class? I have always assumed so but in the game NWN it won't let you. I assume this is because since you are buying the skill cross class that you are already above the cap(you already have 4 ranks due to your level in rogue and since you leveled in Wizard the most you could have for that class is 2.5 thus you can't raise it.)

How do you all handle this?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

As long as it is not an exclusive skill, it is considered a class skill for purposes of max ranks. You still have to spend the 2 skill points to raise it one rank in your example. The answer, then, is yes. You may spend the 2 points and raise it to 5 ranks.

Don't pay too much attention to NWN when it comes to these kinds of things. It is close, but not precisely 3e core.

 

[dr_nukem]

I too have had this dillema...

As a group, we play the MAX skill if you have had the skill as part of one of your classes. So, in your example, the Rog1/Wiz1 could have 5 ranks in hide. 4 coming from the Rogue class and 1 (costing 2) from the Wizard class.

Having said that, I don't think that is really how the rules should be interpretted.

I think that you should only be able to have a total rank in a skill based on the appropriate class levels you have chosen. If you pick a cross class skill, then you should only be able to get .5 a rank per level...not simply have to pay 2 points for it.

Option 2 is a bit more complicated but I think it is closer to the true nature of the game/class. I think it also helps prevent the 1 level of any class just to get the class skill at a high level munchin in us all...

 

[Archer]

Your ranks in a skill are something for presitige classes. Now that you can have a +200 epic skill item for 400k or a +20 ordinary skill item for 8k, the base ranks only matter for things that only count base ranks or if you are under level 5. There is no munchkin value in taking a class just so you have higher max ranks unless there is a prestige class with a lot of high skill rank requirement. (less than 1%)

 

[Christian]

As a group, we play the MAX skill if you have had the skill as part of one of your classes. So, in your example, the Rog1/Wiz1 could have 5 ranks in hide. 4 coming from the Rogue class and 1 (costing 2) from the Wizard class.

Having said that, I don't think that is really how the rules should be interpretted.

No, no, your group is doing it right. PH page 56, first paragraph on the page.

 

[durath]

debate settled

Thank you for the reference page Chritian. I knew that I had read that somewhere but then I started playing NWN and got freaked out by the way they handled skill points for multiclass charcacters.

I guess CRPGS haven't totally caught up with pen and paper yet.

 

[dr_nukem]

No, no, your group is doing it right. PH page 56, first paragraph on the page.

Not having the book handy, I can't read the section...

Given that, I still feel this doesn't fit with the flavour of the game and will House Rule accordingly.

Thanks for the discussion...

 

[nsruf]

Re: debate settled

I guess CRPGS haven't totally caught up with pen and paper yet.

Yup, if the computer makes all calculations, there is little room for debating confusing rules. P&P is just so much more fun - even before you start playing