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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hawken" data-source="post: 2822936" data-attributes="member: 23619">Instead of per level/season/year, why not just make it every month and don't worry about levels. If a skill isn't used in that month, they get a -1 circumstance penalty. This is cumulative with each additional month after that the skill is not used. The maximum circumstance penalty for not using a skill = skill rank. If you use the unused skill at least 1/week for the next month, then the penalty is gone. You could also waive the penalty when the character advances a level or puts a point into that skill (even a .5 point for cross-class would be enough to negate the non-use penalty). If the penalty is -2, it would take two months of steady use to remove the penalty. For dealing with synergy bonuses, simply subtract the penalty from the rank in the skill and if the value is less than 5, the synergy bonus is lost. Ex: Character has 6 ranks in Tumble, but due to a lack of adventure, had no reason to use the skill the past two months, so he gets a -2 circumstance penalty to that skill. 6 ranks - 2 pt penalty = 4; since that is less than the 5 ranks needed to grant a synergy bonus, he would lose his +2 synergy bonus to Jump. (Excuse me if I have the skills wrong or backwards, but you should still see the point). I would make skills that are the subject of certain feats or special abilities (Skill Focus, Skill Mastery ability, etc.) not subject to the circumstance penalty for non-use since special training was involved with their development. This has the added benefit of staying in line with the PHB/SRD rules and the allotted number of skill points per class/level. Others have posted about how their skills have atrophied to the point of uselessness, but their examples are also measured out over years, not months or seasons. So, I don't think their reasons would necessarily apply here.</blockquote>

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