Skills, and the unified progress + bonuses

[Atlatl Jones]

We still don't know how skills are going to work. Some have suggested that they work like they do in SWSE, with a universal progression of +1/2 levels, +5 for skill training, and +5 for skill focus. Some others think that we'll keep skill ranks in some way.

I wonder if we'll see some combination of the two. We know that for saves & attacks, we're going to have a +1 / 2 levels, with each class getting bonuses to certain saves & attacks. If we have ranks, then the max ranks could be +1/2 levels, + a bonus for "class skills". That would make class skills less of a penalty than in 3e, while making certain classes better at the skills they're specialized in. The class-skill-based bonus could even be a straight bonus, and ranks are only used to buy the +1/2 ranks.

Or maybe it will just work like SWSE.

 

[TwinBahamut]

While I have yet to actualy see the SWSE skill rules myself or play with them, I like the simplicity. Calculating skill ranks while levelling up is one of my least favorite things about D&D, is highly prone to error, and really reduces your options as a character compared to the SWSE rules.

I am hoping that the character concept straightjacket called class skills and cross-class skills goes away.

 

[Kunimatyu]

If stats go up by +1 every 2 levels, I doubt skill ranks are even necessary, just a flat bonus would suffice.

 

[DreamChaser]

If stats go up by +1 every 2 levels, I doubt skill ranks are even necessary, just a flat bonus would suffice.

Who said stats are going up every other level? There is no indication I've seen to this effect. We know that certain bonuses (BAB and Defense) are increasing at that rate but the Spined Devil with a strength of 19 still has only a +4 to damage.

DC