Inconsequenti-AL
Breaks Games
In one memorable city campaign. Gather information was useless. We couldn't afford the D6Gp to use it 
Skills that PC shouldn't get?
- Thread starter dreaded_beast
- Start date
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
I've actually had a character use forgery with tremendous success, but it doesn't happen very often. As a DM, I also try to require balance checks fairly often; it drives the clumsy fighter-types with heavy armor nuts.
But appraise, innuendo, intuit direction, use rope, decipher script, read lips? All just about useless.
But appraise, innuendo, intuit direction, use rope, decipher script, read lips? All just about useless.
Li Shenron
Legend
Piratecat said:
Right, I thought it was 3.5 question... In 3.0 I should have definitely added Innuendo, Intuit Direction and Read Lips.
Use Rope and Decipher Script have seen quite enough use IOC to say they are useful.
I also want to add that Appraise could be used at every item found by the PCs, but no DM I have seen has though it was a nice idea, and so told the PCs either the right value or nothing. I suppose the skill could be of a HUGE use in a setting (Al-Qadim?) where there is no real market price but rather a habit to trade more freely. But that may definitely complicate the whole thing...
I think Use rope is about the only skill my players don't use. they have used forgery but not to often becuase when they needed it the only player with it has only a few ranks, so they didn't wantto take the chance. About every other skill has been used.
Admitted I call for a lot of skill checks and am more a GM who allows players to try a skill roll with skills that are barely related I assign DC's in accordance to what skill is being used. Fighting an Outsider is a Knowledge Planes check but also arcana and religion just the DC shifts depending on what skill is being applied but I almost always give them a chance. My players tend to use the skills they have if possible, The Elven Bladesinger has had a ring of jump from eraly on in the game so tends to use jump as a combat/mobility skill becuase he is good at it. he has sunk ranks in it seeing that its actually very useful. Why waste a fly on something he can jump across.
Decipher script has been used as a cryptography skill in my game. I tend to allow unique uses to skills if the players can figure out how to apply a skill.
Later
Admitted I call for a lot of skill checks and am more a GM who allows players to try a skill roll with skills that are barely related I assign DC's in accordance to what skill is being used. Fighting an Outsider is a Knowledge Planes check but also arcana and religion just the DC shifts depending on what skill is being applied but I almost always give them a chance. My players tend to use the skills they have if possible, The Elven Bladesinger has had a ring of jump from eraly on in the game so tends to use jump as a combat/mobility skill becuase he is good at it. he has sunk ranks in it seeing that its actually very useful. Why waste a fly on something he can jump across.
Decipher script has been used as a cryptography skill in my game. I tend to allow unique uses to skills if the players can figure out how to apply a skill.
Later
Altamont Ravenard
Explorer
The skills I've very rarely or never seen use of are:
- the craft and profession skills. No downtime.
- Animal empathy. No nature lovers.
- Decipher script.
- Disable device. No rogues bother searching for traps!
- Disguise.
- Escape artist.
- Forgery. Yes even in evil roguish city-based games.
- Handle animal
- Innuendo
- Open lock. Why bother when you can smash through?
- Read Lips
- Use Rope.
AR
- the craft and profession skills. No downtime.
- Animal empathy. No nature lovers.
- Decipher script.
- Disable device. No rogues bother searching for traps!
- Disguise.
- Escape artist.
- Forgery. Yes even in evil roguish city-based games.
- Handle animal
- Innuendo
- Open lock. Why bother when you can smash through?
- Read Lips
- Use Rope.
AR
diaglo
Adventurer
appraise...many DMs like to just tell you the value.
balance...other than a few spots listed in adventures..hardly ever used.
concentrate...important only for the spellcasters. and then only for a few ranks.
decipher script...magic is so much easier...makes this useless
disguise...an NPC skill..hardly any PCs use it...they use magic instead
forgery...another NPC skill
heal...magic...or very few ranks needed. a very wasted skill
ride...unless there are a lot of mounted combats...usually DMs let the PCs off their mounts first
swim...not much use
use rope...unless the DM is a stickler.
balance...other than a few spots listed in adventures..hardly ever used.
concentrate...important only for the spellcasters. and then only for a few ranks.
decipher script...magic is so much easier...makes this useless
disguise...an NPC skill..hardly any PCs use it...they use magic instead
forgery...another NPC skill
heal...magic...or very few ranks needed. a very wasted skill
ride...unless there are a lot of mounted combats...usually DMs let the PCs off their mounts first
swim...not much use
use rope...unless the DM is a stickler.
Malk
First Post
I would have to say that the only skill that i've really *never* seen used is Use Magic Device. Now I know its a wonderfull skill to have around, but never seen it come up. Every other skill that has been talked about on this thread has played a vital role in our games. It seems like we always need to jump across a cavern or forge some piece of information, and the various dm's always allow sense motive in appropriate situations. We once became lost for most of a session because no one had intuit direction, and I hate to play a rogue without use rope for fear that my prisoners will escape or that I'll crash to the floor during a burglery. Now I will say that I have actualy only seen the decipher script skill used once, but thinking about it leads me to believe that it my be my responsibilty as a dm to allow the rogue a chance to use some of his more varied skills.
Kemrain
First Post
Balance, Climb, Disguse, Jump and Swim bearly get any use, but every other skill has been used, at least twice.
I have to make an appraise check simply to determing the quality of a sword before I buy it. It's a low DC, and being allowed to swing it around for a few minutes makes it even easier, but the fact that I have to roll to figure out if the blade is masterwork, or perhapse mastercraft.
Decipher Script has been used, a few times, because one of the NPC's we all know and love (grr) has an annoying habit of leaving cryptic clues about when we're looking for him. Sometimes notes. Sometimes, with a decent roll, hints are given about said notes.
When everyone multiclasses heavily, it's often easier to get your Escape Artist up WAY above your grapple bonus, especially with finesse fighters.
Use Rops can be useful, if you're tying up an unconscious prisoner, and you're pretty sure he has no ranks in escape artist, and your dex mod is higher. Take 20 - Useful even without ranks.
- Kemrain the Unfortunately Skilled.
I have to make an appraise check simply to determing the quality of a sword before I buy it. It's a low DC, and being allowed to swing it around for a few minutes makes it even easier, but the fact that I have to roll to figure out if the blade is masterwork, or perhapse mastercraft.
Decipher Script has been used, a few times, because one of the NPC's we all know and love (grr) has an annoying habit of leaving cryptic clues about when we're looking for him. Sometimes notes. Sometimes, with a decent roll, hints are given about said notes.
When everyone multiclasses heavily, it's often easier to get your Escape Artist up WAY above your grapple bonus, especially with finesse fighters.
Use Rops can be useful, if you're tying up an unconscious prisoner, and you're pretty sure he has no ranks in escape artist, and your dex mod is higher. Take 20 - Useful even without ranks.
- Kemrain the Unfortunately Skilled.
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