Sources for Skill _Ranks_

[Sigurd]

I am cool with the idea that a prc requires ranks of a skill. These are distinct from bonuses and enforce a level entry requirement.

Question is are there ways to get bonus ranks that lower the requirements

Can people think of feats etc... that give bonus ranks. They must specifically be ranks not bonuses....


Sigurd

Are level buys the only source?

 

[irdeggman]

Nope - that is by design. Max ranks are solely based on character level (and then only on hit dice so LA doesn't not count).

 

[Musrum]

There was a 3.0 feat for Drow that allowed training up to level +5 ranks (I think). but it didn't get passed playtest...

 

[javcs]

There are feats that give skill points - those combined with Able Learner might have an effect similar to what you're looking for.

Jack of All Trades gives you a 1/2 rank in all skills (don't remember the exact terminology, but it is 1/2 rank for all skills, so you can use any skill.

 

[irdeggman]

There are feats that give skill points - those combined with Able Learner might have an effect similar to what you're looking for.

Doesn't increase max ranks allowed.

Able Learner only reduces the cost of all skills to 1 sp but doe not affect the max ranks allowed (that is cross class skills are still treated as cross class for purposes of max ranks)

Jack of All Trades gives you a 1/2 rank in all skills (don't remember the exact terminology, but it is 1/2 rank for all skills, so you can use any skill.

Nope.It allows you to make a skill check as if you had a 1/2 rank in a skill.

Unfortunately the rules say you need at least a full rank in a skill that can't be used untrained in order to use it. What the Jack of All Trades should have said was that you can make a skill attempt on any skill even if you had 0 ranks, trained only skills included. But it doesn't and hasn't been erratad yet.

 

[Sigurd]

I sorta figured but then, doesn't hurt to ask.

Its one of those things that if I was the DM I'd be certain but since I'm the player (for a change) I'm risking an open mind ...


Sigurd

 

[Edheldur]

Question is are there ways to get bonus ranks that lower the requirements

There are some magical books in a lot of supplements (WotC and 3rd party) that give ranks in a particular skill (ie: In the B4 Encounter of Expedition to the Demonweb Pits there is a "magic volume that (if read for 1 week) grants 1 rank in Knowledge (the planes)." )

Personally, I don't allow them since ranks SHOULD be tied to character level IMO.

 

[billd91]

There are some magical books in a lot of supplements (WotC and 3rd party) that give ranks in a particular skill (ie: In the B4 Encounter of Expedition to the Demonweb Pits there is a "magic volume that (if read for 1 week) grants 1 rank in Knowledge (the planes)." )

Personally, I don't allow them since ranks SHOULD be tied to character level IMO.

But even in that case, your max rank would still be determined by character level and so the rank requirements can still be a level-based barrier. You simply got an extra rank to spend in a very specific way. I don't necessarily see that as a problem (particularly with respect to knowledge skills) since the character is undergoing extra effort in order to get the ranks.

 

[Edheldur]

But even in that case, your max rank would still be determined by character level and so the rank requirements can still be a level-based barrier. You simply got an extra rank to spend in a very specific way. I don't necessarily see that as a problem (particularly with respect to knowledge skills) since the character is undergoing extra effort in order to get the ranks.

Yep... they still are a level based barrier. However, I still don't like items giving flat out ranks for any skill.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

You just can't do this in a published core class.

I have a version of the Expert NPC class that allows as its main features 10+Int modifier skill points and the levels in the class count double for the 3+level max ranks formula. They have all skills that can be used untrained and 3+INT modifier skills added into their class list. Furthermore they can choose to have 1 "good" progression - in BAB or saves.


A first level expert can get those synergy bonuses going, which is the reason some "skill based" PC's might consider the class.