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Message: <blockquote data-quote="bouncyhead" data-source="post: 5794367" data-attributes="member: 19115">How about:1E/2E style (the basic core game)  - no name skills. You add relevant ability mod + (level/2) + int mod to d20 to perform certain tasks. So to bluff a guard the check might be CHA mod + (level/2) + Int mod + d20. No skill block on the character sheet.3E/4E style - you get skill points based on int and level to allocate as you wish, thus min/maxing between name skills. So you become good at some things and trade off by being not-so-good at others. Skill ranking is thus as in 3E: ranks (based on level and int) + relevant ability mod. So to bluff the same guard you make a Bluff check: Bluff ranking (ranks + CHA mod) + d20. You don't get to make a straight CHA roll as above if you've taken the name skills option.Thus the 1e style character is equally average at everything, the key variable being the relevant ability modifier for the task at hand. 3E style characters are specialists but net no better off across all challenges? But they can both play at the same table and use the same base mechanic (d20 + mod v DC) to overcome challenges. You could still have take 10 or take 20.Sorry, hamfisted explanation and of course there's the (dreaded for some) 1/2 level mod in there.</blockquote>