synergy bonuses

[BMM]

Give a +2 synergy bonus for every 5 ranks in a skill, not just the first five.

A good idea or not?

 

[Crothian]

ELH has it that they get +2 for every extra 20 ranks. I think 20 ranks is way to many, but every 5 ranks seem to be too much. I think every 15 ranks would be better.

 

[BMM]

Hmmm, I did not know that since I do not have ELH. 20 ranks for a +2 bonus sounds a bit much.

 

[ATO_DM]

If you do what you are proposing be prepared for characters to have stupidly high Bluff and Ride skills.

Thereby making them ridiculously hard to hit while mounted, and be able to feint without much chance of failure during combat. In case you don't know what a feint does it causes the defender to be considered flat-footed if successful, hence Sneak Attack Damage in melee.

So, your players will degenerate into a pack of vicious Ranger/Rogues if they see the flaw in your idea.

 

[FANGO]

No, actually, Bluff does not make a person flat-footed. If it did, my Iaijutsu master would indeed be very happy. Flat-footed is a specific condition that happens only in very specific circumstances, and that inbludes not only denying your dex bonus to AC but also disallows one from making attacks of opportunity. Feinting makes the defender lose their dex bonus to AC but does NOT make them flat-footed...it may not be a huge distinction, but it is a very important one (and one that keeps Iaijutsu masters from doing +9d6+9xChrmod 4 times a round with little chance of failure).

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

I would say that perhaps another +1 only after you take the lesser of the 2 at the time of the first bonus and move it up another 5 ranks. Did that make sense? So a total of +3 is the best you can do.