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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kerrick" data-source="post: 4549384" data-attributes="member: 4722">I'm dividing the total score by 3, not each individual modifier. At most, you'll have 1 or 2 points left over at any given time. Pathfinder adds a +3 bonus to all class skills, you'll automatically have a +1 in any class skill you have ranks in.It's the same thing they do with the fractional BAB/saves system - high saves are +0.5; low saves are +0.33. So, a Ftr 10 would have Fort +7, Ref +3.3, Will +3.3. You don't "lose" the remainder - it's just rounded down, but it still counts if you multiclass. For example, the fighter takes a level in rogue, so he'd gain +0.33 Fort, +2 Ref, and +0.33 Will, for a total of Fort +7.33, Ref +5.3, and Will +6.63 (or +7/+5/+6).You are correct, but I'd rather not mess with ability score modifiers.Yeah, but we run into the same problem as before - he can make a DC 15 check 60% of the time, a DC 20 35%, and DC 25 10%.After doing some quick calculations, I think this system might work, but it would definitely need some playtesting. I took a PC with a focused skill (meaning one he'll use a lot, and which works off a high ability score, like Stealth for rogues) and applied: max ranks + stat bonus (+3 to start) + misc mods (2/3 level; this is a rough guess). The results were surprising (I'm only going to list the DC 10 results; subtract 25% for each +5 of the DC to get the other results):At L1, the PC could make a DC 10 check 65% of the time; 75% at L5, 90% at L10, 100% at L15, and 115% at L20. I'm not sure why the curve flattens out at the higher levels, but a L20 PC has only a 40% chance of making a DC 25 check. The further out you take it (level vs. DC), the flatter the curve becomes, until it's very hard to make anything above DC 40 (it's a 30% chance for a L45 PC to make a DC 45 check).So I tried it with skill total divided by 2 instead. It's definitely too high - you're auto-succeeding at a check at the same level (i.e., a L15 is over 100% for a DC 15 check). This leads me to believe that dividing by 3 is the correct way to do it. Although, I could be overestimating the misc. modifiers, too - I checked a few of my PCs, and they didn't have a whole lot of modifiers beyond stat mods.Finally, I tried with a non-focused class skill (one that is not used as often and doesn't have a high score tied to it, like Climb for rogues). I figured the ranks would be about 3/4 level, reduced the stat bonus, and gave only 1/3 class level for modifiers. The chances are slightly over half what they are for a focused skill - a L20 PC can make a DC 20 check 45% of the time.Conclusion: As I said, this needs some playtesting to be sure. I find it very interesting how the curve flattens out at the high end, like the law of diminishing returns - you're effectively reaching the pinnacle of what is possible, and it becomes ever harder to accomplish, no matter how high you go. It's vaguely reminiscent of the chase to reach absolute 0 - we've gotten within trillionths of a degree of reaching it, but we'll never actually get there. I like it; it means that you can have a range of what can be reasonably done by mortals. The chances of auto-succeeding on a check don't occur until you're 10 levels over the DC (which is perfectly fine, IMO - that's about how it should be). I'll attach the Excel sheet I used to calculate this, for anyone who's interested.</blockquote>

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