Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="kenada" data-source="post: 9098047" data-attributes="member: 70468">Pathfinder has explored this. Pathfinder Unchained introduced <a href="https://pathfinder.d20srd.org/unchained/skillsAndOptions/skillUnlocks.html" target="_blank">skill unlocks</a>, which lets you do new things with skills as you gain proficiency ranks. Pathfinder 2e goes a different direction with <a href="https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?Traits=144" target="_blank">skill feats</a>. Do they do what you propose? Well, that’s the problem.If you treat them as unlocking new capabilities, then the implication is you cannot even attempt them without the appropriate capability. It’s like how there is no way to cast delayed blast fireball when all you know is the fireball spell. If you don’t have the appropriate no-tools ability, then you cannot pick locks without tools. The problem is that’s not how people want to use skills. You see this criticism levied at PF2.The response typically is to point out that skill feats are allowing you to do something at a reduced cost. The activity takes less time, you can perform it at a reduced DC, or it might allow you to get more out of your roll. I think that’s a good approach for Pathfinder, but is that what you want? It doesn’t seem like it. I’m not sure this is really solvable in a D&amp;D-like game without making major changes to how skills work and are used by the system.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="kenada, post: 9098047, member: 70468"] Pathfinder has explored this. [I]Pathfinder Unchained[/I] introduced [URL='https://pathfinder.d20srd.org/unchained/skillsAndOptions/skillUnlocks.html']skill unlocks[/URL], which lets you do new things with skills as you gain proficiency ranks. Pathfinder 2e goes a different direction with [URL='https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?Traits=144']skill feats[/URL]. Do they do what you propose? Well, that’s the problem. If you treat them as unlocking new capabilities, then the implication is you [I]cannot[/I] even attempt them without the appropriate capability. It’s like how there is no way to cast [I]delayed blast fireball[/I] when all you know is the [I]fireball[/I] spell. If you don’t have the appropriate no-tools ability, then you [I]cannot[/I] pick locks without tools. The problem is that’s not how people want to use skills. You see this criticism levied at PF2. The response typically is to point out that skill feats are allowing you to do something at a reduced cost. The activity takes less time, you can perform it at a reduced DC, or it might allow you to get more out of your roll. I think that’s a good approach for Pathfinder, but is that what you want? It doesn’t seem like it. I’m not sure this is really solvable in a D&D-like game without making major changes to how skills work and are used by the system. [/QUOTE]

Verification