Trading Skill Points for Non-Skills

[Creamsteak]

Disclaimer: I have no intention of ever using these concepts in my own game, but I was curious as to how to do them, and would like contributions from the community.


I was considering what other types of training could be traded off for skill points gained every level. How many skill points would some of these things cost? Would there be pre-requisites for these abilities? What kind?


My Example
Fire Resistance (6 ranks per 1 point) - Characters can gain Fire Resistance of 1 per every 6 ranks of skill points they focus into this ability. Gaining Fire Resistance involves extremely difficult mental and physical conditioning to extreme heat. This resistance does not stack with any other kind of fire resistance, such as resistance from a spell or magic item.

Cold Resistance (6 ranks per 1 point) - Characters can gain Cold Resistance of 1 per every 6 ranks of skill points they focus into this ability. Gaining Cold Resistance involves extremely difficult mental and physical conditioning to extreme cold. This resistance does not stack with any other kind of cold resistance, such as resistance from a spell or magic item.

Heightened Strength (9 ranks per 1 point) - Long term physical training has enhanced your characters physical strength beyond it's original definition. This is an inherent bonus.

Heightened Dexterity (9 ranks per 1 point) - Constant practice in all areas of speed and precision pay off in an enhanced ability to use those practices. This is an inherent bonus.

Heightened Constitution (9 ranks per 1 point) - Tolerating harsh circumstances and dealing with extreme fatigue have helped you increase your physical resistance in all forms. This is an inherent bonus.

Heightened Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma (9 ranks per 1 point) - Constant practice and use of your abilities have allowed you to enhance your own abilities in either Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma specifically. This is an inherent bonus.

* Bonuses to Saves (+1 for 9 skill points)
* Bonuses to Movement Speed (5 ft. for 9 skill points)
* Bonus Damage Reduction (1 point for 12 skill points)
* Bonus Weapon Proficiency (1 simple proficiency for 1 point, 1 martial proficiency for 3 points, 1 exotic proficiency for 6 points)



This concept was brough up by my friend Phil who has always been a little bit upset with the lack of 'learning' new abilities in DnD. He's always been a big fan of using a non-proficient weapon for a few levels, and only then taking a feat for it. This was just my take on a 'possible' way to handle it.

 

[Phaedrus]

Hmmm... an interesting idea, but I'm not sure about balance (not that I'm a guru, though!).

9 points for an ability increase. Human fighter, Int 10 gets 3 skill pts/level.

That means +1 STR per 3 levels.

I think I'd be willing to dump ranks in Ride or Climb or Jump for that...

 

[LightPhoenix]

Hmmm... an interesting idea, but I'm not sure about balance (not that I'm a guru, though!).

9 points for an ability increase. Human fighter, Int 10 gets 3 skill pts/level.

That means +1 STR per 3 levels.

I think I'd be willing to dump ranks in Ride or Climb or Jump for that...

Or worse, a 16 Int Rogue gets 11 points a level... hell, make it an 18 Int Rogue for 12 points a level. +1 Dex a level is pretty nice too.

In theory it sounds good, but in practice it doesn't seem like it would be balanced at all.

 

[Creamsteak]

I probably should have mentioned that the max skills-per level rule would apply here. So the most you could theoretically get is a +2 to each stat (18 skill points each, totally 108 skill points).

And I don't think it's balanced with the rules myself, just interesting in concept.

 

[Al]

Potentially open to abuse.

For example, Munchkin Bob wants to make a human fighter. He reads the new system and comes up with a cunning plan, by taking level one in rogue, netting him 36 skill points, which he dumps into +2 Strength and +2 Constitution. Then, he multiclasses into fighter. He's more than compensated for the -1 BAB, the Con bonus makes up for the loss of hit points even over two levels (and over his career will hugely benefit him) and he's gained sneak attack, trapfinding and all the 1st level rogue jazz for the cost of a fighter feat. His mate, Munchkin Jim, wanting to build a human wizard, latches on to the idea, starts as an Int 17 rogue with 48 skill points and buffs his Int by five points, not only increasing his wizardly abilities over time, but actually gaining on his investment due to the increased skill points from a higher Int (and, moreover, in the skills that he wants to put them in!)

 

[CRGreathouse]

I probably should have mentioned that the max skills-per level rule would apply here. [...]

He reads the new system and comes up with a cunning plan, by taking level one in rogue, netting him 36 skill points, which he dumps into +2 Strength and +2 Constitution.

If you're limited by ranks (max = character level + 3), then the rogue abuse is out... you could only put 4 ranks into Str and Con, unless you took it at a higher level -- in which case the rogue only gets 9 skill points (+1 to Str or Con), not really enough of a problem to be an abuse.


I still don't like the system as is, especially with the disparity between different classes and their skill points.

 

[Creamsteak]

Yes, it does seem to warrant a need for skill points to be equilized a bit.

 

[Tywyll]

Yes, it does seem to warrant a need for skill points to be equilized a bit.

The concept is interesting, but I don't think that the stats should be modded by skill points, ever, especially since skill points are already modded by stats.

However, the other ideas might have merit. Perhaps a trade of skill points for an extra feat (though that would have to be CAREFULLY moderated to avoid abuse). Maybe a system whereby you use skill points to improve class abilities (not my idea, something out of Character Customizer).