Two extra skill points per level (and character backgrounds)

[Psion]

Interesting, and off topic, but I will have to look into find me some of those but how good are the fantasy SO anyhow?

Well, to be frank, the SOs in the Player's Archive are not my favorite. Some are good starting points for work that I am doing (like Sailor), but others bother me a bit (Adademic). I think the fundamental problem is tha SOs are made assuming a structure much like d20 modern's which doesn't really have much correspondance between base class and career. In D&D, your class is much closer to your career, and I don't think that Phil deviated enough from the d20 modern model to make it work in D&D. (That said, making an academic sorcerer would cure some bellyaches I currently have with the sorcerer, but that might be a bit biased...)

I'm picturing player backgrounds as a bit more regional thing, with perhaps 2-4 background options per region.

 

[farscapesg1]

I'd only be wary of the cookie cutter problem where everyone has one particular skill, i.e. spot due to an abundance of points. Mind you that can be dealt with by the dm on occasion only calling for the highest roll (i.e. rewarding only the best pc & marginalizing the others regardless of their ability), & limiting the ability points for each character thereby punishing over-duplication that creates a glaring party weakness.

I just remember when I allowed a swap & swap out class skill at 1st level & almost the entire party had spot.

Now see, this strikes me as one of the reasons that the skill system needs a lot of work. If every player wants to use a certain weapon or certain spell, we say it is broken. If every player wants to take a certain skill, we say that those skills need to be limited to only certain characters. Shouldn't we instead look at it as those skills are so critical to the game (spot and listen are the two major ones).

 

[Li Shenron]

I think the d20 skill system works well, and I also feel that some class skills aren't flexible enough.

...

I play a fairly skill based game, and I feel that the emphasis on skills should mean that the extra skill points are pretty essential for those with few SP/level, but the emphasis on skills should mean that classes that already have strong skills aren't losing out in the bargain.

IMHO it depends how your players are currently using their skill points.

Some skills work so that it is enough if one member of the party has it, e.g. Diplomacy, Search, Knowledge(any) or Disable Device. It is bad if no one has it, but if two have it there is not much improvement (there could actually be some bad side effect: if 2 PCs have good Disable Device, the one with better modifier always uses it and the other seldom uses it...).

Do you feel like your party is missing some of this kind of skills? If so, giving more points is a good idea.

Other skills are not so important for the whole party, or at least it is not essential to max them out at all cost (a few skills need to be maxed however).

I don't know what to say... more skill points aren't a big deal if everyone gets them (I'd give Rogues even +4 if you give +2 to everyone else), but also most players tend to spend those points in unnecessary skills. I'd be careful in watching how those extra sp gets spent...

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Well, to be frank, the SOs in the Player's Archive are not my favorite.

Well that’s the way I like you… Your frankness makes your opinion more valuable and trustworthy. Thanks, as always, for the honesty.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Now see, this strikes me as one of the reasons that the skill system needs a lot of work. If every player wants to use a certain weapon or certain spell, we say it is broken. If every player wants to take a certain skill, we say that those skills need to be limited to only certain characters. Shouldn't we instead look at it as those skills are so critical to the game (spot and listen are the two major ones).

I came to the conclusion when Haste was a topic that everyone using some mechanic was not a problem if the rules assumed this & promoted it: i.e. low dex fighters want magical fullplate. What was a problem was the unforeseen usage taking the game in a wrong direction: i.e. hasted pc's would kill monsters with a CR far above what they should be able.

Contrary to belief imo, spot & listen are not critical at all. Guard dogs with scent, familiars with darkvision, called mounts, alarm spells, crafted traps, Leadership feat, clear sight over open ground - there are a multitude of alternatives to specific problems that Spot & Listen cover.