What if all skills were allowed as class skills for all classes?

[Particle_Man]

Would this unbalance the game unduly? If so, in what ways?

 

[Blood Jester]

I think it would be a small ding to Rogues, but if you consider that most clases don't have enough skill points for the skills they want that *are* class skills (and rogues would still get the most), I think that it would add interesting variety w/o an undue unbalancing effect.

Heck I would do that and more to the skill system, but I think that is a minor tweak.

 

[phindar]

I don't think it'd make that big of a difference. Wizards, and other Int-based classes would see the biggest jump (as well as gain the ability to jump, for that matter). If a regular fighter wants to put his paltry 2 skill points into Sense Motive or Tumble, I really don't think it'll break the game. But a Wizard with max ranks in Hide, Move Silently, Spot and Tumble, in addition to his normal skills of Concentration and Know: Arcana, that is a pretty significant jump, especially at low to mid levels, compared to the characters without heavy Int-bonuses to spend.

 

[Lanefan]

I don't think it'd make that big of a difference. Wizards, and other Int-based classes would see the biggest jump (as well as gain the ability to jump, for that matter). If a regular fighter wants to put his paltry 2 skill points into Sense Motive or Tumble, I really don't think it'll break the game. But a Wizard with max ranks in Hide, Move Silently, Spot and Tumble, in addition to his normal skills of Concentration and Know: Arcana, that is a pretty significant jump, especially at low to mid levels, compared to the characters without heavy Int-bonuses to spend.

An answer here might be to untie skill bonus from Intelligence and tie it instead to a character's prime stat for its class...Wis for Clerics, Dex for Rogues, etc....if this gives some classes too much of a boost, just scale back the base skill points that class gets, to compensate.

Otherwise, this seems on the surface to be an elegant simplification...I like it.

Lanefan

 

[Screamwhip]

Thats almost what we do. We give all class skills to all classes, jump the fighter up to 4 skill points, and repay the rogue a bit by giving it a d8 hit die. It has worked very well, and everyone is happy with it.

 

[JVisgaitis]

I would be the happiest person ever. Multiclassing would be easier and you wouldn't have to track cross class skills. I think it would be a great improvement. I do think there would need to be some sort of compensation given to Rogues though so they don't suffer.

 

[blargney the second]

It works better than fine in our games. I consider it a vast improvement to D&D's skill system. Creating NPCs and creatures is much much easier.

 

[RangerWickett]

I would like Int not to modify skill points. Makes math a pain, especially for statting wizards who get Int boosts as they level.

 

[Voadam]

I do this in my game. I have not had any problems. It makes double checking the math on high level PCs easier and allows more customization of characters to their individual conceptions instead of the mechanical niches the skill lists provide for classes.

Highly skilled classes have more skill points. Rogues are fine.

Class archetypes change a little from their current narrow niches for skills as an elven fighter can have some magic with use magic device, or be an excellent guard with a maxxed out spot check.

People worry about tumbling and UMD unbalancing things but I don't see it as a big issue.

 

[Baron Opal]

If you make the Int bonus retroactive, much like Con and hit points, there's no complication. I use a character sheet with ranks and bonuses in separate columns so it's easy to add the numbers in the ranks column to make sure the characters have the right amount.

I've gone so far as to make all classes have 4 skill points per level, except the rogue (and akashic), remove the cross-class designation and add in skill groups. Now every one can put at least a couple points into themed skills (Craft: Wood, Knowledge: Engineering, Profession: Army Officer), classes still have their specialties and the rogues (and akashics) still have the most skill focused classes.