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

[Baron Opal]

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

Yeah, tumbling in full plate is still damn hard in full plate and you have to invest a lot of points in UMD to have it be worthwhile.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

It affects the accessibility of some prestige classes which can be problematic, especially for the bard and sorcerer.

Other than that, I think it's a great idea.

 

[DaveMage]

It would make it much easier for all characters to learn multiple languages/level. Only Bards have speak language as a class skill (IIRC), so Rogues with a 14 Int could now learn 10 languages/level.

 

[Li Shenron]

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

Unbalance? Not at all, if you keep the same amount of skill points that each class gets per level.

The main effect would be simply to loose a bit the difference of capabilities of the classes. Anyone can be the scout, or the scholar, or the diplomat, or the athlete of the party. Rogues still have the edge with the Trapfinding ability, so the trap expert role in the group would require at least one level of Rogue anyway.

I'm fond of keeping the class distinct, but this idea has anyway the nice effect of making many character concept easier.

 

[Pbartender]

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

No, it wouldn't... Consider Iron Heroes' skill groups:

A skill group is a collection of skills that are closely related in terms of their use, the training needed to master them, or some other factor. If you spend 1 skill point on a skill group as a whole, you gain one rank in each skill it contains. You can gain access to a skill group via your character class (or classes, if you are multiclassed). The skill group illustrates your overall training and exposure to several different abilities. It provides an efficient, easy way for you to build a character who is trained in the core skills and abilities that your class normally studies.

So, for example, the Athletics skill group includes the skills Climb, Jump and Swim. If your character has athletics as a skill group, you only need to spend one skill point to raise all three skills in the group one rank.

In the D&D to IH conversion appendix, they even have suggestions for which D&D classes should get which skill groups:

d20 Class Skill Groups
Barbarian: Athletics
Bard: Theatrics
Cleric: None
Druid: Wilderness Lore
Fighter: Athletics
Monk: Athletics, Stealth
Paladin: Athletics
Ranger: Athletics, Wilderness Lore
Rogue: Robbery
Sorcerer: Social
Wizard: Mysticism

Adjust as necessary.

 

[tmaaas]

Instead of making all skills class skills, I make all skills cost 1 skill point. However, the max ranks for class/cross-class skills still apply.

 

[Mercule]

After reading Iron Heroes, I'd very much like to see this idea in 4E.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

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.

Same changes, same results here as well. It lets anyone who wants a social role have one, which is nice for getting people involved out of combat.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

If you want no-one to play a rogue then it would be fine.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Stalker0]

I think for most groups every character would max out spot and listen, then followed by sense motive.

I think these are far and away the most common skills, and ones that everyone tends to have to roll. Games vary of course, but I think in general you will see this trend a lot. I know I would for my fighter