I dunno what extra skill points are either. Rogues and bards, for all their skills, can always open up a sideline if they've got their main shtick covered; with fighters, it's just great to have a noncombat skill worth a little something; and wizards can always learn to ride a horse or carry a conversation.
What to do with "extra" skill points?
- Thread starter Stormborn
- Start date
Ridley's Cohort
First Post
I find the very question strange.
When you can Take 1 and still hit DC 25 in all your favorite skills, I suppose it may be time to diversify. Maybe.
There are skills in which I expect that DC 10, 15, 20 skill checks are reasonably common at all levels of play -- Spot, Listen, Jump, Climb, Balance, Bluff, Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge, Tumble, Ride, Handle Animal.
Keep in mind that one single itty bitty more point in Hide and/or Move Silently means you get 10' closer before being noticed. So there is real value there, even if you a low Dex dude in heavy armor.
When you can Take 1 and still hit DC 25 in all your favorite skills, I suppose it may be time to diversify. Maybe.
There are skills in which I expect that DC 10, 15, 20 skill checks are reasonably common at all levels of play -- Spot, Listen, Jump, Climb, Balance, Bluff, Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge, Tumble, Ride, Handle Animal.
Keep in mind that one single itty bitty more point in Hide and/or Move Silently means you get 10' closer before being noticed. So there is real value there, even if you a low Dex dude in heavy armor.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
If you have extra skill points, invest one point in all of the skills that cannot be used untrained.
Olaf the Stout
Legend
I am unfamiliar with the concept of "extra" or "spare" skill points. I like playing Rogues and I still never seem to have enough skill points!
If you do somehow get into this situation, I would second Whizbang's suggestion and go with skills that you can only use trained. Sometimes just 1 point, plus a decent ability score modifier can be enough. In any case, it will at least give you a shot at succeeding.
Olaf the Stout
If you do somehow get into this situation, I would second Whizbang's suggestion and go with skills that you can only use trained. Sometimes just 1 point, plus a decent ability score modifier can be enough. In any case, it will at least give you a shot at succeeding.
Olaf the Stout
TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
Please donate your unused Skill Points to the Poor Sorcerer's Foundation (P.S.F.). There are hundreds if not thousands of sorcerers loose in the world with high Charisma and not enough points to have decent ranks in Diplomacy, Gather Information, and Use Magic Device.
These unfortunate souls are doomed by a combination of low skill points per level and only one class skill that uses Charisma as its key ability.
Won't you help? A little goes a long way.
These unfortunate souls are doomed by a combination of low skill points per level and only one class skill that uses Charisma as its key ability.
Won't you help? A little goes a long way.
VirgilCaine
First Post
Olaf the Stout said:
Yep. With 10 Int, you get just enough skill points to do what you NEED to do at max ranks, no more.
Sound of Azure
Contemplative Soul
Olaf the Stout said:
That's my experience too. Most of the time, rogue PCs that I play have an Intelligence score that's almost as high as the wizard's (in one game, it actually equaled the wizard, both with 18 Int at level 1), and they're still short on some skills.
I like playing versatile, skilful characters, so I try to diversify as much as possible, no matter the class. Putting a few cross-class ranks in a few key skills/abilities seems like the soundest option (Diplomacy, Bluff, Tumble, in particular). I don't know anything about skill tricks (don't have Complete Scoundrel yet), but from hat I've heard, they can give you some dandy extra options.
I never reach the point of "extra skill points."
I only max out my class skills after spending some points rounding out my PC as an individual - possibly representing a hobby, some sort of skill acquired before adventuring life (for example, almost all of my PCs have ranks in Perform), or something inspired by the adventuring life (like additional languages).
This is not to the exclusion of boosting neccessary skills, but it sometimes does prevent maxing out.
I only max out my class skills after spending some points rounding out my PC as an individual - possibly representing a hobby, some sort of skill acquired before adventuring life (for example, almost all of my PCs have ranks in Perform), or something inspired by the adventuring life (like additional languages).
This is not to the exclusion of boosting neccessary skills, but it sometimes does prevent maxing out.
Li Shenron
Legend
I think some skills are always useful even at cross-class double price:
Listen & Spot are probably the best, since they are often used by different PCs individually. It doesn't matter who else in the party has high L&S modifiers, at least for avoiding ambushes and surprise rounds they're always going to be useful (even if the rank is very low).
Other skills to consider probably depend on the party skill situation... Knowledge(X) is good for anyway but much better if no one else has it, and so are Sense Motive, Speak Language, and Alchemy. Appraise would fall into this category (of something useful to pick up, even as cross-class and even a few ranks only) if only the skill would have more uses than currently described in the PHB...
Other skills like Survival, Search, Hide and Move Silently would be great additions to any character, however it is quite rare that no one else in the party already has them maxed out...
Listen & Spot are probably the best, since they are often used by different PCs individually. It doesn't matter who else in the party has high L&S modifiers, at least for avoiding ambushes and surprise rounds they're always going to be useful (even if the rank is very low).
Other skills to consider probably depend on the party skill situation... Knowledge(X) is good for anyway but much better if no one else has it, and so are Sense Motive, Speak Language, and Alchemy. Appraise would fall into this category (of something useful to pick up, even as cross-class and even a few ranks only) if only the skill would have more uses than currently described in the PHB...
Other skills like Survival, Search, Hide and Move Silently would be great additions to any character, however it is quite rare that no one else in the party already has them maxed out...
