Aren't skills 'over-consolidated' in 3e? Rope Use (oh red-headed stepchilde of D&D skills) covers everything from a rodeo cowboy tying a lasso to rigging a tall ship. Diplomacy covers everything from a slick confidence man ingratiating himself to a mark to an Imperial courtier ingratiating himself to the court. Decipher Script lets you decipher any script, at all.And, apparently, you never will understand, but the over consolidation of skills and sacrificing of skill rank purchase is deal breaker for many people and, one of the leading reasons why 8 groups I know won't touch 4e.
Skills in D&D have always been big, catchall categories that made 'fine-tuning' difficult, unless the player voluntarily limits themselves; using their skills in fewer circumstances than the rules state they would apply. Which, of course, is exactly how you fine-tune a PC's skills in 4e...
Last edited: