DSC-EricPrice
First Post
From a game design perspective - Why are the max ranks of skills limited to level +3? What mechanic is being addressed or balanced here? Thanks in advance for the input.
Why are ranks limited?
- Thread starter DSC-EricPrice
- Start date
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
Consider a first-level halfling rogue (Int 12) with Hide +44.
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
A first level human rogue (Int 12) can speak 41 languages, if he wants...
-Hyp.
-Hyp.
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
Prestige class requirements are another good reason. Contemplative at 2nd level?
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Sign me up!
-Hyp.
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
Hypersmurf said:Sign me up!
Fine, I give in. Skill rank limits don't apply to Hypersmurf.
DSC-EricPrice
First Post
And he'd be incredible at hiding. Virtually assured that he'd never be spotted. That said, hed have no chance to do many of the tasks that are "trained only" and very limited chances of successfully using any of his other rogue abilities. He'd be a savant.
As to fixing the ability to have 44 ranks in anything as a first level character, suffice it to say my brain is chewing on something as we speak.
True too under the current rules. Who ever thought that mastery of a single language was comparable to a single rank in any other ability clearly demonstrates a lack of concern for the mechanic of the skill. I like the mechanic used by Kenzer in their Kalamar campaign. Of course, in my game you'd also have to explain HOW you came to learn 41 languages but thats another discussion.
Obviously the prestige classes that followed were built around the skill point mechanic. If you changed the rule a lot of other material would be "broken". I dont think its acceptable to use the second to justify the first, which was used to build the second mechanic to begin with.
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
Experience counts for a lot where skills are concerned.
If you have someone who has been crafting pottery his whole life - say a 6th level expert - who also has some other interests (ie, spends skill points on things besides pottery)...
... and then you have some fresh-faced apprentice (Expert 1) who spends every waking moment at the wheel or the kiln...
... the old master should still have an edge over the kid. He has years of experience. He may see the kid as someone who will surpass him some day... but until the apprentice has worked the clay for as many years as the master has, he will not truly understand pottery.
Or something
The mechanic helps reflect the importance of experience.
Where it falls down is that a 10th level Rogue could put 13 ranks into Craft
ottery and go from novice to master in one jump... but there are flaws in any system
-Hyp.
If you have someone who has been crafting pottery his whole life - say a 6th level expert - who also has some other interests (ie, spends skill points on things besides pottery)...
... and then you have some fresh-faced apprentice (Expert 1) who spends every waking moment at the wheel or the kiln...
... the old master should still have an edge over the kid. He has years of experience. He may see the kid as someone who will surpass him some day... but until the apprentice has worked the clay for as many years as the master has, he will not truly understand pottery.
Or something
The mechanic helps reflect the importance of experience.
Where it falls down is that a 10th level Rogue could put 13 ranks into Craft
ottery and go from novice to master in one jump... but there are flaws in any system -Hyp.
hammymchamham
First Post
or a rogue with +44 to use magic device....
