Why I Hate Skills

[pemerton]

I always thought skills came from saves?

They can also be seen as building on thief abilities, secret door detection, rangers' tracking ability, etc.

 

[Andvari]

I know some use saving throws in B/X and BECMI D&D as resolution mechanics. For example, if you try something dexterous or agile, you save vs. breath weapon to succeed. The point of doing this instead of for example, rolling under your ability score (which other DMs use, and is how the optional skill system in BECMI works) is that your ability scores do not improve as you level, but saving throws do.