Lord Rasputin
Explorer
A few things about bards vis-a-vis rogues:
* Bards have a sink in skill points, Perform. Basically, they need to max out a skill to do a key class function.
* Remember, spellcasters have other needs for skills. If you ignore Concentration, it is at your peril. Bards could make some use of Spellcraft, though it isn't key. At higher levels, if bards want to cast Scrying, they also need to sink a few skill points.
Put the two of these together, and you knock off those extra two skill points a level.
Similar story with rangers. Rangers need skill points in Survival, and it now looks like they'll need them in Search. You may need a few ranks in Concentration at higher levels.
Having said that, one thing I did see when I first bought 3e was that rogues actually had fewer skills at 1st level than in 2e. He had the standard thief skills (PP, OL, F/RT, MS, HS, DN, CW, RL), two NWPs and whatever other NWPs his Int gave him. In 3e, his chances of success at the former NWPs and Climb Walls are now lower at 1st level. What was Find/Remove Traps is now two skills (Search and Disable Device), and the rogue also will want points in Spot, since his high Dex will no longer keep him from being surprised.
* Bards have a sink in skill points, Perform. Basically, they need to max out a skill to do a key class function.
* Remember, spellcasters have other needs for skills. If you ignore Concentration, it is at your peril. Bards could make some use of Spellcraft, though it isn't key. At higher levels, if bards want to cast Scrying, they also need to sink a few skill points.
Put the two of these together, and you knock off those extra two skill points a level.
Similar story with rangers. Rangers need skill points in Survival, and it now looks like they'll need them in Search. You may need a few ranks in Concentration at higher levels.
Having said that, one thing I did see when I first bought 3e was that rogues actually had fewer skills at 1st level than in 2e. He had the standard thief skills (PP, OL, F/RT, MS, HS, DN, CW, RL), two NWPs and whatever other NWPs his Int gave him. In 3e, his chances of success at the former NWPs and Climb Walls are now lower at 1st level. What was Find/Remove Traps is now two skills (Search and Disable Device), and the rogue also will want points in Spot, since his high Dex will no longer keep him from being surprised.
