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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jmucchiello" data-source="post: 485240" data-attributes="member: 813">{Rolls up sleeves} <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />And this may be the crux of the argument. I don't think Skill Focus needs to be fixed. I think Alterness is an aberration that should be fixed (+1 to Spot and Listen). Now, granted at this stage in the d20 universe, that swarm of cats is out of the bag of holding. And even in my own book, I created a feat template to handle the "Paired SKill Focus" bug-a-boo and provided 20+ examples.If I could sneak into WotC headquarters and change something in the PHB file that was sent to the printers in 1999, it would be the Alertness feat. But since I apparently do not attain time travel ability in the future and thus have not fixed it yet, I accept that Skill Focus should be +3 bonus to one skill. But, now I complaing that Spell Penetration, Spell Focus, Ability Focus, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Great Fortitude, etc, etc all of the +2 to something feats should also be +3 to something. (See below for my own solution in Joe's Book of Enchantments.)Now, what about ranks? As written, I have no problem with "+2 ranks in one skill". Does this +2 ranks in a skill violate the maximum # of ranks in a skill per character level? By your further comments, I'm guessing it does.How? For or against it?Well, I don't see how you cavalierly throw out PrC balance. I mean, I'd probably bump the rank requirements of most of my PrCs up 1 or 2 if a feat could affect ranks.As written, it by-passes the class/cross-class skill deliniation. Cross-class skill points are different than class skill points. But, ranks are ranks. Now my fighter can take Skill Focus (Bluff) and spend 4 skill points at first level to get 4 ranks in Bluff at first level. At 3rd level, he can get the synergy bonus from having 5 ranks in Bluff. That throws off all intra-class skill balance. Can you imagine a 3rd level fighter with Bluff feinting to throw away one critter's Dex bonus then increasing his Power Attack since it has less defense. Now throw in Cleave. Give up an attack one round to drop an opponent the next round because you can max out your Power Attack. Skill synergies are tied to ranks in a skill. They are also balanced based on character level. Tumble grants those defense bonuses earlier with bonus ranks. Bluff grants synergy bonuses to four skills. It's supposed to be available 2nd level characters, this puts it in reach of first level character Rogues, Monks, Bards, etc.And I'd agree if it didn't raise the maximum number of ranks allowed per character level. But I don't think the level-up mechanisms should interact. Would you also allow someone to buy a feat by giving up their base skill points that level (they still get their Int Mod skill points)? Afterall, a feat (Skill Focus) is worth just 3 skill points. If not, how about, must give up all skill points that level?This may be true, but I like my fix for Skill Focus better: Skill Focus grants +2 bonus to a skill and makes the skill a class skill. How broken is that? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Joe MucchielloThrowing Dice Games<a href="http://www.throwingdice.com" target="_blank">http://www.throwingdice.com</a></blockquote>

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