Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (
More info?)
Jim Davies <jim@aaargh.NoBleedinSpam.org> wrote:
> Behold! for Werebat <ranpoirier@cox.net> spake unto the multitude
> thus:
>
>>
>>Skilled: You have a knack for learning that exceeds your gods-given
>>intelligence.
>>
>>Benefits: You get 1 extra skill point per level, starting with the level
>>you took the feat. If you take this feat at 1st level, you get 4 extra
>>skill points at first level only, then 1 extra skill point every level
>>thereafter.
>
> On the face of it, it's roughly in line with (or weaker than) the
> principle that a feats gives you an effective +2 to a stat in one
> regular application (eg Wpn Focus is like +2 Str wrt melee attack) or
> +4 in less common things (eg Gt Fort, Iron Will, etc = +4). This is
> like +2 Int, used most of the time.
>
> It's also like the way that the rules for Int increase work, in that
> changes are not retrospective. So it fits the rules as written to some
> degree.
It's *most* worthwhile at first level.
Int and skill points the only thing that behave this way, btw. Every
other stat bump applies as retroactively as it can (Con changes hit
poitns retroactively, Dex 'always' affects AC, increasing Wis always
affects clerical spellcasting, etc.).
I removed this exception IMC with no detrimental effect. The only
noticeable difference is that people are actually willing to buy lower
Int and bump it later than buy it 'where they want it' and bump other
stats.
I've seen lots of high-Int-and-medium-Dex starting rogues because it's
more effective in the end than high-Dex-and-medium-Int.
> OTOH, it tastes nasty, and looks like it would be worthwhile only at
> 1st level. The most likely candidate would be a stupid human fighter
> who wants to swim, climb, jump AND ride a horse passably well.
This is where I've seen it. The skillmonkeys usually already have lots
of skill points... adding 10% more skill points isn't as impressive as
adding 33% more.
For that matter, I mostly see Toughness (+1 hp/HD IMC) taken by the low
hit point characters, rather than the buff big-HD types, for much the
same reason.
Using the core rules Toughness feat, I think I've *maybe* seen a Ftr1
take it once... and never higher than that (what's 3 hp when you've got
60?). I've seen low- and medium-level wizards take it a few times,
though.
> IMC, it looks like this:
>
> Skilled [General]
> Benefit: Instead of a feat, take 4 skill points. Unlike Skill Focus or
> Skill Mastery, this does not allow a character to go over the L+3
> maximum, nor circumvent class skill restrictions.
> Fighters, Wizards and other classes that gain restricted feats as part
> of class progression may take Skilled, but all such points must be
> used on class skills.
Skill Focus doesn't give ranks in the skill, it gives a bonus.
It's probably sufficient to say 'Gives 4 skill points' -- you can't use
skill points to buy ranks over L+3 (or (L+3)/2).
Keith
--
Keith Davies "Trying to sway him from his current kook-
keith.davies@kjdavies.org rant with facts is like trying to create
keith.davies@gmail.com a vacuum in a room by pushing the air
http://www.kjdavies.org/ out with your hands." -- Matt Frisch
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