Correctly calculating Skill points & cost [Archive] - Wizards Community

Correctly calculating Skill points & cost [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Lost
07-17-05, 12:29 PM Hiya all.
I'm very new to D&d 3e-3.5e and need a little help with the following. Calculating skill points for a : Ranger1/Barbarian1/Fighter4. Could some-one correctly inform me on the number of skill points she should have, and the formula by which you determined the correct number? As a side question: What are the point costs of skills? I have been unable to find a page that plainly details the cost of skills. Thanks for any help on these issues. :)
Hengwrt Ellesmere
07-17-05, 12:36 PM You have to decide in what order the character gained those classes, and with each level, you calculate and distribute skill points.
Otto the Bugbear
07-17-05, 12:37 PM Hiya all.
I'm very new to D&d 3e-3.5e and need a little help with the following. Calculating skill points for a : Ranger1/Barbarian1/Fighter4. Could some-one correctly inform me on the number of skill points she should have, and the formula by which you determined the correct number? As a side question: What are the point costs of skills? I have been unable to find a page that plainly details the cost of skills. Thanks for any help on these issues. :)

Welcome to D&D.

The skill points for the character are assuming ranger was the first level.

level 1 = ranger = (6 + int) x4 = 24
level 2 = barbarian = 4 + int
levels 3 - 6 = fighter = 4 levels x 2 per level + int = 8

36 skill points total, assuming ranger first level and 10 intelligence, and non-human.

Really, your best bet is to read the skills chapter in PHB. That lays out everything for you right there.

Cheers

Otto :)
The Lost
07-17-05, 05:12 PM Okay, so would this be right?

At 1st level(starting level) class skill ranks are gained at 1 rank per skill point to a maximum of your level +3. Cross skills are 1/2 rank per point to a max that is half of the class skill limit. Through leveling, you can increase existing skill ranks at 1 rank per skill point to the same max as character creation. With cross class skills increasing at the 1/2 rank per point. NEW skills cost your level +3 to gain, after which the standard pre-invested skill formula is applied.

Is that correct? And if it isnt could you please point out the flaws and correct them? :)
Colmarr
07-17-05, 11:48 PM Not even close :)

Skill points are used to purchase ranks.

For class skills, each point spent gains you one rank in one skill. For cross class skills, each point spent gets you 1/2 a rank in one skill.

If a character gets 24 skill points at first level, they might spend those points on
Hide +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +4, Listen +4, Survival +4, and Knowledge (Nature) +4. By buying 4 ranks in 6 different skills, they have spent all 24 of their points. They would have zero ranks in every other skill (class or otherwise).

Effectively, no character will ever have maximum ranks in all of their class skills. You need to pick what you want to excel at and spend your points on those skills (eg. the above character could be a tracker Ranger).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Lost 07-17-05, 12:29 PM	Hiya all. I'm very new to D&d 3e-3.5e and need a little help with the following. Calculating skill points for a : Ranger1/Barbarian1/Fighter4. Could some-one correctly inform me on the number of skill points she should have, and the formula by which you determined the correct number? As a side question: What are the point costs of skills? I have been unable to find a page that plainly details the cost of skills. Thanks for any help on these issues. :)
Hengwrt Ellesmere 07-17-05, 12:36 PM	You have to decide in what order the character gained those classes, and with each level, you calculate and distribute skill points.
Otto the Bugbear 07-17-05, 12:37 PM	Hiya all. I'm very new to D&d 3e-3.5e and need a little help with the following. Calculating skill points for a : Ranger1/Barbarian1/Fighter4. Could some-one correctly inform me on the number of skill points she should have, and the formula by which you determined the correct number? As a side question: What are the point costs of skills? I have been unable to find a page that plainly details the cost of skills. Thanks for any help on these issues. :) Welcome to D&D. The skill points for the character are assuming ranger was the first level. level 1 = ranger = (6 + int) x4 = 24 level 2 = barbarian = 4 + int levels 3 - 6 = fighter = 4 levels x 2 per level + int = 8 36 skill points total, assuming ranger first level and 10 intelligence, and non-human. Really, your best bet is to read the skills chapter in PHB. That lays out everything for you right there. Cheers Otto :)
The Lost 07-17-05, 05:12 PM	Okay, so would this be right? At 1st level(starting level) class skill ranks are gained at 1 rank per skill point to a maximum of your level +3. Cross skills are 1/2 rank per point to a max that is half of the class skill limit. Through leveling, you can increase existing skill ranks at 1 rank per skill point to the same max as character creation. With cross class skills increasing at the 1/2 rank per point. NEW skills cost your level +3 to gain, after which the standard pre-invested skill formula is applied. Is that correct? And if it isnt could you please point out the flaws and correct them? :)
Colmarr 07-17-05, 11:48 PM	Not even close :) Skill points are used to purchase ranks. For class skills, each point spent gains you one rank in one skill. For cross class skills, each point spent gets you 1/2 a rank in one skill. If a character gets 24 skill points at first level, they might spend those points on Hide +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +4, Listen +4, Survival +4, and Knowledge (Nature) +4. By buying 4 ranks in 6 different skills, they have spent all 24 of their points. They would have zero ranks in every other skill (class or otherwise). Effectively, no character will ever have maximum ranks in all of their class skills. You need to pick what you want to excel at and spend your points on those skills (eg. the above character could be a tracker Ranger).