Cap of Ranks of Lv+3 fixed? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cap of Ranks of Lv+3 fixed? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mesiolan
06-21-07, 08:16 AM The maximum ranks in your class skills are character level +3, and cross-class skills are half of that.

Is there a feat, a PrC ability or anything else, which allow a character to put more ranks into a skill? I'm not asking for bonuses on skills, but for the option to increase the caps.

Thanks for you input!
tui
06-21-07, 08:20 AM I don't think I've ever seen such a thing before. Very few PrCs have level requirements; instead they're usually handled by things like "13 ranks in Spellcraft"... so being able to go above the CL+3 cap would be very powerful.
Dalthbar
06-21-07, 08:27 AM That's a fixed cap and I hope it stays that way.

Otherwise, everyone would just put all their skills in Diplomacy and win every encounter without having to draw a weapon.

It's a way to make sure your skill checks remain competitive given level-appropriate DCs throughout your adventuring campaign.

But you can always get Skill Focus or buff the stats that modify those skills that you're interested if you need an edge.
runestar
06-21-07, 08:31 AM Dungeonscape has a guild feature which increases the cap of one of your skills by 1, to max HD+4, IIRC.:)
Mesiolan
06-21-07, 08:31 AM Thanks, thought so.

There was a discussion in our group, and I was pretty sure, there is no way to bend this rule.
tarkin
06-21-07, 10:28 AM Many prestige classes are desigend using skills ranks as pre-reqs.

Using a feat to increase the max ranks effectively lets you take those classes a full level earlier than intended.

For this reason, feats do not raise the cap beyond level +3.
(Cross class is (level +3)/2, which can be raised to level+3)

That is why they give bonuses to the skills, not raise the caps.
RobbyPants
06-21-07, 11:27 AM Yeah, it's kind of like BAB: you can't go above certain maximums based on your level, but you can find plenty of situational modifiers to boost the hell out of the final number you use. There are mechanical reasons (such as PrC prereqs, as mentioned) to necesitate the need to keep level-dependant bases fixed. But if you really want a high skill mod, all you have to do is build your character right.
Polaris
06-21-07, 07:59 PM The maximum ranks in your class skills are character level +3, and cross-class skills are half of that.

Is there a feat, a PrC ability or anything else, which allow a character to put more ranks into a skill? I'm not asking for bonuses on skills, but for the option to increase the caps.

Not in DnD for reasons already mentioned. Such mechanics do exist in other d20/OGL games such as Iron Heroes (Thief Class) and Spycraft just offf the top of my head (and I am sure there are more). In such cases, however, it's both limited and PrCs (or the equivalent) are generally rewritten with explicit level requirements (which is a cardinal sin according to WOTC although I am not really sure why) to avoid problems.

-Polaris

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mesiolan 06-21-07, 08:16 AM	The maximum ranks in your class skills are character level +3, and cross-class skills are half of that. Is there a feat, a PrC ability or anything else, which allow a character to put more ranks into a skill? I'm not asking for bonuses on skills, but for the option to increase the caps. Thanks for you input!
tui 06-21-07, 08:20 AM	I don't think I've ever seen such a thing before. Very few PrCs have level requirements; instead they're usually handled by things like "13 ranks in Spellcraft"... so being able to go above the CL+3 cap would be very powerful.
Dalthbar 06-21-07, 08:27 AM	That's a fixed cap and I hope it stays that way. Otherwise, everyone would just put all their skills in Diplomacy and win every encounter without having to draw a weapon. It's a way to make sure your skill checks remain competitive given level-appropriate DCs throughout your adventuring campaign. But you can always get Skill Focus or buff the stats that modify those skills that you're interested if you need an edge.
runestar 06-21-07, 08:31 AM	Dungeonscape has a guild feature which increases the cap of one of your skills by 1, to max HD+4, IIRC.:)
Mesiolan 06-21-07, 08:31 AM	Thanks, thought so. There was a discussion in our group, and I was pretty sure, there is no way to bend this rule.
tarkin 06-21-07, 10:28 AM	Many prestige classes are desigend using skills ranks as pre-reqs. Using a feat to increase the max ranks effectively lets you take those classes a full level earlier than intended. For this reason, feats do not raise the cap beyond level +3. (Cross class is (level +3)/2, which can be raised to level+3) That is why they give bonuses to the skills, not raise the caps.
RobbyPants 06-21-07, 11:27 AM	Yeah, it's kind of like BAB: you can't go above certain maximums based on your level, but you can find plenty of situational modifiers to boost the hell out of the final number you use. There are mechanical reasons (such as PrC prereqs, as mentioned) to necesitate the need to keep level-dependant bases fixed. But if you really want a high skill mod, all you have to do is build your character right.
Polaris 06-21-07, 07:59 PM	The maximum ranks in your class skills are character level +3, and cross-class skills are half of that. Is there a feat, a PrC ability or anything else, which allow a character to put more ranks into a skill? I'm not asking for bonuses on skills, but for the option to increase the caps. Not in DnD for reasons already mentioned. Such mechanics do exist in other d20/OGL games such as Iron Heroes (Thief Class) and Spycraft just offf the top of my head (and I am sure there are more). In such cases, however, it's both limited and PrCs (or the equivalent) are generally rewritten with explicit level requirements (which is a cardinal sin according to WOTC although I am not really sure why) to avoid problems. -Polaris