Do you get skill synergies for every 5 ranks in a skill, or just for the first 5? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do you get skill synergies for every 5 ranks in a skill, or just for the first 5? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
celestialkin
04-06-07, 01:54 AM The tittle pretty much sums up my question. For example: would I get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks for every 5 ranks I put in Sense Motive, or do I only get a one time +2 bonus on Diplomacy for the first 5 ranks I put in Sense Motive? For the last few years I only gave myself the original +2 bonus, and now after rereading the skill synergies entry I think I might have wasted a lot of useful skill points. :nonono:

Thanks in advance.
wizarddog
04-06-07, 01:58 AM A one time deal.
Lotus Crane
04-06-07, 03:55 AM Neither actually, IIRC. I forget which book it was it was, but I'm pretty sure you get +2 synergy bonus at 5 ranks, +4 at 15 ranks, +6 at 25 ranks, and so forth.
Bob Loblaw
04-06-07, 03:57 AM Neither actually, IIRC. I forget which book it was it was, but I'm pretty sure you get +2 synergy bonus at 5 ranks, +4 at 15 ranks, +6 at 25 ranks, and so forth.

Epic Handbook? I think it was an optional rule.
Dheran
04-06-07, 07:25 AM It's not an optional rule.Skill Synergy

Many skills are noted as granting a synergy bonus to the use of another skill when a character has 5 or more ranks in the first skill. This synergy bonus increases by +2 for every additional 20 ranks the character has in the skill. So it's +2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25 ranks, and so on.

Now, there is an optional rule giving +3 at 15 ranks, +5 at 35 ranks ...
Thunder Dragonbane
04-06-07, 11:43 AM It's not an optional rule. So it's +2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25 ranks, and so on.

Now, there is an optional rule giving +3 at 15 ranks, +5 at 35 ranks ...

What book is this from? It is not in the PHB.
Bob Loblaw
04-06-07, 01:54 PM It's in the Epic Level Handbook and the SRD under Epic Skills.
ShinAkuma2
04-06-07, 01:58 PM The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule.

You can't have 25 ranks pre-epic anyway.
Dheran
04-06-07, 06:12 PM The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule. The use of anything in D&D, including steel weapons, is optional. But the ELH is WotC official.
Perseus_Stoned
04-06-07, 06:19 PM The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule.

You can't have 25 ranks pre-epic anyway.

It is certainly not optional (RAW speaking, mind you), but Dheran is correct:
+2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25, +6 at 45, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
celestialkin 04-06-07, 01:54 AM	The tittle pretty much sums up my question. For example: would I get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks for every 5 ranks I put in Sense Motive, or do I only get a one time +2 bonus on Diplomacy for the first 5 ranks I put in Sense Motive? For the last few years I only gave myself the original +2 bonus, and now after rereading the skill synergies entry I think I might have wasted a lot of useful skill points. :nonono: Thanks in advance.
wizarddog 04-06-07, 01:58 AM	A one time deal.
Lotus Crane 04-06-07, 03:55 AM	Neither actually, IIRC. I forget which book it was it was, but I'm pretty sure you get +2 synergy bonus at 5 ranks, +4 at 15 ranks, +6 at 25 ranks, and so forth.
Bob Loblaw 04-06-07, 03:57 AM	Neither actually, IIRC. I forget which book it was it was, but I'm pretty sure you get +2 synergy bonus at 5 ranks, +4 at 15 ranks, +6 at 25 ranks, and so forth. Epic Handbook? I think it was an optional rule.
Dheran 04-06-07, 07:25 AM	It's not an optional rule.Skill Synergy Many skills are noted as granting a synergy bonus to the use of another skill when a character has 5 or more ranks in the first skill. This synergy bonus increases by +2 for every additional 20 ranks the character has in the skill. So it's +2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25 ranks, and so on. Now, there is an optional rule giving +3 at 15 ranks, +5 at 35 ranks ...
Thunder Dragonbane 04-06-07, 11:43 AM	It's not an optional rule. So it's +2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25 ranks, and so on. Now, there is an optional rule giving +3 at 15 ranks, +5 at 35 ranks ... What book is this from? It is not in the PHB.
Bob Loblaw 04-06-07, 01:54 PM	It's in the Epic Level Handbook and the SRD under Epic Skills.
ShinAkuma2 04-06-07, 01:58 PM	The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule. You can't have 25 ranks pre-epic anyway.
Dheran 04-06-07, 06:12 PM	The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule. The use of anything in D&D, including steel weapons, is optional. But the ELH is WotC official.
Perseus_Stoned 04-06-07, 06:19 PM	The use of the ELH is optional, so it is an optional rule. You can't have 25 ranks pre-epic anyway. It is certainly not optional (RAW speaking, mind you), but Dheran is correct: +2 at 5 ranks, +4 at 25, +6 at 45, etc.