Making cross-class skills into class skills. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Making cross-class skills into class skills. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
urbanpredator
03-18-08, 09:21 AM Hi. I am currently designing a character and diplomacy is critical. Unfortunately, Wizards aren't know for being diplomats. I was wondering if anyone had a feat to help with this (Skill Focus won't be enough). I believe there are some background feats which allow one to gain skills as class skills. Can anyone help or provide advice?
Jack of All Trades
03-18-08, 10:51 AM The able learner feat from races of destiny will make all cross class skills cost 1 point. From there all you need to do is take one level of a class that gets diplomacy as a class skill in order to raise the maximum to 23 at level 20. I'd either take a racial paragon class from Unearthed arcana or try to let the dm let you be the generic arcane spellcaster class from UA. It lets you pick several class skills.
Rebel7284
03-18-08, 10:52 AM Human Paragon - Unearthed arcana.
Blue Paladin
03-18-08, 11:54 AM Blade Meditation from Bo9S, I think it's Devoted Spirit? will make Diplomacy always a class skill for you. Requires a BAB of +4 apparently, so you can't get it right away.
Tordak
03-18-08, 11:57 AM Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge)
Amaril
03-18-08, 01:29 PM Don't wizards have magic to help them with diplomacy (not the skill per se)?
larry_the_titan
03-18-08, 04:04 PM Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge)

Not a bad feat but its worded kind of screwy. Atleast to me it is.
Spikes01k
03-18-08, 06:26 PM Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge)

This feat is wonderful. I suggest it highly.
Mr_Teapot
03-18-08, 08:20 PM Blade Meditation from Bo9S, I think it's Devoted Spirit? will make Diplomacy always a class skill for you. Requires a BAB of +4 apparently, so you can't get it right away.

A) Devoted Spirit's key skill is Intimidate. White Raven's is Diplomacy.

B) Blade Meditation just gives a +2 to the key skill, not makes it a class skill. But luckily, Martial Study (any White Raven Maneuver) does give you Diplomacy as a class skill (now and for always), and gives you a useful maneuver to use once per encounter. And Martial study doesn't have any prereqs (though you must meet the maneuver's prereqs, which means you probably are either taking Leading the Attack or Douse the Flames... douse the Flames will be better for a wizard, but neither is great). There is some debate if you can take Martial Study at first level, though.
Tordak
03-18-08, 09:55 PM Not a bad feat but its worded kind of screwy. Atleast to me it is.

I see what you mean. I guess the special part is a bit clearer into changing a cross-class skill into a class skill for good. But I admit, after rereading it, that the wording is sort of lousy.
dirkformica
03-19-08, 02:48 AM The Apprentice Feat from Dungeon Master's Guide 2 on p. 177 has Entertainer as an option. That gets you both Diplomacy and Perform as permanent class skills. You also get a +2 Competence bonus and an odd kind of temporary Cohort.
Bojangles_the_Barbarian
03-23-08, 01:31 PM Using the OP example of a wizard actually knowing how to talk to people and having diplomacy as a skill, what do you think it would take to make class skills more fluid and easier to change from character to character? Surely a magician born into a seedy family might learn a few tricks of lock picking, but even if his background calls for it, he can't because it isn't on his class skill list. I think it's absurd.

So, without having to waste a precious feat that lets me play a simple mechanic of my character; How would you go about this?
Adonis1x23
03-23-08, 01:59 PM How about a homebrewed character Trait?

Unorthodox
A character with this trait drops any 2 class skills and in exchange is able to pick a skill that is usualy considered cross class.

You probably make the penalty just one skill instead of two.

If you guy spent more of his life socializing and learning to be diplomatic, he probably spent less time learning to decipher scripts and crafting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
urbanpredator 03-18-08, 09:21 AM	Hi. I am currently designing a character and diplomacy is critical. Unfortunately, Wizards aren't know for being diplomats. I was wondering if anyone had a feat to help with this (Skill Focus won't be enough). I believe there are some background feats which allow one to gain skills as class skills. Can anyone help or provide advice?
Jack of All Trades 03-18-08, 10:51 AM	The able learner feat from races of destiny will make all cross class skills cost 1 point. From there all you need to do is take one level of a class that gets diplomacy as a class skill in order to raise the maximum to 23 at level 20. I'd either take a racial paragon class from Unearthed arcana or try to let the dm let you be the generic arcane spellcaster class from UA. It lets you pick several class skills.
Rebel7284 03-18-08, 10:52 AM	Human Paragon - Unearthed arcana.
Blue Paladin 03-18-08, 11:54 AM	Blade Meditation from Bo9S, I think it's Devoted Spirit? will make Diplomacy always a class skill for you. Requires a BAB of +4 apparently, so you can't get it right away.
Tordak 03-18-08, 11:57 AM	Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge)
Amaril 03-18-08, 01:29 PM	Don't wizards have magic to help them with diplomacy (not the skill per se)?
larry_the_titan 03-18-08, 04:04 PM	Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge) Not a bad feat but its worded kind of screwy. Atleast to me it is.
Spikes01k 03-18-08, 06:26 PM	Skill Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/alternativeSkillSystems.htm#skillKnowled ge) This feat is wonderful. I suggest it highly.
Mr_Teapot 03-18-08, 08:20 PM	Blade Meditation from Bo9S, I think it's Devoted Spirit? will make Diplomacy always a class skill for you. Requires a BAB of +4 apparently, so you can't get it right away. A) Devoted Spirit's key skill is Intimidate. White Raven's is Diplomacy. B) Blade Meditation just gives a +2 to the key skill, not makes it a class skill. But luckily, Martial Study (any White Raven Maneuver) does give you Diplomacy as a class skill (now and for always), and gives you a useful maneuver to use once per encounter. And Martial study doesn't have any prereqs (though you must meet the maneuver's prereqs, which means you probably are either taking Leading the Attack or Douse the Flames... douse the Flames will be better for a wizard, but neither is great). There is some debate if you can take Martial Study at first level, though.
Tordak 03-18-08, 09:55 PM	Not a bad feat but its worded kind of screwy. Atleast to me it is. I see what you mean. I guess the special part is a bit clearer into changing a cross-class skill into a class skill for good. But I admit, after rereading it, that the wording is sort of lousy.
dirkformica 03-19-08, 02:48 AM	The Apprentice Feat from Dungeon Master's Guide 2 on p. 177 has Entertainer as an option. That gets you both Diplomacy and Perform as permanent class skills. You also get a +2 Competence bonus and an odd kind of temporary Cohort.
Bojangles_the_Barbarian 03-23-08, 01:31 PM	Using the OP example of a wizard actually knowing how to talk to people and having diplomacy as a skill, what do you think it would take to make class skills more fluid and easier to change from character to character? Surely a magician born into a seedy family might learn a few tricks of lock picking, but even if his background calls for it, he can't because it isn't on his class skill list. I think it's absurd. So, without having to waste a precious feat that lets me play a simple mechanic of my character; How would you go about this?
Adonis1x23 03-23-08, 01:59 PM	How about a homebrewed character Trait? Unorthodox A character with this trait drops any 2 class skills and in exchange is able to pick a skill that is usualy considered cross class. You probably make the penalty just one skill instead of two. If you guy spent more of his life socializing and learning to be diplomatic, he probably spent less time learning to decipher scripts and crafting.