alternative skill system (simplified) [Archive] - Wizards Community

alternative skill system (simplified) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ealrion
05-30-06, 01:19 PM i've got this idea for a simplified skill system and i was wondering if anyone else had tried anything like it or had any thoughts.

Skills, The Simple Way
There are no longer individual skills, just modified ability checks. So all skills have been reduced to their relevant ability. Ex: Move silently, tumble, etc are all DEX skills, while spot, listen, etc. are all WIS skills.
So when a PC wants to do something like move silently or hide, he rolls a DEX skill check. 1d20 + DEX modifier + DEX skill modifier. The skill modifier is equal to the number of ranks that a PC has bought with skill pounts for the ability.

Skill Points
At 1st level a PC gets a number of "skill" points equal to what they would get at each level, without the INT bonus or the x4 multiplier. Ex: a rogue would get 8 points, a fighter 2, sorcerer 2, etc.
For every level after that, they receive 1/2 of those points.

for skills with multiple optins, ie. knowledge, craft, perform, etc. pick a number of options equal to the relevant ability score's modifier. Ex: a bard witha CHA of 16 would pick 3 perform abilities; sing, strings, woodwinds.

Example
lvl 1 rogue> STR 10, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 12, CHA 14
skill points (8). Modifiers- DEX +3, INT +3, WIS +1, CHA +1
total skill modifiers- DEX +5, Int +6, WIS +2, CHA +3

now i realize that this takes away some of the customization of PCs in the game, but my PCs won't mind. Do you see any blatant problems?

thanks for any input!
Thelon Fairblade
05-30-06, 01:46 PM So, if I understand correctly, the Rogue in your example gave himself a +3 with all DEX-based sklls, in addition to his +2 natural DEX modifier. so at 1st level he is +5 (total) with Move Silent, Sleight of Hand, Open Locks, Balance, Tumble, and Ride (which would have cost 18 of his initial 32 points)?

That is an intersting simplification. I will point out that all ability-skill match ups are not equal... STR, for example, only has a couple skills associated with it, and CON only has one (Concentration).
TheSkinnySkeleton
05-30-06, 04:04 PM A cool idea. Like the last poster said however, not all of the abilities are equally recognized by the skill system. This would lead to most PCs earning ranks in the same abilities, and therefore all being capable of performing the same skills. Would kind of detract from character individuality.

Another problem would be that it would be quite easy for PCs to end up with more skill ranks in an ability than his level would allow (unless you banned this, of course). Could a 1st level rogue with an 18 DEX just spend all 8 skill points on DEX skills, giving him a +12 right off the bat on all his most important skills? This would be extremely unbalancing, as well as hard to plan for as a DM. Could always keep the 'Character Level Plus Three' rule for max ranks, but still, this would end up with characters always being good at everything their class dictates they should be good at.
RobertJ
06-02-06, 02:14 AM I like this idea a lot -- for physical stats. For mental stats, I think it makes a lot of sense to have skills. Knowledge: Religion isn't interchangeable with Knowledge: Geography or Knowledge: Nobility.

You may want to look at the Iron Heroes system -- Character classes are given "skill groups" relevant to their class -- ie, the Rogue archetype gets Dex skills as a "skill group," the Fighter archetypes get Strength skills as a "skill group." All in all, an interesting system. It doesn't pare things down as much as yours, but you may want to take a look at it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ealrion 05-30-06, 01:19 PM	i've got this idea for a simplified skill system and i was wondering if anyone else had tried anything like it or had any thoughts. Skills, The Simple Way There are no longer individual skills, just modified ability checks. So all skills have been reduced to their relevant ability. Ex: Move silently, tumble, etc are all DEX skills, while spot, listen, etc. are all WIS skills. So when a PC wants to do something like move silently or hide, he rolls a DEX skill check. 1d20 + DEX modifier + DEX skill modifier. The skill modifier is equal to the number of ranks that a PC has bought with skill pounts for the ability. Skill Points At 1st level a PC gets a number of "skill" points equal to what they would get at each level, without the INT bonus or the x4 multiplier. Ex: a rogue would get 8 points, a fighter 2, sorcerer 2, etc. For every level after that, they receive 1/2 of those points. for skills with multiple optins, ie. knowledge, craft, perform, etc. pick a number of options equal to the relevant ability score's modifier. Ex: a bard witha CHA of 16 would pick 3 perform abilities; sing, strings, woodwinds. Example lvl 1 rogue> STR 10, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 12, CHA 14 skill points (8). Modifiers- DEX +3, INT +3, WIS +1, CHA +1 total skill modifiers- DEX +5, Int +6, WIS +2, CHA +3 now i realize that this takes away some of the customization of PCs in the game, but my PCs won't mind. Do you see any blatant problems? thanks for any input!
Thelon Fairblade 05-30-06, 01:46 PM	So, if I understand correctly, the Rogue in your example gave himself a +3 with all DEX-based sklls, in addition to his +2 natural DEX modifier. so at 1st level he is +5 (total) with Move Silent, Sleight of Hand, Open Locks, Balance, Tumble, and Ride (which would have cost 18 of his initial 32 points)? That is an intersting simplification. I will point out that all ability-skill match ups are not equal... STR, for example, only has a couple skills associated with it, and CON only has one (Concentration).
TheSkinnySkeleton 05-30-06, 04:04 PM	A cool idea. Like the last poster said however, not all of the abilities are equally recognized by the skill system. This would lead to most PCs earning ranks in the same abilities, and therefore all being capable of performing the same skills. Would kind of detract from character individuality. Another problem would be that it would be quite easy for PCs to end up with more skill ranks in an ability than his level would allow (unless you banned this, of course). Could a 1st level rogue with an 18 DEX just spend all 8 skill points on DEX skills, giving him a +12 right off the bat on all his most important skills? This would be extremely unbalancing, as well as hard to plan for as a DM. Could always keep the 'Character Level Plus Three' rule for max ranks, but still, this would end up with characters always being good at everything their class dictates they should be good at.
RobertJ 06-02-06, 02:14 AM	I like this idea a lot -- for physical stats. For mental stats, I think it makes a lot of sense to have skills. Knowledge: Religion isn't interchangeable with Knowledge: Geography or Knowledge: Nobility. You may want to look at the Iron Heroes system -- Character classes are given "skill groups" relevant to their class -- ie, the Rogue archetype gets Dex skills as a "skill group," the Fighter archetypes get Strength skills as a "skill group." All in all, an interesting system. It doesn't pare things down as much as yours, but you may want to take a look at it.