Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jovienn 06-03-07, 10:36 AM	Hello, I'm new to the d20 system and I have a question about skills for lvl 1 characters. I'm making a cleric and found in the PHB that the cleric has class skills. Do lvl 1 clerics get these skills automatically and then spend skill points on other skills, or do these class skills cost points? Also, do clerics need to select a domain? Where can I find more information about the domains? Thanks, Jovienn
Ebonarc 06-03-07, 11:05 AM	I'm making a cleric and found in the PHB that the cleric has class skills. Do lvl 1 clerics get these skills automatically and then spend skill points on other skills, or do these class skills cost points? Also, do clerics need to select a domain? Where can I find more information about the domains? Thanks, Jovienn By "get these skills automatically", I assume you mean "get ranks in these skills automatically". If so, the answer is no. Class skills still cost skill points, but not as many. The difference between a class skill and a cross-class skill is that buying a rank in a class skill costs 1 skill point, while buying a rank in a cross-class skill costs 2 skill points. Class skills are those that a member of that class is automatically familiar with. The difference in the skill point costs for class and cross-class skills represents how it is harder to train in a skill that is against your discipline. The second difference between a class skill and a cross-class skill is that the maximum limits for ranks in a class skill is 3+character level, while the limit for cross-class skill ranks is half the class skill limit. Yes, clerics need to select domains at character creation. They must select two domains from their deity's portfolio (or just any two if they don't have a deity). They begin play with two domains, the granted power from those domains, and the ability to prepare one domain spell, from one domain or the other, at each spell level 1 and up. To read up on each core domain, go to page 185 of the Player's Handbook. This shows what the granted powers and spell lists are for each domain, as well as which deities have each domain. For more on how domains work, check the cleric entry in the Player's Handbook, specifically the section titled "Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells" on page 32. Hope that helps.
Jovienn 06-03-07, 12:57 PM	Thanks for the reply. That clarifies it quite a bit. I was looking at the list of class skills and it seemed like if they got those skills plus more with skill points that lvl 1 characters would be quite potent right out of the gate. Thanks again! Jov
Ebonarc 06-03-07, 01:31 PM	Glad I could help.