Best Skills - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Best Skills

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
werty
Apr 15, 2008 1:39:39 Here's an interesting question. I'm building a character who will be ridiculously skilled and I am working on a list of the best skills to get.

All 3.5 Wizards books are open and I have just recently been looking through Truenaming. Seems like an okay skill to pick up.

What I am hoping for is items, feats or ideas for optimizing skills. I a going for a high intelligence build with a 6+ class, all skills are class skills.
#2
BloodSpill
Apr 15, 2008 1:41:34 So you're a Player Character then?

Invest in Gather Information. It's very powerful because it helps you advance the plot. :P
#3
nebo
Apr 15, 2008 1:43:13 Use Magic Device is probably the best. I'm fond of Autohypnosis, too.
#4
wih
Apr 15, 2008 1:51:01 UMD/UPD (See if you can get Use Universal Device for both, transparency)
Autohypnosis
Iaijutsu Focus
Tumble
Bluff
Sense Motive
5 ranks in Balance (and any skills that give Synergies)

Those are the skills I generally love to have. Iaijutsu is especially good if you can get into Iaijutsu master, but extra damage based on a skill check is good.
Autohypnosis pretty much makes you always stabilize, immune to secondary poison and ongoing fear effects.
5 ranks in Balance lets you retain your DEX to AC when you're balancing (ie Grease)
Bluff lets you lie your way out of anything (just take the -20. Seriously.)
Sense Motive will let you know when people are lying to you. Important in social games.
Tumble lets you avoid AoOs, increases the usefulness of fighting Defensively of Full Defense, stand up from prone with AoOs etc etc.
UMD lets you be a spellcaster. Nuff said.
#5
feintmaster
Apr 15, 2008 1:55:22 Changeling Rogue Substitution levels give you 10+Int skills per level... guess what, there's one at first level. You should also include at least 3 levels of Factotum, because as you'll be Int focused (I assume as skills are dependant on Int), not only do you get Int as a bonus to Str and Dex based skills, but you can also choose from any skill you want, and iIrc they get 6+Int skills per level.

If you do follow this path, and are able to take a flaw You may want to take Racial Emulation(from Races of Eberron) and Able Learner(from Races of Destiny). Racial Emulation, allows you to be considered another race for purposes of many things, use it to be considered a Human, and you can take Able Learner, which means if you take a level of Factotum all skills are class skills always.
#6
wih
Apr 15, 2008 1:59:35
Changeling Rogue Substitution levels give you 10+Int skills per level... guess what, there's one at first level. You should also include at least 3 levels of Factotum, because as you'll be Int focused (I assume as skills are dependant on Int), not only do you get Int as a bonus to Str and Dex based skills, but you can also choose from any skill you want, and iIrc they get 6+Int skills per level.

If you do follow this path, and are able to take a flaw You may want to take Racial Emulation(from Races of Eberron) and Able Learner(from Races of Destiny). Racial Emulation, allows you to be considered another race for purposes of many things, use it to be considered a Human, and you can take Able Learner, which means if you take a level of Factotum all skills are class skills always.

Able Learner can be taken at 1st level only, so you'd need to have Flaws in play to take both Racial Emulation and Able Learner, and if you ever switched being Human to anything else, you'd lose half your skill ranks. Ugly and complicated.
However, Races of Destiny has a nice section after the Chameleon PrC that sayd if you play with Eberron, GMs should be nice and let Changelings take the Chameleon PrC, and thus the feat Able Learner by extension - but it's still up to the GM.
#7
werty
Apr 15, 2008 2:14:58 Unfortunately I'm looking at going into Ardent Dilettante (which pretty much wipes out the option of Factotum levels or changeling racial subs).

Has Iaijutsu Focus been brought up to 3.5? If not, my DM will likely not allow it. I mean, it's great, but if I cannot use it...

In terms of UMD/UPD, would you recommend using wands? Any faves?

See if you can get Use Universal Device for both, transparency

Is this a House rule? If not, where is it from?

Autohypnosis makes the list. Useful indeed.

I'm pretty much taking all knowledges too.
#8
jetstrike3000
Apr 15, 2008 10:09:21 Forgery is really freaking good... If your not lawful and generally not good either...
#9
sinfire_titan
Apr 15, 2008 10:17:06 Performance: Dance>>>>>>>>All other skills.

It has been proven.
#10
jameswilliamogle
Apr 15, 2008 10:26:00
Performance: Dance>>>>>>>>All other skills.

It has been proven.

Uhm, Profession: Cook and Craft: Basketweaving are way better.
#11
sinfire_titan
Apr 15, 2008 10:31:46
Uhm, Profession: Cook and Craft: Basketweaving are way better.

Break Dancing your enemies into surrender is some much cooler than making food or weaving.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 werty Apr 15, 2008 1:39:39	Here's an interesting question. I'm building a character who will be ridiculously skilled and I am working on a list of the best skills to get. All 3.5 Wizards books are open and I have just recently been looking through Truenaming. Seems like an okay skill to pick up. What I am hoping for is items, feats or ideas for optimizing skills. I a going for a high intelligence build with a 6+ class, all skills are class skills.
#2 BloodSpill Apr 15, 2008 1:41:34	So you're a Player Character then? Invest in Gather Information. It's very powerful because it helps you advance the plot. :P
#3 nebo Apr 15, 2008 1:43:13	Use Magic Device is probably the best. I'm fond of Autohypnosis, too.
#4 wih Apr 15, 2008 1:51:01	UMD/UPD (See if you can get Use Universal Device for both, transparency) Autohypnosis Iaijutsu Focus Tumble Bluff Sense Motive 5 ranks in Balance (and any skills that give Synergies) Those are the skills I generally love to have. Iaijutsu is especially good if you can get into Iaijutsu master, but extra damage based on a skill check is good. Autohypnosis pretty much makes you always stabilize, immune to secondary poison and ongoing fear effects. 5 ranks in Balance lets you retain your DEX to AC when you're balancing (ie Grease) Bluff lets you lie your way out of anything (just take the -20. Seriously.) Sense Motive will let you know when people are lying to you. Important in social games. Tumble lets you avoid AoOs, increases the usefulness of fighting Defensively of Full Defense, stand up from prone with AoOs etc etc. UMD lets you be a spellcaster. Nuff said.
#5 feintmaster Apr 15, 2008 1:55:22	Changeling Rogue Substitution levels give you 10+Int skills per level... guess what, there's one at first level. You should also include at least 3 levels of Factotum, because as you'll be Int focused (I assume as skills are dependant on Int), not only do you get Int as a bonus to Str and Dex based skills, but you can also choose from any skill you want, and iIrc they get 6+Int skills per level. If you do follow this path, and are able to take a flaw You may want to take Racial Emulation(from Races of Eberron) and Able Learner(from Races of Destiny). Racial Emulation, allows you to be considered another race for purposes of many things, use it to be considered a Human, and you can take Able Learner, which means if you take a level of Factotum all skills are class skills always.
#6 wih Apr 15, 2008 1:59:35	Changeling Rogue Substitution levels give you 10+Int skills per level... guess what, there's one at first level. You should also include at least 3 levels of Factotum, because as you'll be Int focused (I assume as skills are dependant on Int), not only do you get Int as a bonus to Str and Dex based skills, but you can also choose from any skill you want, and iIrc they get 6+Int skills per level. If you do follow this path, and are able to take a flaw You may want to take Racial Emulation(from Races of Eberron) and Able Learner(from Races of Destiny). Racial Emulation, allows you to be considered another race for purposes of many things, use it to be considered a Human, and you can take Able Learner, which means if you take a level of Factotum all skills are class skills always. Able Learner can be taken at 1st level only, so you'd need to have Flaws in play to take both Racial Emulation and Able Learner, and if you ever switched being Human to anything else, you'd lose half your skill ranks. Ugly and complicated. However, Races of Destiny has a nice section after the Chameleon PrC that sayd if you play with Eberron, GMs should be nice and let Changelings take the Chameleon PrC, and thus the feat Able Learner by extension - but it's still up to the GM.
#7 werty Apr 15, 2008 2:14:58	Unfortunately I'm looking at going into Ardent Dilettante (which pretty much wipes out the option of Factotum levels or changeling racial subs). Has Iaijutsu Focus been brought up to 3.5? If not, my DM will likely not allow it. I mean, it's great, but if I cannot use it... In terms of UMD/UPD, would you recommend using wands? Any faves? See if you can get Use Universal Device for both, transparency Is this a House rule? If not, where is it from? Autohypnosis makes the list. Useful indeed. I'm pretty much taking all knowledges too.
#8 jetstrike3000 Apr 15, 2008 10:09:21	Forgery is really freaking good... If your not lawful and generally not good either...
#9 sinfire_titan Apr 15, 2008 10:17:06	Performance: Dance>>>>>>>>All other skills. It has been proven.
#10 jameswilliamogle Apr 15, 2008 10:26:00	Performance: Dance>>>>>>>>All other skills. It has been proven. Uhm, Profession: Cook and Craft: Basketweaving are way better.
#11 sinfire_titan Apr 15, 2008 10:31:46	Uhm, Profession: Cook and Craft: Basketweaving are way better. Break Dancing your enemies into surrender is some much cooler than making food or weaving.