What Is the Most Fun Skill to Have Optimized? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What Is the Most Fun Skill to Have Optimized?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Caeric
Apr 19, 2009 17:03:41 I was talking to a friend one day and I realized that in 4th Edition, as of this moment with the rules as written, a level 1 Shifter/Shadar-Kai/Drow Rogue or Avenger could have +18 on their Stealth checks (+1 comes from Camouflaged Clothing in the Art of the Kill dragon article, but only applies for checks "made to hide", which is helped by the Footpads from the same source). And if it was a Longtooth Shifter Avenger, at level 2 it could have +21 by taking the Shadow Soul Heritage feat; and it'd still be decent at its job.
At level 30, this character could have as high as +47 on its Stealth check, which is enough that it can sneak past Orcus on a 1, as long as Orcus doesn't roll a 20. Imagine what you can do with +21 on Stealth at level 2.

That's sort of the genesis of many characters I like to make. I look for ways to give them the maximum in _____. But I'm curious; what's the most fun skill to have the sheer highest maximum constant and temporary values in? What would you do with it?
#2
mellored
Apr 19, 2009 17:09:11
That's sort of the genesis of many characters I like to make. I look for ways to give them the maximum in _____. But I'm curious; what's the most fun skill to have the sheer highest maximum constant and temporary values in? What would you do with it?

Perception is often considered the "best" skill. You can see everything coming.

But it all depends, optimizing history could be pretty fun. "Just like in the war of 1812" or "similar to the plague in march of 1282."
#3
s-marrow
Apr 19, 2009 18:01:07 I like optimizing Athletics to ridiculous degrees to the point where you can basically swim through hurricanes, climb glass walls, and jump small ravines. It's also nice to completely eliminate grabs, I suppose...
#4
Mad_Jack
Apr 19, 2009 19:06:28 Well, acrobatics is always fun. :D

Laws of Physics? Pfft, they'll have to catch me first... I can literally walk the razor's edge, lol.
#5
sjmcc13
Apr 19, 2009 19:20:15 Depends on the character and group.

One I would find amusing is Streetwise, so you can always "know a guy".
#6
Shiftkitty
Apr 19, 2009 20:41:40 I prefer to optimize Diplomacy so I can tell a person to go to Hell and have them look forward to the trip. I liken it to tact, but as I've read elsewhere, "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggy...' until you can find a brick."
#7
Dragoncat
Apr 19, 2009 23:12:18 Edit: curse their disabled hotlinking!

Well, anyway.

Bluff.

Be it telling the BBEG you are his father, convincing the town guard that you're a tree, or informing the king that his pants are, in fact, on fire, bluff is a wonderful, beautiful thing. Put enough ranks in its, and you don't need anything else. :D
#8
oninshade
Apr 20, 2009 0:32:53 Id say theivery or arcana/religion. Theivery is fun to have for all the alchemy stuff you can make, and arcana/religion is required for rituals. From a non-combat standpoint,those are the things i find the most fun
#9
prator_the_golden
Apr 20, 2009 17:26:55 Whatever skill is used for picking pockets/theft in whatever edition you're in.

Sure, it may not be the most practical of skills, but when you can steal people's pants WHILE THEY ARE WEARING THEM and not have them notice, endless opportunities for comedy ensue. And if you can persuade your DM to allow you to steal people's armor or weapons, then a practical use will open up real quick.
#10
Mechalibur
Apr 20, 2009 19:08:34 I tried to optimize my thievery. I could pretty much steal from people while they were looking right at me. The DM made sure to give me some of those gloves that give an item bonus to thievery.

In a 3.5 game, my friend has something like +17 to diplomacy. When he was negotiating with giants, he returned an item that gave him a +10 circumstance bonus. Then he rolled a 20. He then became king of the giants.
#11
lord_karsus
Apr 20, 2009 23:35:31 -Bluff and Diplomacy.
#12
arakis
Apr 21, 2009 2:50:57 How to not quote the 3.5 example?
"Really, I am a Lawful Good Sphinx...."
#13
Pundrake_the_Mad
Apr 22, 2009 14:00:16 Bluff looks like a popular choice. I'll add my vote for that one.

I've 'only' got a +11 at 1st level, but I can use the Glib Limerick ritual 1/day for free, so I can roll twice for a Bluff check. My DM hates that.

@2nd level: Snake familiar for +2 Bluff!

PtM
#14
runcdfirst
Apr 22, 2009 14:15:41 Put me down for Diplomacy. Bluff, more often than not, can back fire, often while you're standing right there. Good diplomacy often takes longer to counteract.

'Sides, you can't bluff a god to kill themselves, but you can diplomacy them ;).
#15
Shiftkitty
Apr 22, 2009 18:58:18
Bluff looks like a popular choice. I'll add my vote for that one.

I've 'only' got a +11 at 1st level, but I can use the Glib Limerick ritual 1/day for free, so I can roll twice for a Bluff check. My DM hates that.

@2nd level: Snake familiar for +2 Bluff!

PtM

So, is it fair to say that you like to game "in the bluff"? ;)
#16
s-marrow
Apr 22, 2009 19:11:18

I have a soft spot for bad puns.

I had much fun with Swim, even though it wasn't particularly useful. My DM let me swim up a waterfall once
#17
johnthedm7000
Apr 22, 2009 22:00:37 I'd definitely have to say streetwise and diplomacy. That way, you know everyone and can get said contacts to do what you want.
#18
undrave
Apr 23, 2009 0:30:44 I say bluff too! I,m totally trying the 'your pants are on fire!' thing next time I can!

My DM let me swim up a waterfall once

According to chinese folklore you should have turned into a dragon :P unless that only works on karps...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Caeric Apr 19, 2009 17:03:41	I was talking to a friend one day and I realized that in 4th Edition, as of this moment with the rules as written, a level 1 Shifter/Shadar-Kai/Drow Rogue or Avenger could have +18 on their Stealth checks (+1 comes from Camouflaged Clothing in the Art of the Kill dragon article, but only applies for checks "made to hide", which is helped by the Footpads from the same source). And if it was a Longtooth Shifter Avenger, at level 2 it could have +21 by taking the Shadow Soul Heritage feat; and it'd still be decent at its job. At level 30, this character could have as high as +47 on its Stealth check, which is enough that it can sneak past Orcus on a 1, as long as Orcus doesn't roll a 20. Imagine what you can do with +21 on Stealth at level 2. That's sort of the genesis of many characters I like to make. I look for ways to give them the maximum in _____. But I'm curious; what's the most fun skill to have the sheer highest maximum constant and temporary values in? What would you do with it?
#2 mellored Apr 19, 2009 17:09:11	That's sort of the genesis of many characters I like to make. I look for ways to give them the maximum in _____. But I'm curious; what's the most fun skill to have the sheer highest maximum constant and temporary values in? What would you do with it? Perception is often considered the "best" skill. You can see everything coming. But it all depends, optimizing history could be pretty fun. "Just like in the war of 1812" or "similar to the plague in march of 1282."
#3 s-marrow Apr 19, 2009 18:01:07	I like optimizing Athletics to ridiculous degrees to the point where you can basically swim through hurricanes, climb glass walls, and jump small ravines. It's also nice to completely eliminate grabs, I suppose...
#4 Mad_Jack Apr 19, 2009 19:06:28	Well, acrobatics is always fun. :D Laws of Physics? Pfft, they'll have to catch me first... I can literally walk the razor's edge, lol.
#5 sjmcc13 Apr 19, 2009 19:20:15	Depends on the character and group. One I would find amusing is Streetwise, so you can always "know a guy".
#6 Shiftkitty Apr 19, 2009 20:41:40	I prefer to optimize Diplomacy so I can tell a person to go to Hell and have them look forward to the trip. I liken it to tact, but as I've read elsewhere, "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggy...' until you can find a brick."
#7 Dragoncat Apr 19, 2009 23:12:18	Edit: curse their disabled hotlinking! Well, anyway. Bluff. Be it telling the BBEG you are his father, convincing the town guard that you're a tree, or informing the king that his pants are, in fact, on fire, bluff is a wonderful, beautiful thing. Put enough ranks in its, and you don't need anything else. :D
#8 oninshade Apr 20, 2009 0:32:53	Id say theivery or arcana/religion. Theivery is fun to have for all the alchemy stuff you can make, and arcana/religion is required for rituals. From a non-combat standpoint,those are the things i find the most fun
#9 prator_the_golden Apr 20, 2009 17:26:55	Whatever skill is used for picking pockets/theft in whatever edition you're in. Sure, it may not be the most practical of skills, but when you can steal people's pants WHILE THEY ARE WEARING THEM and not have them notice, endless opportunities for comedy ensue. And if you can persuade your DM to allow you to steal people's armor or weapons, then a practical use will open up real quick.
#10 Mechalibur Apr 20, 2009 19:08:34	I tried to optimize my thievery. I could pretty much steal from people while they were looking right at me. The DM made sure to give me some of those gloves that give an item bonus to thievery. In a 3.5 game, my friend has something like +17 to diplomacy. When he was negotiating with giants, he returned an item that gave him a +10 circumstance bonus. Then he rolled a 20. He then became king of the giants.
#11 lord_karsus Apr 20, 2009 23:35:31	-Bluff and Diplomacy.
#12 arakis Apr 21, 2009 2:50:57	How to not quote the 3.5 example? "Really, I am a Lawful Good Sphinx...."
#13 Pundrake_the_Mad Apr 22, 2009 14:00:16	Bluff looks like a popular choice. I'll add my vote for that one. I've 'only' got a +11 at 1st level, but I can use the Glib Limerick ritual 1/day for free, so I can roll twice for a Bluff check. My DM hates that. @2nd level: Snake familiar for +2 Bluff! PtM
#14 runcdfirst Apr 22, 2009 14:15:41	Put me down for Diplomacy. Bluff, more often than not, can back fire, often while you're standing right there. Good diplomacy often takes longer to counteract. 'Sides, you can't bluff a god to kill themselves, but you can diplomacy them ;).
#15 Shiftkitty Apr 22, 2009 18:58:18	Bluff looks like a popular choice. I'll add my vote for that one. I've 'only' got a +11 at 1st level, but I can use the Glib Limerick ritual 1/day for free, so I can roll twice for a Bluff check. My DM hates that. @2nd level: Snake familiar for +2 Bluff! PtM So, is it fair to say that you like to game "in the bluff"? ;)
#16 s-marrow Apr 22, 2009 19:11:18	I have a soft spot for bad puns. I had much fun with Swim, even though it wasn't particularly useful. My DM let me swim up a waterfall once
#17 johnthedm7000 Apr 22, 2009 22:00:37	I'd definitely have to say streetwise and diplomacy. That way, you know everyone and can get said contacts to do what you want.
#18 undrave Apr 23, 2009 0:30:44	I say bluff too! I,m totally trying the 'your pants are on fire!' thing next time I can! My DM let me swim up a waterfall once According to chinese folklore you should have turned into a dragon :P unless that only works on karps...