Holy Custom Skills Batman!

[Urithrand]

Back on-topic, as a long time player of 3.5e PnP, I can't really see where you're coming from. There are still more skills in PnP than there are in Sundren, and you get exactly the same number of skill-points per level. Choosing which skills to invest in is all part of balancing your character. Nobody can or should be good at everything, not even every single class skill. Rogues are designed to be the utility characters, while fighters and paladins are the cannon fodder, while mages are the ones who should be able to read obscure scripts and identify demons. The skill-point system has been worked on for years and years by those industrious peeps at D&D HQ to make it suitably balanced, and I feel only powergamers or solo-ers have any reason to complain about the number of skill-points they get.

Just my 2 cents.

[Kaeldorn]

It's not so much to do with power or balance, but the lack of opportunity to add additional flavor to your character. Utility can be restricted by stating which skills are class skills and which aren't, as well. It'd just be nice, as ToN stated, to have some of those logical RP skills available without needing to drown all your ability scores in INT.

As far as PnP goes.. bear in mind that in 3rd edition it's pretty much standard to roll your scores. And almost everyone I know cheats at that

[Urithrand]

I can understand what you're saying, and were it possible to give people points they could only distribute between these "flavour" skills it would be great, but unfortunately they would be widely abused by people maxing out yet more influential skills than they already do I fear. This is just my take on it, I'm sure people will disagree, but I can't see this being a fair or plausible idea.

And Incidentally, if I saw you cheating on your rolls in a PnP campaign I was running, your character would wish they worshipped Beshaba

[Lothoir]

It's possible to give plenty of flavor with the current skill points if you don't try to max every single skill. I max a few skills, and then spread the rest of the points around to skills that would come up once in a while, or just define my character. My swashbuckler has a maxed parry and tumble, but the remaining skillpoints are spread evenly between climb, balance, jump and a few others. With a +2 to +4 ability bonus depending on the skill, he only needs a 5 or higher to do moderately challenging skills (DC 15), which works just fine, especially as he can get items to increase his skill points.

If you want to allow characters to have more roleplay flavor with skills, that would be the best bet, add more items or add to the bonuses that can be crafted with imbuement gems. The recipes I've seen add +1 to three or four skills, maybe bring it up to a +2 or +3.

You could also lower DC's of skillchecks, or add circumstance bonuses/minuses. For example at Exigo or in the city add a negative modifier to listen and spot checks to represent the hustle and bustle.

[Deathevn]

To Skill or not to skill, thats the question. I have had some fun spreading my skills around deffintly, its come in handy quite a bit in unexpected ways. One thing I have to say, I SI believe part of the reason you get people being nervous about it is being caught in a situation or rp enviorment where 'half assing' something will end up often getting themselfs regulated to uselessness. Years ago when I was playing the first NWN, most servers I played on required a minimum of about a 30 rank to have any sort to have an effect on RP events (( crazy i know, but it was a realitvly high magic world)). That and everyone loves to be an expert on subjects their charactrers would know:P Not a slight expert, but better then the rest, so it drives people to max out rather then spread out. I know theres really no way to divert people from this behavior.. but I am guessing that is some of why people feel so pressed for skill points

[Cornuto]

Sorry to dredge this up, but thought of a possible solution to compensating for the amount of skill-points vs. new skills without making character's invalid...

Perhaps implementing skill synergy?
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usi...m#skillSynergy

Five ranks in a skill means +2 skill check on a related skill. I know some of them are situational and wouldn't translate to nwn2, but many could with modification.

[Subal]

oh damn that sounds awesome, grommy would love that sorta thing!

[Qinniqtuq Aggaak]

Synergies are a good idea. The SRD has a lovely table here that describes what skills benefit what synergy-wise. They can really round out characters, especially those with Knowledge skills, helping them apply their knowledge for other practical uses.... A good example being the +2 synergy to Gather information that the 5 ranks in Knowledge/Local would give.

[Peridan]

Sir, I like it.

[Kaeldorn]

Skill synergies have been in and working for ages, at least on the skill roller.

They just don't show up on your character sheet. They tend to be situational bonuses anyway

[Cornuto]

Well... that's pretty awesome now isn't it.

[Dayledose]

Neat! Can't wait to play a rogue