D&D 3E/3.5 ISO Sources: New Uses For Old Skills

I was actually thinking about making tiered bonuses, similar to those epic skill uses, for every five ranks up to a max of 20. That would give four categories: apprentice, journeyman, expert, and master. Apprentice wouldn't get anything special, but journeyman Craft skills might offer bonuses to Profession checks, expert that and some special ability, and master would be money, reputation, and another special ability, probably tied to appraise and knowledge of art, something that might appeal to bards who specialize in musical instruments, for instance.

This would be an interesting spin on top of the usual d20 stuff, and be completely optional. Someone that invests 15-20 skill ranks in something ought to be rewarded, though, because that is true dedication.
 

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_Michael_ said:
I was actually thinking about making tiered bonuses, similar to those epic skill uses, for every five ranks up to a max of 20. That would give four categories: apprentice, journeyman, expert, and master. Apprentice wouldn't get anything special, but journeyman Craft skills might offer bonuses to Profession checks, expert that and some special ability, and master would be money, reputation, and another special ability, probably tied to appraise and knowledge of art, something that might appeal to bards who specialize in musical instruments, for instance.

This would be an interesting spin on top of the usual d20 stuff, and be completely optional. Someone that invests 15-20 skill ranks in something ought to be rewarded, though, because that is true dedication.
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Well, in that case you might want to look at giving out free skill unlocks. Which reminds me, there are also occult skill unlocks that are basically another selection of new uses for old skills.
 


_Michael_ said:
Annnnnnd another great suggestion! You're expanding my DTRPG cart. lol Keep 'em coming!
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I haven't picked this one up myself, but there's apparently some new uses for existing skills in Purple Duck Games' Ploys and Plots: A Skill and Feat Collection (affiliate link), as per this part of Endzeitgeist's review:

"This collection offers us first of all new skill uses: You may now use the bluff-skill to fast-talk yourself out of combat, feign injuries or deliver quick secret messages. You may also intimidate foes at massive penalties in a couple of rounds or even as a full round action. Perception-rules to use the skill to listen underwater, soil or pinpoint sounds also serve to enhance the skill - especially useful when using the revised Stealth-rules from Drop Dead Studios' Rogue Glory-supplement. Via Sense Motive, you can quickly scan for enchantments or analyze your foes, though the latter hits one of my pet-peeves and does not provide abstract information, but rather precise BAB, feats etc. - and metagamey information like that is banned in my game. Via Sleight of Hand, you may now conceal held items or steal items usually too large to steal or secretly store items. In a nice display of awareness, none of these skill-uses overlap with the ones provided in Rite Publishing's by now legendary "101 New Skill Uses"."
 


I was doing complex skill checks before I even knew they were a thing. lol Complex checks have their place, too. I just always want more options so that non-magic users don't feel like they play second fiddle to the wizard once he's high enough level to start incinerating people with a flick of his finger.

The Ploys and Plots book looks interesting--into the cart it goes! I've actually got to order some stuff out of the cart...so many good recommendations. I think its safe to brag at this point that I have the largest collection of 3.x PDFs around. lol Gotta be at least 4-500. I'm actually up to Craft (Shipmaking) in compiling the skills I'll use in my campaign. That chapter alone is like 36 pages so far, and I'm not even into the skills that start with D yet.

Keep 'em coming!
 



I haven’t really looked into other products or HRing skills to expand their utility. However, I thought the 3.5Ed Knowledge Devotion introduced one possible way to do exactly this:

KNOWLEDGE DEVOTION:
One Knowledge skill of your choice is a class skills (KS:Religion) regardless of the class you are advancing. Whenever you fight a creature, you can make a Knowledge check based on its type, provided that you have at least one rank in the appropriate Knowledge skill, gaining an insight bonus on Att/Dam rolls against that creature type for the remainder of the combat.

Arcana: constructs, dragons, magical beasts
Dungeoneering: aberrations, oozes
Local: humanoids
Nature: animals, fey, giants, monstrous humanoids, plants, vermin
Religion: undead
The Planes: outsiders, elementals

The bonus value depends on your Knowledge check result, as given on this table:

Check Result Bonus Granted
Up to 15 +1
16—25 +2
26—30 +3
31—35 +4
36+ +5
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I’ve used the KD Feat in play more than once. It gives a smart melee character a multi-use scaling Smite-like ability.

Again, while I haven’t explored using mechanisms like this, I think it has potential.
 

I love that, and was going to do that, anyway, I just hadn't put it to paper yet, as it were. That is neater than anything I would have likely come up with--love it. Thank you!

I might actually base it on that skill, but I think I'm going to keep the bonus tied to the number of ranks possessed so that way, it's more a reflection of what you truly know versus depending on a roll that can vary wildly from one check to the next in terms of DCs based on situational variables.
 
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