D20 - Weapon Proficiency, Defenses, and Dodge as Skills?

[Stellar_Magic]

I've been working on a massive project making something of a universal D20 derived system, and I've found myself debating this issue specifically.

Should weapons proficiency and defenses like Reflex saves be represented by a skill instead of the typical feat based system that 3.5 uses? I noticed that DnD 5E actually leans this way with it's unified proficiency system (proficiency bonus is a neat idea) and had originally considered turning weapon proficiency feats from negating a penalty into a bonus for attacks with that weapon.

I feel like I'm rambling and being unclear. Basically I'm saying what would you think of instead of the classic 3.5 rules for say attacks and saves you had skills like: Archery, Dodge, Endurance, Fencing, Gunnery, Martial Arts, Polearms, Swordsmanship, and so forth?

[Zireael]

That is an idea I've seen on these very forums at least once, and I'm sure at least twice outside of the forums.

My answer is the same: I'd LOVE this, but it would require giving classes more skill points. And/or implementing something like PF's background skills (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/background-skills).

[JBPuffin]

You can do this, but these skills need to be VERY DELICATELY BALANCED. Most systems that try to do this are borked from the get-go, admittedly, but a Rogue-type who invests all their skill points into defenses, daggers and guns becomes a very scary Rogue-type indeed. I wouldn't advise it unless you are 100% positive you know the best way to balance it.

[Stellar_Magic]

Hmm...

My current skill system is based around the same idea as Star Wars: Saga Edition and DnD 4E, in that there are trained and untrained skills. Being trained in a skill nets a +5 bonus and an additional +5 bonus for Skill Focus.

In addition all characters gain a bonus equal to their level to all rolls. There are no classes, as character customization is done through feats (which generally provide a flat bonus) and talents (which provide bonuses that improve as a character levels).

The current skill list is:

Acrobatics (Dex)
Appraise (Int)
Athletics (Str)
Craft (various) (Int)
Diplomacy (Cha)
Deception (Cha)
Drive (Dex)
Electronics (Int)
Endurance (Con)
Gather Information (Cha)
Handle Animal (Cha)
Initiative (Dex)
Intimidate (Cha)
Investigate (Int)
Knowledge (various) (Int)
Mechanics (Dex)
Medicine (Wis)
Perception (Wis)
Perform (various) (Cha)
Pilot (Dex)
Profession (various) (Wis)
Ride (Dex)
Sense Motive (Wis)
Sleight of Hand (Dex)
Stealth (Dex)
Survival (Wis)
Use Magic (Cha)
Use Rope (Dex)

By adding weapon proficiencies and defenses I'd probably add skills like:

Archery (Dex)
Crossbows (Dex)
Dodge (Dex)
Exotic Weaponry (Str or Dex)
Fencing (Dex)
Grenades (Dex)
Gunnery (Dex)
Martial Arts (Str)
Musketry (Dex)
Pistols (Dex)
Polearm Fighting (Str)
Rifles (Dex)
Swordsmanship (Str)

And so forth...