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Thread: The Attack Skill
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2007-12-05, 06:16 PM (ISO 8601)
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The Attack Skill
This is a spinoff of the thread " Proficiencies as a skill?"
The idea here is to introduce two new skill families, similar to Craft, Profession, Knowledge etc.
Attack(melee) and Attack(ranged). Each weapon has to be taken separately. Attack(melee) is keyed by Str, Attack(ranged) by Dex.
Attack is a class skill for all classes, but instead of having max ranks of level+3, it has max ranks = character level. If the weapon is exotic, then it counts as a cross-class skill for all classes (but see below for Exotic Weapon Proficiency).
Base Attack Bonus is gone; your skill ranks in Attack(weapon) are added to your attack roll with that weapon, just like any other skill check. To compensate for this new, important skill, classes get more skill points. For classes with full BAB progression (IE "as Fighter"), add +4 skill points per level. For classes with 3/4 BAB progression (ie "as Cleric"), add +2 skill points per level. For classes with 1/2 BAB progression (ie "as Wizard"), add +4 skill points at first level only, none after that.
Proficiencies:
When using a simple weapon "untrained", there is no penalty. No ranks means no bonus added to attack rolls.
When using a martial or exotic weapon untrained, there is a -4 penalty.
Feat-
Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Prerequisite: none
Benefit: For the chosen exotic weapon, Attack is now a class skill. Ranks in Attack cost one skill point per rank, and the limit of ranks is equal to class levels.
Special: You can gain Exotic Weapon Proficiency multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of exotic weapon. Proficiency with the bastard sword or the dwarven waraxe has an additional prerequisite of Str 13.
A fighter may select Exotic Weapon Proficiency as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Racial proficiencies/familiarity: For races such as Elf which grant proficiency in specific martial weapons, treat those weapons as class skills, but no ranks are given. For Racial weapon familiarity, such as dwarves with Dwarven Waraxes, the effect is as normal: the weapon is martial instead of exotic.
Other notes:
Attack(weapon) is not an allowable choice for Skill Focus, or for any other feat or ability that affects skills. Weapon Focus is still applicable. For all purposes, attacks are still attack rolls and not skill checks, and are thus not suitable targets for skill mastery or other abilities. Any feat, Prestige Class or anything else with a prerequisite of Base Attack Bonus is replaced by a prerequisite of that many ranks in any Attack skill. Attack(grapple) is a simple weapon skill; Attack(touch) is a melee skill for dexterity. Weapon Finesse changes Attack(melee) from a Str skill to a Dex skill.
If there's any glaring difficulties with this, please let me know.Last edited by brian c; 2007-12-05 at 06:20 PM.
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2007-12-05, 06:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
What is the point of this? Everyone will take at least one weapon (a 1/2 or 3/4 class might not even), and the extra skill points you give them will probably be used for something else. So, what does this accomplish?
Edit: Goddang I need to start paying more attention before I post. I just noticed that with this setup, 3/4 and 1/2 classes can get an attack bonus equal to their char level, just as 1/1 classes. Might want to limit that.Last edited by Baron Corm; 2007-12-05 at 06:35 PM.
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2007-12-05, 07:00 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
I tried to set it up so a full BAB character can get attack bonus = char level for at least one weapon, and probably learn enough about other weapons to either have a solid second choice, or a ranged backup, or TWF, or just spread them out in case he loses his preferred weapon. For 1/2 BAB classes, they're going to suck at attacking, basically. So no change there.
One thing I hadn't considered was how this would affect CoDzilla; clerics because of spells like Divine Power changing BAB, and druids because of how it would affect monsters and natural attacks in general. Divine Power is overpowered anyway, so I don't care about that. I'd say that natural weapons count as simple (no untrained/non-proficiency penalty) and you can buy ranks in them as normal.
Also, iterative attacks: work the same way, but using your ranks in the attack, separately for each weapon. If a 20th level fighter has 20 ranks in Attack(Longsword), he gets 4 attacks at +20/+15/+10/+5. If the same fighter has 2 ranks in Attack (Morning Star) he only gets one attack.
Also also, the martial/exotic combo weapons like Bastard Sword. Using a Bastard Sword two-handed is always martial. Using it one-handed, you only get half your attack ranks, unless you have EWP in it.
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2007-12-05, 07:02 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
I like it! But I have an issue similar to what flyingpoo22 brought up. There are definitely ways to just max out one weapon (so they get BAB equal to their character level) and use the extra skill points elsewhere. It isn't really a problem, just something you might want to consider. it implies much more versatility in character creation which, though I personally like, some have issues with.
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2007-12-05, 09:58 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
skill focus...
I think you need to add another clause to this...
I said it with love.
edit: now, let me quote flying poo
"Goddang I need to start paying more attention before I post. I just noticed that" the clause I mentioned has already been added.
*walks away with his tail between his legs*Last edited by TheGrimace; 2007-12-05 at 10:00 PM.
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2007-12-05, 11:29 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Any feat, Prestige Class or anything else with a prerequisite of Base Attack Bonus is replaced by a prerequisite of that many ranks in any Attack skill.
I'd get myself a nice masterwork attack tool for 50gp, then I'd see a wizard about making me an item that boosts the attack skill. 2500gp for +5 to attack? Yes, Please!
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2007-12-05, 11:39 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Either people can't read today, or my style of writing is hard to decipher.
Originally Posted by myself
Well, let's see. Full BAB get +4 skill points, that's the Fighter, Ranger, Barbarian, and Paladin in core. The only one of those that can be a halfway skilled character is Ranger. Even if you max out only one weapon, you generally get those +3 skill points for a class that doesn't have many to begin with, except of course Ranger; but rangers are either TWF or archery, so either way they're more likely to max two weapons (ranged +backup melee, or two melees). 3/4 BAB classes (in core) are Cleric, Druid, Monk, Bard, Rogue. Monks don't get many skills to begin with, but they can use the extra two to max out their unarmed attack bonus and their grapple, making them more competent with both. Rogues get an extra skill point if they max only one weapon, they have lots already so it doesn't matter. Cleric and Druid are unlikely to do much with skills either. Bard can be a skill monkey, so possibly an issue. For 1/2 BAB, only Wizard and Sorcerer. They get nothing and like it.
Bottom line, I just grouped them by BAB to make it easier. For a fairer system, how about the following
+4 skillpoints: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Monk
+2 skillpoints: Rogue, Ranger, Cleric, Druid*
+0 skillpoints: Bard, Wizard, Sorcerer
*Druid could be at +0 alsoLast edited by brian c; 2007-12-05 at 11:49 PM.
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2007-12-06, 12:18 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Either people can't read today, or my style of writing is hard to decipher.
Attack(weapon) is not an allowable choice for Skill Focus, or for any other feat or ability that affects skills. Weapon Focus is still applicable. For all purposes, attacks are still attack rolls and not skill checks, and are thus not suitable targets for skill mastery or other abilities. Any feat, Prestige Class or anything else with a prerequisite of Base Attack Bonus is replaced by a prerequisite of that many ranks in any Attack skill. Attack(grapple) is a simple weapon skill; Attack(touch) is a melee skill for dexterity. Weapon Finesse changes Attack(melee) from a Str skill to a Dex skill.
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2007-12-06, 12:24 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Nebo_, I don't think it's being portrayed as a "skill." It's just making use of the skill system to make it all simpler. And to reflect the fact that skill with a weapon is just that -- a skill. It must be learned as a character would learn any other skill. And brian, I do agree with your assessment. I don't think the further modification (breaking up fighter, ranger, druid, etc) would be necessary. Oh, and your justification for each class just furthered your argument.
I like the system. I give it an A.
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2007-12-06, 12:33 AM (ISO 8601)
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2007-12-06, 12:47 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
And to reflect the fact that skill with a weapon is just that -- a skill.
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2007-12-06, 01:38 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
But BAB isn't bought with skillpoints; you can't choose to have a good or bad BAB, other than what your class is. Also, BAB is for every weapon the same; sure a fighter gets to attack 4 times with a sword that he's really good at, but if he's never used a mace before he gets just as many attacks? And unless you're extremely specialized in one weapon, the difference in attack bonuses between the two are pretty small.
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2007-12-06, 01:46 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
But BAB isn't bought with skillpoints; you can't choose to have a good or bad BAB, other than what your class is.
I can see what you're trying to do here and it really isn't a bad idea. I just think that the existing system does it better.
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2007-12-06, 01:55 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
The reason I don't like this option is because it breaks the implicit rules of the game. Skills are skills. How is making a seperate skill that doesn't follow the rules for skills any better than using BAB (which doesn't need fixing)?
If you want skill-based attack rolls, also get rid of AC. Change what armor and shield and natural armor bonuses do (perhaps change them to DR). Then have a skill for melee attack, parry, ranged attack, and dodge. Allow skill focus and skill-boosting magic items. Instead of flanking providing a bonus to attack rolls, have successive parry and dodge attempts in the same turn take a cumulative penalty. This encourages putting points into both parry and dodge, to reduce the rate at which your defence suffers. This in turn reduced the effectiveness of pumping the one at the expense of the other.
If you want to get more complicated, have a melee (weapon group) skill, instead of a general melee (attack) skill.Last edited by Skjaldbakka; 2007-12-06 at 01:56 AM.
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2007-12-06, 02:05 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
I had thought of also doing Defense as a skill, with armor bonuses being converted to bonuses to that skill check. Then combat would just be opposed checks (as it is in many other systems that are not D&D). The way it is now stays truer to the "D&D-ness" of the combat system, but a Defense skill is certainly possible.
If you want to get more complicated, have a melee (weapon group) skill, instead of a general melee (attack) skill.
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2007-12-06, 02:48 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
this sounds like fun...
but it needs balancing (+4 skill ponts/lvl are too much)
and i have a question.
let us say i have a rogue lvl1.
and i take 2 ranks in weapon skill (katana) which is a non-class skill as katana is an exotic weapon. this costs me 4 skill points.
later i get levels with me rogue.
i get a bonus feat and i choose exotic weapon proficiency.
what happens to my already spent skill points?
"what happens if a feat promotes a (already trained) cross-class skill to class skill?"
i already have 4 skill points on the skill. the skill rank simply raises from 2 to 4? if yes, then what happens when my level is too low to have a skill rank that high? like i'm lvl2 with 3 ranks weapon skill (katana) and getting the exotic weapon proficiency feat, that would double to 6 but 5 is the maximum for my current level. the skill rank is lowered to 5 and i get a free skill point? the skill is temporaly limited to 5 and gets 6 automatically? or the skill remains at rank 3 and i lose my "cross wasted" skill points?
could we apply this to shield proficiency?
like an "opposed skill check" against the attacker to see if i can ADD the shield AC to normal (armor+natural) AC. how about that? maybe add the shields enchantments to the skill check.
or how about armor proficiencies?
like opposing rolls against arcane spell failure and EVASION checks.
like DC check against 10 + (chance of arcane spell failure/5%) or something.
like DC checks to see if you can ignore the dexterity penalty on your armor.My combat role is Lurker.
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2007-12-06, 02:58 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
My view is that you lose the points. In this sense, it's treated like a skill. If you're a human fighter and you've been buying ranks cross-class in UMD, then you take Human Paragon and get UMD designated as always a class skill, that doesn't give you any free ranks in it.
Why is +4 skill points too much?
I'll draw up some rules for defense skills this weekend maybe.
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2007-12-06, 03:07 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
You might want to look at the Weapon Groups variant from UA to get an idea of how to break down the weapons. You can pretty much just take straight from there.
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2007-12-06, 03:10 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
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2007-12-06, 03:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
i've thought about this "ammount of skill points" thing.
a fighter would definitely need them. but that would open a big shiny gate of abuse for players to walk through.
How about defining battle (only) skill points? skill points only to be used with weapon/armor/shield skills. i think this would help.My combat role is Lurker.
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2007-12-06, 03:39 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
I would highly recommend adopting Armor as DR instead of assigning a bonus to defence skills.
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2007-12-06, 03:46 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
DR by skill would be bad and AC by skill would be bad. it would give ridiculously high bonuses on high levels (and it sounds illogical to me that armor reduces damage not because its qualities but because i'm skilled).
the armor skill would "allow the use of armor" and "lower the penalties of the armor". anything else would give way too much power.My combat role is Lurker.
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2007-12-06, 03:50 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
You misunderstand. Use armor as DR (not skill as DR).
Make opposed attack and defence skill rolls to determine a hit. AC by skill is no worse than attack bonus as a skill. I don't think attack rolls as a skill is a great idea, however, I am willing to help knock the kinks out of the system, as the OP thinks it is a good idea, and he is designing it for his campaign.
Having skill-based attack rolls almost requires skill-based defense. I would recommend a "parry" skill, and a "dodge" skill.
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2007-12-06, 03:57 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Honestly, I'm not sold on the idea myself, I'm just toying around with it because the previous thread about it got me thinking. If it doesn't end up working out nicely then I have no qualms about dropping it. I appreciate everyone's input though, even if you don't like the idea.
@Rigon: if there's a full system of opposed checks with weapons and defenses, then I think it would be best to keep track of those skill points separately. I still don't see how giving a fighter extra skill points could be abused; it's something that people suggest all the time, and I'm also giving him something he's pretty much forced to use some of them on. The only skill that can be "abused" generally is UMD, but that's still cross-class for fighters.Last edited by brian c; 2007-12-06 at 04:00 AM.
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2007-12-06, 10:21 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
This is a bad idea, in my opinion. Not only does it make things more complicated (which is always bad unless there is something positive to balance it out) but it also doesn't portray the mechanical aspect any better than BAB. I think that a homebrew that would be along the same fluff lines as this but would work better mechanically would be to just allow characters to choose which weapons they are proficient in, and use the class weapon proficiencies as the list to pick from. Maybe have full BAB classes pick 3 or 4 weapons, 3/4 BAB classes 1 or 2, and 1/2 BAB 0 or 1. This system still doesn't work as well as the core system, but it is better than the one you outlined.
- Fiery Diamond
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2007-12-09, 04:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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Defense as a Skill
Okay, so, as promised, here's a way to do Defense as a skill, turning all combat into opposed skill checks.
We make three new skills. Whenever you are attacked, choose one of the following skills and make an opposed roll. If the attack roll is higher than defense roll, there is a hit. In the case of a tie, no hit. If the defender is flatfooted, he may not choose to use Parry or Dodge. Monks may use Dodge when flatfooted, but lose their Dex modifier. Miscellaneous modifiers include any bonus to Armor Class other than natural, armor, deflection and dodge.
Defense (Dodge)- you attempt to avoid your enemy's blow. Add Dexterity modifier, Wisdom for monks, Monk AC bonus, and any Dodge or miscellaneous modifiers. Using Dodge while wearing Medium armor gives a -2 penalty, Heavy armor a -4 penalty.
Defense (Armor)- you take the hit and try not to be hurt. Add Constitution modifier, Armor bonus, Natural Armor, and any miscellaneous bonuses.
Defense (Parry)- you use your weapon or shield to redirect your opponent's weapon. May only be used against manufactured weapons (ie, no parrying a bite attack). Add your Dex or Str modifier (Dex if weapon finesse), synergy from skill in the weapon, shield AC, Deflection and miscellaneous modifiers (and weapon enhancement for a Defending weapon). A light weapon cannot be used to parry a weapon that is not light.
These are just introductory ideas; there can be room for improvement and balancing. What do you think?
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2007-12-10, 12:53 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
The opposed roll should be 1d20 + AC -10. I've played in a game with that system before, and it worked pretty well. There was also Armour as DR and that sucked arse.
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2007-12-10, 01:11 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
My intent with this system is to make combat skill-based though. I think Dodge, Armor and Parry reflect three different ways to avoid an attack; different characters can use different defensive techniques also. The duelist or Sowrd&Board use Parry, the Monk and Rogue use Dodge, the Paladin uses Armor, or however you like. It also helps cut down on excessive stacking of AC bonuses and through Parry it makes shields more useful. I'll be adding a bit more information on the pros and cons of each technique later.
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2007-12-10, 01:23 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
I think Dodge, Armor and Parry reflect three different ways to avoid an attack; different characters can use different defensive techniques also.
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2007-12-10, 01:36 AM (ISO 8601)
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Re: The Attack Skill
Being that fluff is irrelevant to a discussion of mechanics, I'm going to ignore that.
This isn't an attempt to improve on the existing rules, it is an attempt to replace them with another option.
I think it would be great to be able to counterattack with a sufficiently high parry roll (nat 20?). We need to come up with something cool for the other two things to do, to balance that.
Critical Parry: You get an immediate attack, which cannot be defended against with parry.
Critical Dodge: You get an immediate 5' step. This can negate the rest of the opponent's attacks for the round, if he can no longer reach you.
Critical Armor: The striker's weapon is damaged by the attack. The weapon takes damage equal to the attacker's strength modifier, ignoring the weapon's hardness.Last edited by Skjaldbakka; 2007-12-10 at 01:37 AM.