Pathfinder Conan

[Sir Hackalot]

Hi,

I have just started playing in a really fun Conan game and I am having a great time with it. However, one of the players were complaining about the skills in Conan stating that he preferred the way they were done in the Pathfinder game. I am inclined to agree with him as I feel that it is a much better and streamlined system.

So I was wondering if anyone had ported over the skill system from Pathfinder for Conan. Anyone?

 

[Supplement Four]

How are they treated differently in Pathfinder?

 

[Paladyn]

Basically some skills were grouped into one: Listen, Spot, Search became Perception. You do not have to ahve four different skills, tha do the same.
Second change was skill buying system. In Pathfinder "cap" is equal to your character level. So character on 8th level may have sills up to +8. If you are testing your class skill in which you are proficient, you gain +4 on roll.

As you may know, I run Pathfinder Forgotten Realms campaign. At beginning I was enamored with rules, now I little bit cooled off. In my opinion there are too many situational modifiers, exceptions, feat that work in one situation in one way but differently in other etc. For example you have a full three pages of characters conditions. It is a little bit too much for me, personally I'm fond of simpler systems (i.e. Savage Worlds).

 

[Azgulor]

Thus far, I've been keeping my Pathfinder separate from my Conan. That said, while at first read, the Pathfinder skill system didn't wow me, it's won me over. It's more intuitive for players and I find I don't end up with the occasional missed skill point. More importantly, allocating skill points for NPCs is much faster.

The chances of the Pathfinder skill system making it's way into my Conan game are growing steadily.

Obviously, some of Conan's skills need to remain and some of Pathfinder's will need to go, but the overall approach to buying skills will remain.

 

[Azgulor]

How are they treated differently in Pathfinder?

1. You can't have more ranks in a skill than your character level.
2. Class skills get a +3 bonus modifier once purchased. It's a modifier though, not ranks, so pre-reqs for things like Prestige Classes typically need to be scaled down a bit.

Benefits:
1. Forces focus - players don't have as many choices over how to spend the points at 1st level, but the skills they take they'll be pretty competent in.

2. Eliminates cross-class skills. Any class can take any skill, but if it's not a class skill, I don't gain the +3 bonus.

3. Once a class skill, always a class skill. If I multi-class and buy class skills, those class skills also gain the +3 bonus. [This is offset by the increased appeal of being single-classed: i.e. no dead levels, Favored Class bonuses, etc.]

4. Consolidation of some skills allows points to go a bit farther.