Talk:Background Points (3.5e Variant Rule)

I like the concept, but the breakdown seems wonky.

Skills like diplomacy and bluff and intimidate can be used very actively, even in combat, but are counted as background skills in this set up.

If you feel more skill points is a good idea, it might be better to gift the extra skill points that "background" gives here, but require they be ok'd by the GM as skills the character did or could have learned during the time in question (either before starting adventuring or during the previous level). The regular class skill points could be assigned as usual. Be Well 20:18, 12 July 2012 (UTC)

Ratings

	Aarnott is neutral on this article and rated it 2 of 4.
	I disagree that Str/Dex/Con are always more valuable, but the separation for extra skills isn't a bad idea, necessarily. Overall, not bad, not great.

HarrowedMind is neutral on this article and rated it 2 of 4.

I really like the idea in itself, but I find it poorly executed. Not only it divides physical versus intellectual in an unfair way, but it amounts to a crap ton of skill points in many cases. And what the hells are the rogues supposed to do with their 12 skill points per level now? Basically, I would rather reward a (maxed) skill or two to a player character as a background skill (Knowledge, Craft and Profession in particular, although poorly executed in their own right, too) to fill his background and encourage roleplay rather than integrate this variant rule. Maybe reducing the bonus skills to 2 + Wis would be more decent... As for the lack of skill points, I would use the transformative variant rule that compacts the skill sets ( Perception, Stealth, Athleticism, à la Pathfinder, that kind of thing). Still, tying Wisdom to these skills is a good idea,as it avoids intelligence-based characters from shining unfairly again and makes a somewhat irrelevant (in many cases) ability score that more important. Also, once again: 'I thought about something similar some time ago'. Silly me, why don't I write more?