[DnD 3.5] Psicrystals and Skill Ranks

[theonesin]

We have a small argument going on in our group regarding psicrystals and their "minimum 4 ranks in certain skills, even if the master has no ranks". One of them thinks that if the master gains skill ranks in those skills, those "auto-4 ranks" disappear. The other thinks the master's ranks should stack with the "auto-4 ranks".

Anyone know which is correct, or if there's any official-ish ruling on it?

[Jasdoif]

Let me see here....
A psicrystal has the same skill ranks as its owner, except that it has a minimum of 4 ranks in Spot, Listen, Move Silently, and Search. (Even if its owner has no ranks in these skills, a psicrystal has 4 ranks in each).So the only time a psicrystal doesn't have the same skill ranks as its owner is if the owner has less than 4 ranks in Spot/Listen/Move Silently/Search, and in those cases the psicrystal will have 4 ranks (because that's what "minimum" means, the lower limit).

So to break it down, for those skills....
If the owner has 0-4 ranks, the psicrystal will have 4 ranks.
If the owner has more than 4 ranks, the psicrystal will have just as many ranks.
If the owner has less than 0 ranks...I'm not sure how we arrived at this point, to be honest :smalltongue: But, the psicrystal would have 4 ranks.

[Cog]

We have a small argument going on in our group regarding psicrystals and their "minimum 4 ranks in certain skills, even if the master has no ranks". One of them thinks that if the master gains skill ranks in those skills, those "auto-4 ranks" disappear. The other thinks the master's ranks should stack with the "auto-4 ranks".

Anyone know which is correct, or if there's any official-ish ruling on it?
To rephrase the official text, "The master and the crystal have the same ranks. The only exception is that the crystal always has at least four ranks." If the master has 5 ranks, then the crystal has 5 ranks, thus meeting the 4 rank minimum - so the exception isn't triggered.

[Psyren]

So to break it down, for those skills....
If the owner has 0-4 ranks, the psicrystal will have 4 ranks.
If the owner has more than 4 ranks, the psicrystal will have just as many ranks.
If the owner has less than 0 ranks...I'm not sure how we arrived at this point, to be honest :smalltongue: But, the psicrystal would have 4 ranks.

Yep, this. No confusion there.