Houserule Debate: Max Ranks in Class Skills

[Phelix-Mu]

Alright, so here is first the old way I was doing things (a.k.a. the wrong way, by RAW), and then the RAW as I understand it and it's implications, mainly as viewed by a DM (my main concern atm).

Old Way:
I used to think that x levels in a class/PrC got you max rank in it's skill list of x+3. Y levels in some other class/PrC got you y+3 max rank in the skill list of that class.

The benefits, in retrospect, is that it simplifies the process of generating a higher level npc or character, barring one that has low Intelligence. Once I know that a character has some number of skill points from x levels in a class, I know I can spend up to x+3 points in any class skill, with combined points spent in that class' skills not exceeding the points gained from the x levels in said class. This was a level of bookkeeping I was okay with.

Now...
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14345628&postcount=307

and the following answer and next question reveal that I need to plan out every npc (I tend to make over 100 for every 20 level campaign... and that is just the people with names, not counting monsters with class levels, which I also use a lot) at every level, including what skills are purchased at which level and how many ranks.

This is an almost unacceptable level of complication. It also confuses me how this interacts with retraining of skills, but that is another matter.

The issue basically is:
1.) Houserule it to the old way. Maximum ranks suffers, but this only impacts people that tend to buy cross-class. I think. Thinking about this makes little sense, and makes my head hurt.

2.) New way, the RAW way, and someone explains to me how to streamline record-keeping, though I'm getting the feeling that there is no way to follow the rules AND keep it simple (thanks, WotC). How do integrate this record-keeping into a character sheet?

Comments, suggestions, please! Other DMs, how do you handle this? HELP ME, cause the RAW is starting to hurt.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Unless, for some reason, your players are going to be looking at the builds of NPCs and complaining if there's something a little bit off I'd do whatever it takes to simplify it and make it easier for you. Personally, I don't even bother with skill ranks for NPCs unless it's something that's going to come up.

If it's easier for you, just do it the old way.

[docnessuno]

2.) New way, the RAW way, and someone explains to me how to streamline record-keeping, though I'm getting the feeling that there is no way to follow the rules AND keep it simple (thanks, WotC). How do integrate this record-keeping into a character sheet?

Guessestimate. Pay skill ranks 1:1 if they are class skills for rougly 75%+ of levels, 2:3 if around 50% and 1:2 if around 25% or less. Just remember that if the last X levels had a skill as cross-class, you have to pay it double for those levels.

Limit the builds to class skills unless a certain skill is important to the specific NPC, (IE Put a maximum of 11 ranks in rogue only skills for a rogue 8 / fighter 8 unless said skill is central to the concept)

Do a level-by level build only for major NPCs, the ones that are likely to be recurring and have major non-combat iteractions with the party.

Fudge. Is the NPC a refined diplomat? Then he has diplomacy and sense motive maxxed and a good amount of other social skills too. Is he an expert blacksmith? Max craft skills and profession.

[Piggy Knowles]

If I'm designing a build quickly that isn't level by level, I usually just add up my skill points from every class, and if I'm putting a lot of ranks into a skill that isn't a class skill for all of my classes, I count double points for those levels. It doesn't give me the optimal skill loadout that going level by level can, but it's a pretty good (and quick) approximation.

So like a rogue 7/swashbuckler 3/assassin 10 with a starting Int of 16 would have 211 skill points total. I then write down a list of skill "must-haves" - let's say I know I want to max Hide/Move Silently/UMD/Tumble. I also know that I need at least 4 ranks in Disguise, and I want 5 ranks in whatever skills for synergy bonuses, and I want at least 10 ranks in Sleight of Hand. I work backwards that way, spending skills as I'd like.

I pretty much just eyeball how much I should spend on cross-class skills unless this is a major character who will appear multiple times, and whose skills will be relevant to a campaign.

[Phelix-Mu]

Ah, right, I'm beginning to see my problem. I almost never go for the small number of skills at max rank/specialist, usually eyeballing most stuff between 75-90% max ranks, and having a wider range of skills, increasing utility and making sure Zamenoa the athasian halfling rogue doesn't have the skill loadout of every other halfling rogue ever. In short, I usually put as much thought into an npcs build as some players put into characters. Since 2nd edition, I've been an addict for creating new, interesting people to encounter in world. First I did it as a player, now I've got a host of friendlies/semi-friendlies/not-so-friendlies for every campaign.

It all works out in the end, I guess. I'll go with docnessuno's second suggestion and some of the other helpful stuff noted here. I just couldn't handle doing level-by-level character-by-character every time a group of elven scouts/dwarven mercs/drow clerics enters the campaign world (about 1/month irl).

[nedz]

After a while you will come to view skill point allocation as being one of


X ranks for a Pre-Req
Maximum Ranks
5 Ranks for synergy in a maxed out skill
Irrelevant — except flavour


and in that order

This applies for PCs and NPCs.

[Studoku]

After a while you will come to view skill point allocation as being one of


X ranks for a Pre-Req
Maximum Ranks
5 Ranks for synergy in a maxed out skill
Irrelevant — except flavour


and in that order

This applies for PCs and NPCs.
You forgot 1 rank for random knowledge checks.

[Morph Bark]

If a skill is a class skill for any of your classes, the max rank for it is [your character level]+3. However, if you take a level in a class for which it isn't a class skill, it will still cost 2 skill points per rank, even though you can get it higher than a skill that never was a class skill for you.