Noctis Vigil
2012-12-13, 01:46 PM
So a buddy of mine I like to game with mentioned in passing that proficiencies as feats is a horrid system (and he's right, one weapon a feat is horrid). He then mentioned in passing something along the lines of "wonder how it would work with proficiencies as a skill instead?"
At which point I wanted to slap him upside the head for giving my over-caffeinated ADD OCD muse a toy. But I did work a few things out! without further ado, here's the starts of a system. Please PEACH, I'd like this to implement smoothly.
Skill: Proficiency
This is a class skill for any melee oriented class (such as Fighter, Barbarian, Monk, Rogue, Paladin, Ranger or Bard; add other classes as you the GM see fit).
Suggested skillpoint increase: Any class with this as a class skill should get more skillpoints a level, within reason (Fighter or Paladin should, for example, while Rogue or Bard can probably get by without). Class proficiencies should be converted to a skill bonus to proficiency (for example, "all simple weapons" could be changed to "You gain a +10 bonus to the Proficiency skill to use on weapon proficiencies", and "all simple and all martial weapons" could be "You gain a +20 bonus to the Proficiency skill to be used on weapon proficiencies"). PrC requirements should be changed to an appropriately high total number of weapon or armor proficiencies (so "all simple and martial weapons" could become "proficient with at least 30 weapons"; Similarly, for armors, things like "all light armor" could be changed to "You gain a +10 bonus to the Proficiency skill to use on light armors proficiencies").
Upon taking a rank in this skill, you gain either a new weapon proficiency that you didn't have before, be it simple, martial or exotic, or a new armor proficiency, be it light, heavy, shields or tower shields, or an exotic armor. To qualify for things that require other proficiencies (such as medium or heavy armor, heavy shields or tower shields), you must have at least five proficiencies in the required category to take proficiencies in the new category. The categories and their requirements are as follows:
{table=head]Category|Requirement
Medium Armors|At least five light armor proficiencies
Heavy Armors|At least five medium armor proficiencies
Heavy Shields|At least three light shield proficiencies
Exotic Armors|Must qualify to wear the weight class of the armor
Exotic Shields|Must qualify to wear the weight class of the shield
Tower Shields|At least three heavy shield proficiencies[/table]
As you can see, anything that has full armor and weapon proficiencies at the start (like a Fighter) still has more than enough points to spend in the skill to gain all their usual gear from the get go.
Feats
Because this skill system eliminates the need for weapon proficiency feats, I instead am turning the Weapon Proficiency feats into Improved Proficiency feats, listed here. These should be used in place of the Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization feats.
Weapon Proficiency [Fighter]
You can use more weapons than most.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus to the Proficiency skill.
Special: This feat may be taken more than once. Its effects stack.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Improved Proficiency [Fighter]
You are quite skilled with one weapon.
Benefit: Choose one weapon you are proficient with. You gain a +2 to hit and a +4 to damage with that weapon.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Greater Proficiency [Fighter]
You are greatly skilled with one weapon.
Benefit: Choose one weapon you have Improved Proficiency with. The bonus from Improved Proficiency increases to +4 to hit and +8 to damage.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Other Feats:
These are additional feats to use under this system.
Improvised Proficiency [Fighter]
You are proficient with anything that comes to hand.
Prerequisite: Weapon Proficiency
Benefit: The penalty for using a weapon you aren't proficient with is reduced to -2 instead of -4. Additionally, the penalty for using improvised weapons is also reduced to -2 instead of -4.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Oversized Proficiency [Fighter]
You may use weapons too big for you.
Prerequisite: Improved Proficiency
Benefit: Pick one weapon you have the Improved Proficiency feat for. You are considered one size category larger whenever it would be beneficial for you whenever you wield that weapon; this includes determining what size weapon you can wield. This feat does not increase your reach with the weapon.
Special: This feat may be taken more than once. Each time you take it, it applies to a new weapon you have Improved Proficiency for.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Mobility Proficiency [Fighter]
You know how to move in armor more effectively.
Prerequisite: 8 or more ranks in Proficiency
Benefit: For every 8 ranks you put into the Proficiency skill (that's ranks, not total skill bonus), reduce the armor check penalty on all armors you wear by 1.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Note: As an optional rule setup, this can be eliminated as a feat and included into the base Proficiency skill itself.
At which point I wanted to slap him upside the head for giving my over-caffeinated ADD OCD muse a toy. But I did work a few things out! without further ado, here's the starts of a system. Please PEACH, I'd like this to implement smoothly.
Skill: Proficiency
This is a class skill for any melee oriented class (such as Fighter, Barbarian, Monk, Rogue, Paladin, Ranger or Bard; add other classes as you the GM see fit).
Suggested skillpoint increase: Any class with this as a class skill should get more skillpoints a level, within reason (Fighter or Paladin should, for example, while Rogue or Bard can probably get by without). Class proficiencies should be converted to a skill bonus to proficiency (for example, "all simple weapons" could be changed to "You gain a +10 bonus to the Proficiency skill to use on weapon proficiencies", and "all simple and all martial weapons" could be "You gain a +20 bonus to the Proficiency skill to be used on weapon proficiencies"). PrC requirements should be changed to an appropriately high total number of weapon or armor proficiencies (so "all simple and martial weapons" could become "proficient with at least 30 weapons"; Similarly, for armors, things like "all light armor" could be changed to "You gain a +10 bonus to the Proficiency skill to use on light armors proficiencies").
Upon taking a rank in this skill, you gain either a new weapon proficiency that you didn't have before, be it simple, martial or exotic, or a new armor proficiency, be it light, heavy, shields or tower shields, or an exotic armor. To qualify for things that require other proficiencies (such as medium or heavy armor, heavy shields or tower shields), you must have at least five proficiencies in the required category to take proficiencies in the new category. The categories and their requirements are as follows:
{table=head]Category|Requirement
Medium Armors|At least five light armor proficiencies
Heavy Armors|At least five medium armor proficiencies
Heavy Shields|At least three light shield proficiencies
Exotic Armors|Must qualify to wear the weight class of the armor
Exotic Shields|Must qualify to wear the weight class of the shield
Tower Shields|At least three heavy shield proficiencies[/table]
As you can see, anything that has full armor and weapon proficiencies at the start (like a Fighter) still has more than enough points to spend in the skill to gain all their usual gear from the get go.
Feats
Because this skill system eliminates the need for weapon proficiency feats, I instead am turning the Weapon Proficiency feats into Improved Proficiency feats, listed here. These should be used in place of the Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization feats.
Weapon Proficiency [Fighter]
You can use more weapons than most.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus to the Proficiency skill.
Special: This feat may be taken more than once. Its effects stack.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Improved Proficiency [Fighter]
You are quite skilled with one weapon.
Benefit: Choose one weapon you are proficient with. You gain a +2 to hit and a +4 to damage with that weapon.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Greater Proficiency [Fighter]
You are greatly skilled with one weapon.
Benefit: Choose one weapon you have Improved Proficiency with. The bonus from Improved Proficiency increases to +4 to hit and +8 to damage.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Other Feats:
These are additional feats to use under this system.
Improvised Proficiency [Fighter]
You are proficient with anything that comes to hand.
Prerequisite: Weapon Proficiency
Benefit: The penalty for using a weapon you aren't proficient with is reduced to -2 instead of -4. Additionally, the penalty for using improvised weapons is also reduced to -2 instead of -4.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Oversized Proficiency [Fighter]
You may use weapons too big for you.
Prerequisite: Improved Proficiency
Benefit: Pick one weapon you have the Improved Proficiency feat for. You are considered one size category larger whenever it would be beneficial for you whenever you wield that weapon; this includes determining what size weapon you can wield. This feat does not increase your reach with the weapon.
Special: This feat may be taken more than once. Each time you take it, it applies to a new weapon you have Improved Proficiency for.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Mobility Proficiency [Fighter]
You know how to move in armor more effectively.
Prerequisite: 8 or more ranks in Proficiency
Benefit: For every 8 ranks you put into the Proficiency skill (that's ranks, not total skill bonus), reduce the armor check penalty on all armors you wear by 1.
Special: A Fighter may take this as one of his bonus Fighter feats.
Note: As an optional rule setup, this can be eliminated as a feat and included into the base Proficiency skill itself.