Change to skill selection question

[Invader]

Are there any foreseeable pitfalls to just saying Ok you're playing a fighter you can pick X amount of skills as class skills, bard you get to pick this many etc.

Does it really that much of a difference if you would let people choose skills this way?

[Zweisteine]

It shouldn't, unless your players are extraordinary optimizers, though it does take something (something very small) away from the classes who get more unique skills (rogue, in core).

Also, give the fighter more skill points (4+int). He needs them.

[Atnuul]

I don't think so, if you're willing to play a game in which characters depart from the feel outlined by their class descriptions. For example, a fighter with a lot of ranks in sleight of hand might be filling the position of the thieving rogue in certain cases, or the bard with a lot of ranks in survival may have a bit of the wilderness prowess of the ranger. In a way, actually, it presents a unique and slightly more realistic alternative to multiclassing, provided the player is able to adeptly make that choice early on.

[Dusk Eclipse]

It does makes accessing to certain prestige classes easier, but overall it isn't that bad. Though it does weakens a bit the rogue (and similar classes) niche as the skills guys.

[Invader]

Well those skill heavy classes would still have considerably more skills to choose from so they wouldn't be totally homogenized.

[Malimar]

Use Magic Device and Iaijutsu Focus for everybody!

[Thurbane]

Use Magic Device and Iaijutsu Focus for everybody!
Don't forget Autohypnosis and Use Psionic Device!