Non prime class abilities

[jdizzy001]

How do you all handle checks connected to a character's class but that are none prime. For example let's say my dwarf rogue has dex/con as primes, he can still use the listen skill but is he doomed to use it from a CB 18? I thought I read on the forums of a few ways to remedy this oddity. What have you done in the past?

[Treebore]

I simply went the "iconic" class route of 1E AD&D. If you have it as a class ability/skill, then you treat it as Prime, whether your attribute is or not.

[Buttmonkey]

I run it by the book. If the dwarf rogue wants to be good at listening, he should take wisdom as prime instead of constitution.

If I could do it all over again, I would add Perception as a 7th attribute. I would use that instead of wisdom for perception-based checks like listening, surprise, detecting illusions, etc.

[Omote]

I run it by the book. If the dwarf rogue wants to be good at listening, he should take wisdom as prime instead of constitution.

This is how it should be done.

~O

[alcyone]

By The Book: Tough noogies. Take Wisdom as a prime or suffer.
Treebore: Treat Wisdom as a prime for this class ability roll (will use your Wisdom bonus)
Stephen Chenault: Your class prime is used for class abilities (so you will use your class prime bonus, your Dex bonus if you are a rogue.)

I like Treebore's way. But I am a jerk, so I use the first one.

q.v. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13775

[maximus]

I'm with Tree on this one

[Aramis]

I have been playing the Treebore way for almost a decade now. It is a generous boost to the skillsy classes (Rangers, rogues etc.) for demi humans but it works fine. I don't find it unbalancing and it makes those class/race options fun to play

Another option is to switch to a CB=15 model (rather than CB=18), and only grant a +3 for primes, thus a prime is only equal to the boost of the best stat.

[Rigon]

I'm of the btb method for my games. However, I don't require class specific primes. So a rogue wouldn't need to take Dex as a prime. They could take Wis and Int instead.

R-

[serleran]

How do you all handle checks connected to a character's class but that are none prime. For example let's say my dwarf rogue has dex/con as primes, he can still use the listen skill but is he doomed to use it from a CB 18? I thought I read on the forums of a few ways to remedy this oddity. What have you done in the past?

Class abilities always get character level added, so "doomed" is not really appropriate. It will just take him longer to be good at simple things his comrades who do have Prime are able to do.

So... yes, the base is 18, before modification.

Some have house rules that change that.

I don't. But, "listen" is something anyone can do so I actually don't use SIEGE for it at all.

[jdizzy001]

By The Book: Tough noogies. Take Wisdom as a prime or suffer.
Treebore: Treat Wisdom as a prime for this class ability roll (will use your Wisdom bonus)
Stephen Chenault: Your class prime is used for class abilities (so you will use your class prime bonus, your Dex bonus if you are a rogue.)

I like Treebore's way. But I am a jerk, so I use the first one.

q.v. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13775

Not only was this already hashed out a number of years ago, I apparently added my own opinions on the matter in the thread. Funny, how time fades memories like that. I appreciate everyone's feedback. It is a shame the Trolls won't add that one line of text in the PHB or CKG. Something like, "Treat all attribute checks tied to a class ability as prime." Heck, they could add it as another optional rule in the back of the PHB and it won't "change" anything as the rule will be optional.