Gaining Additional Skills

[TarionzCousin]

Is there a way to gain additional skill(s) in Pathfinder? Is there a feat that enables a character to add a skill to his/her class list?

 

[brewdus]

There are several feats that add specific skills as class skills, but it depends on what specific skill you want to add. However, you can still put points in a non-class skill, you just won.t get the +3 bonus.

 

[Kaisoku]

I don't remember any specific feat that grants a skill as a class skill.

There are a pile of traits that do that, though. Usually with a minor bonus along with it.
The feat "Additional Traits" would then open access to that.

However, a class skill just gives a +3 bonus. This can easily be covered by Skill Focus (which, incidentally, now gives an additional bonus at 10 ranks, so +6 bonus). Even one of the +2/+2 feats can cover two skills for the most part (it turns into +4/+4 by 10 ranks).

Sooo yeah. If you are looking at feats to shore up a class skill deficiency, you've got some options.

 

[TarionzCousin]

There are several feats that add specific skills as class skills, but it depends on what specific skill you want to add. However, you can still put points in a non-class skill, you just won.t get the +3 bonus.

And you won't be able to buy ranks in that skill as you progress, correct?

The feat "Additional Traits" would then open access to that.

However, a class skill just gives a +3 bonus. This can easily be covered by Skill Focus (which, incidentally, now gives an additional bonus at 10 ranks, so +6 bonus). Even one of the +2/+2 feats can cover two skills for the most part (it turns into +4/+4 by 10 ranks).

Are Traits optional? I know they're in the Advanced Players Guide.

I played 3.5E for many years, and although I own several Pathfinder books I've never played it. So I'm unclear on many of the differences.

 

[Nikosandros]

And you won't be able to buy ranks in that skill as you progress, correct?

You can buy ranks in any skill and there is no increased cost for non-class skills. The only difference is that if a skill is a class skill for any of your classes, you get a +3 bonus.

Are Traits optional? I know they're in the Advanced Players Guide.

Yes, they are. You can read about traits here.

 

[pawsplay]

Is there a way to gain additional skill(s) in Pathfinder? Is there a feat that enables a character to add a skill to his/her class list?

No, and it's not really worth a feat (one time +3 bonus, basically, and even then, you might get that skill later on).

 

[VanceMadrox]

The Cosmopolitan feat from the APG fits the bill.

Gives you 2 skills of your choice as class skills and 2 languages.

 

[Kaisoku]

Ah yes, that one is restricted to Int, Wis or Cha based skills though. A little limited, but could be exactly what a limited class skill list character is looking for (typically a combat guy, like a Fighter, wanting to pick up something like Perception, etc).

 

[Thanael]

What brewdus said.

Also check out traits. (PF half-feats)

Traits - Pathfinder_OGC

Many of those add class skills.

Edit: Well I shoulda read the thread. Traits already got mentioned.

Here's the link to the Paizo traits web enhancement btw: www.paizo.com/traits

 

[heymitch]

I think that if you use traits, it may be worth using one of your starting traits to pick up a class skill you want. I wouldn't spend a feat on Additional Traits.

Cosmopolitan doesn't work with physical skills, as mentioned above.

The easiest way to add new class skills is to multi-class. Even a 1-level dip in a class gives you all of it's class skills.

A Fighter who wants to add Perception to his list of class skills could just take 1 level of Ranger or Barbarian. He'd get that skill, plus a bunch of others (not to mention Rage or Favored Enemy), and not take a hit to his BAB.

However, having something as a class skill in Pathfinder is not the be-all and end-all. You just get a +3 bonus to the skill (once you put any ranks in it). Pathfinder lets any character (regardless of class) develop any skill with ranks up to their character level. So, a 12th level Fighter, with a 12 Wis, could put 12 ranks in Perception for a +13. If it was added to his class skill list, it would just be a +16 instead.

If all you are trying to do is get that +3 bonus, I don't think it's worth either a feat or a level dip.