Skill point

Skill points are a measure of a character's ability to gain and improve skills. At each level, a character gains skill points and spends them to buy skill ranks. Each skill point buys 1 rank in a class skill or ½ rank in a cross-class skill.

Acquiring skill points

A character gets a base allotment of 2, 4, 6, or 8 skill points for each new level depending on which class is chosen. Intelligence provides a bonus (or penalty) equal to the ability modifier. Humans receive an extra skill point each level. For the first character level, the skill points (including bonuses) are multiplied by 4.

Base skill points per level

Points	Classes
2	Cleric, Fighter, Paladin, Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, Blackguard, Divine champion, Dragon disciple, Dwarven defender, Pale master, Weapon master, Frenzied berserker, Eldritch knight, Warpriest
4	Barbarian, Druid, Monk, Arcane archer, Arcane trickster, Assassin
6	Bard, Ranger, Harper agent, Shadowdancer
8	Rogue

Spending skill points

For class skills (such as listen for a rogue or spellcraft for a cleric), a character gets 1 rank (equal to a +1 bonus on checks with that skill) for each skill point. For cross-class skills, a character gets a ½ rank per skill point invested.

The maximum rank in a class skill is character level + 3. The maximum rank in a cross-class skill is ½ of that number (do not round up or down).

NWN comparison

• Cross-class skills in NWN had a max skill rank equal to (character level + 3) ÷ 2, with the final figure rounded down (e.g. the max cross-class rank of a character with 4 character levels would be 3).
• In NWN characters could "store" skill points gained each level to spend at a later point, but only when levelling. This was implemented because NWN could not handle half-points for cross-class skills.