Quick question: How do people have such high skills?

[trogers2]

As the thread says, how can people go around with +60, 70, 80 spot, listen, stealth checks? I can't figure it out considering the final level caps out the skill at 40 (I think) +attribute (e.g. str, dex etc...)

So at level 30 with a max hide roll of 40 +10 dex (50) does that mean people are spamming gear with hide on it? A hide skill of 80 seems insane, thats like +30 from gear! ...My mind is blown.

If someone could explain this to me I would be greatful

[fearknight2003]

Yes, earlier today I saw someone with 51 Move Silently; it's weird.

[RagingPeace]

My assassin has 60 hide/ms at level 22 without buffs, only with items. The rogue shop in Baldur's gate provides hide/ms gear.

Feats are helpful: Stealthy and skill focus for instance

[CommanderKrieg]

Buffs
Bard songs
Items with skill bonuses

I think with my bard I hit mid 80s low 90s on spot.

Certain skills people will excel in because of dedicated stats. For instance if you had 30 cha you have a +10 to bluff right there.

Hope that helps

[NeonAvenger]

My understanding is that it looks something like this: [table][tr][td]Skill Maximum[/td][td]33[/td][/tr][tr][td]Feat: Skill Focus[/td][td]3[/td][/tr][tr][td]Feat: Epic Skill Focus (only available for a very few skills)[/td][td]10[/td][/tr][tr][td]Related Feat (e.g Alertness, Stealthy)[/td][td]2[/td][/tr][tr][td]Ludicrous stat (30)[/td][td]10[/td][/tr][tr][td]Spell to enhance stat (Fox's Cunning etc...)[/td][td]2[/td][/tr][tr][td]Greater Heroism[/td][td]4[/td][/tr][tr][td]Bardic Inspiration (I sing therefore I am a rocket scientist)[/td][td]8[/td][/tr][tr][td]+3 Skill equipment in every slot[/td][td]27[/td][/tr][tr][td]weapons / weapon + shield with +3 skill bonus[/td][td]6[/td][/tr][tr][td]Skill specific spell (e.g. Appraising touch, Camouflage... listed is +5 but actual bonus varies widely)[/td][td]5[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Class specific bonus (e.g. Divine Seeker stealth or Techsmith craft (value varies)[/td][td]5[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ABSURD TOTAL[/td][td]115[/td][/tr][/table]
Although apparently the game engine has problems if your skill is above 100. Can't say I've ever had that problem though.

Edit: Included a couple more sources of skill bonus

[Arn]

Maddy, you forgot feats like Alertness or Stealthy!

[Blackman D]

stealth

ranks: 33
feats: 6
gear: 20*
dex: 6*

total: 65 - * are just examples

GH for 69, scroll/potion of spiders is +4 hide for 73/69, camo is +10 hide for 83/69

left out a few things but yea, things can add up if you are trying

and it is impossible to get a base over 100 with almost everything now but yea it causes issues, mostly the 1 is not registered

[mrm3ntalist]

My understanding is that it looks something like this: [table][tr][td]ABSURD TOTAL[/td][td]115[/td][/tr][/table]
Although apparently the game engine has problems if your skill is above 100. Can't say I've ever had that problem though.

Edit: Included a couple more sources of skill bonus

There is no engine problem if your skill is above 100. Thats a myth.
The skill bonuses cap at +50 and that limits the maximum skill points you can have. 115 cannot happen.

So at level 30 with a max hide roll of 40 +10 dex (50) does that mean people are spamming gear with hide on it? A hide skill of 80 seems insane, thats like +30 from gear! ...My mind is blown.

Yes, in order to stand a chance and not be detected you need most - if not all - your gear to be hide/MS

[Bad Omens]

Best Skill Junky Build (Sneak)

Bard 14 Spirit Shaman 13 Shadow Dancer 3 - with all basic gear, not DM gifted

Base Hide - 33
10 items avg (3) Hide (Dual Wield) - 30
Spider Skin Spell - 10
Camouflage Spell - 10
Dex Bonus - 8
Greater Heroism - 4
Inspire Competence - 4
Cat's Grace Spell - 2

Total: 101

So, without DM gifted gear, or Supernatural Abilities, you can create a pretty intensely skilled build. You just have to work on finding what works

[NeonAvenger]

The skill bonuses cap at +50 and that limits the maximum skill points you can have. 115 cannot happen.

Huh. Didn't know that. Never had a character where it was an issue.
How is it calculated? If there are penalties could a bonus over 50 effectively offset or negate it? Or is it just "No more than +50 other factors applied later"?

[mrm3ntalist]

The skill bonuses cap at +50 and that limits the maximum skill points you can have. 115 cannot happen.

Huh. Didn't know that. Never had a character where it was an issue.
How is it calculated? If there are penalties could a bonus over 50 effectively offset or negate it? Or is it just "No more than +50 other factors applied later"?

Bonus on skills from spells ( Gr. heroism, cats etc ) and bonus on skills from items cap at +50. For example, amplify (+20listen ) + C&C (10Listen +20 (5 items with +4listen ) reaches the cap. Casting Gr heroism on top, wont matter since the cap is already reached

[DM Echo]

Best Skill Junky Build (Sneak)

Bard 14 Spirit Shaman 13 Shadow Dancer 3 - with all basic gear, not DM gifted

Base Hide - 33
10 items avg (3) Hide (Dual Wield) - 30
Spider Skin Spell - 10
Camouflage Spell - 10
Dex Bonus - 8
Greater Heroism - 4
Inspire Competence - 4
Cat's Grace Spell - 2

Total: 101

So, without DM gifted gear, or Supernatural Abilities, you can create a pretty intensely skilled build. You just have to work on finding what works

This doesn't work because Spider Skin, Camouflage, and items brings you to a +50 skill modifier, which is max from spells/items, so Greater Heroism and Inspire competence wouldn't give you anything.

[DM Echo]

The skill bonuses cap at +50 and that limits the maximum skill points you can have. 115 cannot happen.

Huh. Didn't know that. Never had a character where it was an issue.
How is it calculated? If there are penalties could a bonus over 50 effectively offset or negate it? Or is it just "No more than +50 other factors applied later"?

Bonus on skills from spells ( Gr. heroism, cats etc ) and bonus on skills from items cap at +50. For example, amplify (+20listen ) + C&C (10Listen +20 (5 items with +4listen ) reaches the cap. Casting Gr heroism on top, wont matter since the cap is already reached

I don't think I am wrong in this but.. Given that you are QC I will defer to you.. But cat's grace doesn't count towards the cap since it indirectly increases your skills via increasing your dex.

[Blackman D]

ability stats do not count towards skill cap because they have their own cap

Best Skill Junky Build (Sneak)

Bard 14 Spirit Shaman 13 Shadow Dancer 3 - with all basic gear, not DM gifted

Base Hide - 33
10 items avg (3) Hide (Dual Wield) - 30
Spider Skin Spell - 10
Camouflage Spell - 10
Dex Bonus - 8
Greater Heroism - 4
Inspire Competence - 4
Cat's Grace Spell - 2

Total: 101

So, without DM gifted gear, or Supernatural Abilities, you can create a pretty intensely skilled build. You just have to work on finding what works

also you cant really list dex and then list cats because its the same thing and most are gonna have a dex item that will make cats useless anyway

[Lockonnow]

items with skills point can give a lots of skills to