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Multi-classing is where skills becomes fun

There are 4 different states of class skill or cross class skill, this is not always obvious from reading the rules, but here is a break down with examples to explain it:

I have a character that start as a Ranger 1, and then multi-class to Druid 1 later on. He has decided on 4 skills he wants to take (and we ignore the rest, since they are irrelevant for this). And he will maximize these skills at each level.

1. Spot
2. Hide
3. Diplomacy
4. Bluff

Level 1 ranger:

1. Spot: Is Class skill, putting 4 skill points gives him 4 ranks which is max.
2. Hide: Is Class skill, putting 4 skill points gives him 4 ranks which is max.
3. Diplomacy: Is Cross Class skill, putting 4 skill points gives him 2 ranks which is max.
4. Bluff: Is Cross Class skill, putting 4 skill points gives him 2 ranks which is max.

So far, straight forward. Now to level him up as Druid 1:

1. Spot: Is Class skill, putting 1 skill points gives him 5 ranks which is max.
2. Hide: Is Cross Class skill, putting 2 skill points gives him 5 ranks which is max.
3. Diplomacy: Is Class skill, putting 3 skill points gives him 5 ranks which is max.
4. Bluff: Is Cross Class skill, putting 1 skill points gives him 2.5 ranks which is max.

While Spot and Bluff remains the same, you notice that Hide and Diplomacy suddenly gets a mashing of both rules.

Hide having been class skill once, now cost double the amount of skill points, because it is Cross Class Skill for Druid, but you retain the same Max Ranks, because it has been Class Skill once for Ranger. So if the character continues to level up as a Druid, he will have to pay 2 skill points each level in order to max out Hide, even if it “is” also a Class Skill (and not).

Diplomacy at level 1 you spent 4 skill points to get a +2, and then on level 2 you can spend 3 skill points for a +3 ? counter-intuitive. Nor does this allow your previous invested 4 skill points to count as 4 ranks instead of 2. You basically just lost 2 skill points for no return, the smart choice here is to not buy Diplomacy until you take the Druid level.

The Able Learner feat (Races of Destiny) says that all your cross class skills cost *1* skill point instead of *2*, that is the only change it does. But it does make both Hide and Diplomacy (in this example) work like proper class skills, and saves you half the skill points from investing in bluff.

1. C = Class skill for all classes involved (Spot)
2. CC = Cross Class skill for all classes involved (Bluff)
3. CX = Class skill for earlier class, but Cross Class for later class (Hide)
4. XC = Cross Class for earlier class, but Class skill for later class (Diplomacy)

Note: From what I understand of Marius's house-rule so far, he is removing CX only, with the Able Learner fix he is proposing.

This is solved much more elegant and user friendly in Pathfinder. They still use the same core system, but they have changed and altered it to become as practical and easy as possible.

Every skill, no matter Class or Cross-Class have a max rank of *1* per level (not 3+level as in 3.5), and always cost 1 skill point to upgrade.

Class skills gets a +3 class skill bonus.

So the earlier example would look like this, at Ranger1:

1. Perception: 1 skill point for max rank 1, +3 class skill bonus
2. Stealth: 1 skill point for max rank 1, +3 class skill bonus
3. Diplomacy: 1 skill point for max rank 1
4. Bluff: 1 skill point for max rank 1

Then Druid1:

1. Perception: 1 skill point for max rank 2, +3 class skill bonus
2. Stealth: 1 skill point for max rank 2, +3 class skill bonus
3. Diplomacy: 1 skill point for max rank 2, +3 class skill bonus
4. Bluff: 1 skill point for max rank 2

And thats it.

Also note that Pathfinder has also fused several skills together (as visible above where Hide+Move Silently has been fused together into one skill named Stealth, and Spot, Listen and Search has been fused together into Perception) which further helps reducing the problems with lack of skill points, and lets characters branch out into more varied builds.