Skills were alway a problematic part of D&D, from Incantatrix spellcraft abuse to the diplomancer, abusing skills can effectively created massive power creep and bring many balance issue, such as completely breaking skills like bluff and diplomacy. This variant cap skill bonus at HD + 13. A 1st level character skill cap would be +14 (ranks, ability bonus and items included). Racial bonus actually ignore this rule (make them more useful). Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Variant Rules