Skill Mechanics: Balance, Climb, Jump, & Swim

The Aenean background-coded skills work much like regular skills, in that there are ranks and modifiers (total skill bonus) added to a d20 check is made versus a specific DC (difficulty class).

For those wondering about exact mechanics and math, here's what goes into the skills.

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Balance

Base virtual ranks are based on class levels, with the totals added together at the end:
Acrobat: level
Animator: level / 3
Arcane Archer: level / 2
Assassin: level
Barbarian: level
Bard: level / 3
Blackguard: level / 3
Cleric: level / 3
Champion of Dalix: level / 3
Dragonsoul or Red Dragon Disciple: level / 3
Druid: level / 3
Dwarven Defender: level / 2
Farstep Master: level / 3
Fighter: level / 2
Firestarter: level / 3
Ironheart: level / 3
Monk: level
Paladin: level / 3
Purple Dragon Knight: level / 3
Ranger: level / 2
Rogue: level
Shadow Dancer: level
Shifter: level / 2
Sorcerer: level / 3
Soulfire Warrior: level / 3
Weapon Master: level / 3
Wizard: level / 3
Warblade: level / 3

Possible Modifiers:
+ Dexterity modifier
+ Reincarnated (+5) or Ascended (+10)
- Armor Check Penalty
+/- Miscellaneous effects/enchantments

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Climb

Base virtual ranks are based on class levels, with the totals added together at the end:
Acrobat: level
Animator: level / 3
Arcane Archer: level / 2
Assassin: level / 2
Barbarian: level
Bard: level / 3
Blackguard: level / 3
Cleric: level / 3
Champion of Dalix: level / 3
Dragonsoul or Red Dragon Disciple: level / 2
Druid: level / 3
Dwarven Defender: level / 3
Farstep Master: level / 2
Fighter: level / 2
Firestarter: level / 3
Ironheart: level / 3
Monk: level
Paladin: level / 3
Purple Dragon Knight: level / 3
Ranger: level / 2
Rogue: level
Shadow Dancer: level
Shifter: level
Sorcerer: level / 2
Soulfire Warrior: level / 3
Weapon Master: level / 3
Wizard: level / 3
Warblade: level / 2

Possible Modifiers:
+ Strength modifier x 3
+ Dexterity modifier x 2
+ Reincarnated (+5) or Ascended (+10)
+ gloves of climbing (+15)
- Armor Check Penalty
- Weight Carried (-1 per 10 pounds)
+/- Miscellaneous effects/enchantments

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Jump

Base virtual ranks are based on class levels, with the totals added together at the end:
Acrobat: level
Animator: level / 3
Arcane Archer: level / 2
Assassin: level
Barbarian: level
Bard: level / 3
Blackguard: level / 3
Cleric: level / 3
Champion of Dalix: level / 3
Dragonsoul or Red Dragon Disciple: level / 3
Druid: level / 3
Dwarven Defender: level / 2
Farstep Master: level / 3
Fighter: level / 2
Firestarter: level / 3
Ironheart: level / 3
Monk: level
Paladin: level / 3
Purple Dragon Knight: level / 3
Ranger: level / 2
Rogue: level
Shadow Dancer: level
Shifter: level / 2
Sorcerer: level / 3
Soulfire Warrior: level / 3
Weapon Master: level / 3
Wizard: level / 3
Warblade: level / 2

Possible Modifiers:
+ Strength modifier x 2
+ Dexterity modifier x 3
+ Reincarnated (+5) or Ascended (+10)
+ boots of striding and springing (+10)
+ ring of jumping (+30, doesn't stack with a 2nd ring)
+ jump spell (+30)
- Armor Check Penalty
- Weight Carried (-1 per 10 pounds)
+/- Miscellaneous effects/enchantments

"Jump Point" DC:
- Wings (-10)

"Jump Tool" DC:
Base: 5
+ Distance (+3 per meter)
+ Height (+4 per meter jumped upward)
- Height (-20 if jumping downward)
- Wings (-10)

"Jump Tool Damage" (hitting bottom on a failed Jump check downward)
+ 1d6 points per 3 meters dropped
0 damage if winged
0 damage if wearing ring of feather falling
0 damage if level 18+ monk
- 5d6 damage if level 8-17 monk
- 3d6 damage if level 6-7 monk
- 2d6 damage if level 4-5 monk

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Swim

Base virtual ranks are based on class levels, with the totals added together at the end:
Acrobat: level / 2
Animator: level / 2
Arcane Archer: level / 2
Assassin: level / 2
Barbarian: level
Bard: level / 2
Blackguard: level / 2
Cleric: level / 2
Champion of Dalix: level / 2
Dragonsoul or Red Dragon Disciple: level / 2
Druid: level
Dwarven Defender: level / 3
Farstep Master: level / 2
Fighter: level / 2
Firestarter: level / 3
Ironheart: level / 3
Monk: level
Paladin: level / 2
Purple Dragon Knight: level / 2
Ranger: level
Rogue: level
Shadow Dancer: level / 2
Shifter: level
Sorcerer: level / 2
Soulfire Warrior: level / 2
Weapon Master: level / 2
Wizard: level / 2
Warblade: level / 2

Possible Modifiers:
+ Strength modifier x 5
+ Constitution modifier
+ Reincarnated (+5) or Ascended (+10)
+ Subrace: Sea Elf (+10)
+ Subrace: Triton Kin (+10)
+ Subrace: Half Sea-Elf (+5)
+ aquatic scale armor (+10)
- Armor Check Penalty
- Weight Carried (-1 per 10 pounds)
+/- Miscellaneous effects/enchantments