Some technical questions about 3E

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When a character gets skill points do they apply their intelligence penalty (if they have one) to their amount of skill points like they would with an intelligence bonus? If so does it mean that they can get no skills whatsoever?

Also, how long does it take for a character to draw/unsheath a weapon?

And finally, can you cast a spell that has a somatic component when wielding a two handed weapon?

Thanks in advance,

Cheers, Void

 

I would say minimum skillpoints/level is 1.

By rules, it takes a move-equivalent action to draw a blade, but many people omit this rule, allowing to draw a blade as a free action.

You need at least one free hand to cast a spell - figures you cannot cast a spell while having both hands busy.

 

But couldn't you just hold it with one hand, resting it on the ground or something?

Also I meant to ask how long it took to put away a weapon.

Thanks for the help,

Cheers, Void

 

From the SRD:
Draw a weapon [Move Equivalent][AoO: No]
Sheathe a weapon [Move Equivalent][AoO: Yes]

But of course, if you use that "Quick Draw feat for free" rule that Skedaddle mentioned, you'd probably rule this to be a free action as well.
In my opinion though, it's better to leave both these as they are in the rules. The fighter gets enough feats, no need to give him another one for free. Being able to draw a weapon and make a full attack in one round, or throwing a lot of daggers each round without having to at least sacrifice a feat for it seems somewhat unfair to classes not using melee or throwing weapons.
Unless of course you want to give the characters using crossbows the rapid reload feat and the quicken spell feat for the wizard. Well, that's my point of view anyway. End Rant.

And I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to rest a weapon on the ground when casting spells.

 

Actually, the rules clearly state that if you have a Base Attack Bonus of at least +1, you can combine a Draw Weapon action with a move, to some extent making it a free action.
It is not as if you had the Quick Draw feat though, for you could not stand next to an opponent, draw your weapon as a free action and get a Full Attack, which the QD feat would permit you.

 

Vanadin: Good call, I must have overlooked that during my studying of the books. Do you remember the page number? Need to know for future reference...

 

From the SRD:

Draw a weapon [Move Equivalent][AoO: No]

Description: If a combatant has a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, a combatant can combine one of these actions with a regular move. If a combatant has the Two-Weapon Fighting feat, a combatant can draw two light or one-handed weapons in the time it would normally take a combatant to draw one.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Cheers, Void