is there some kind of template hack..

[Mystictrunks03]

that copies a templates added to one skin when another skin is added?

[assassingod]

If you enable debug mode (Add $debug = '1'; before ?> in includes/config.php) you can add template to the MASTER STYLE. This will make that template permanent to all styles + future styles you add.

[blubber12]

will that work for amending a template? If the master is changed, all the children will change as well?

[assassingod]

If I can remember correctly, if the template hasn't been changed in the child styles, then yes - if you edit the MASTER style template then it will change on its children too.

[AlexanderT]

Don't mess with the master style - just my two cents.