QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« on: September 05, 2009, 11:31:26 AM » |
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I've been unable to find any of the links for optimizing Spellcraft except for one for optimizing it at Epic levels.
This is, hopefully, a useful guide to getting the most out of your Spellcraft skill.
I know it's nowhere near complete, but I wanted to get something out there on this topic.
Suggestions and comments are welcome.
Edit: Added Divine Insight (2:17pm CST)
Ways To Optimize Spellcraft
1) Synergies
a) Knowledge - Arcana: 5 or more ranks in this skill give you a +2 untyped bonus to Spellcraft checks
b) Use Magic Device: 5 or more ranks in this skill give you a +2 untyped bonus on Spellcraft checks to decipher scrolls
2) Feats
a) Magical Aptitude (PHB): +2 untyped bonus to Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks
b) Skill Focus - Spellcraft (PHB): +3 untyped bonus to Spellcraft
c) Apprentice - Spellcaster (DMGII, p82): +2 competence bonus on Spellcraft checks
d) Mentor - Spellcaster (DMGII, p82): +2 competence bonus on Spellcraft, Knowledge - Arcana, Concentration, and UMD provided you have at least 8
ranks in those skills
e) Precocious Apprentice (CAr, p181): +2 untyped bonus to Spellcraft
f) Make Your Own Luck (CS): Reroll a skill check
g) Item Familiar (UA): Allows you to invest your lifeforce into a magical item worth at least 2000gp; for every 3 skill points you invest in the item, you get
a +1 untyped bonus that can be applied to any skill you have. (Warning: This could cause DM violence)
3) Magic Items
a) Spellsight Spectables (MiC): +5 competence bonus on Spellcraft to decipher scrolls and UMD to use scrolls
b) Skill Shard (MiC): Normal provides +2 competence bonus to your next skill roll (once), Greater provides a +5 competence bonus (once)
c) Tome of Ancient Lore (MiC): Perusing it for 1 hour provides a +5 competence bonus on Knowledge - Arcana and Spellcraft checks for the day. Must be
N, NG, NE, LN, or CN.
d) Stone of Good Luck: +1 luck bonus on saves, ability checks, and skill checks
4) Spells / Invocations
a) Moment of Prescience (Sor / Wiz 8): gives a +25 insight bonus to any one attack roll, opposed ability or skill check.
b) Draconic Knowledge (Least Invocation): +6 untyped bonus to Knowledge and Spellcraft checks
c) Guidance (Cleric 0, Druid 0): +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check
d) Divine Insight (Cleric 2, Paladin 1): Provides an insight bonus equal to 5 + Caster Level (max +15)
5) Base Classes
a) Marshal (Motivate Intelligence): Gain a circumstance bonus equal to the Marshal's CHA bonus to your Intelligence skills.
6) Prestige Classes
a) Mythic Exemplar - Ktolemagne (CC): +5 insight bonus on Concentration, Decipher Script, Knowledge - Arcana, and Spellcraft checks after reaching 2nd
level
b) Wyrm Wizard (DM): Knowledge of the Wyrm allows you to add +Class Level as an insight bonus to your Knowledge - Arcana and Spellcraft checks after
level 5.
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« Last Edit: September 05, 2009, 03:18:28 PM by QOShea »
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Paradox
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« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2009, 11:34:46 AM » |
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Item familiar?
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2009, 11:46:23 AM » |
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Item familiar?
Not familiar with that, is it a feat? What book is it described in? |
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Magrus
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Posts: 27
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« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2009, 11:53:09 AM » |
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Wyrm Wizard (Dragon Magic) Has a class ability which boosts K: Arcana and SpellCraft by 2+Class Level as an Insight if spending an hour studying with a dragon or simply your Class Level without the dragon. Realistically, going into Epic, with the Dragon Familiar feat you can get an ever increasing bonus by continuing the class as an Epic progression too. Each level the skill cap goes up 1, and the insight bonus goes up by 1.
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2009, 11:54:37 AM » |
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Wyrm Wizard (Dragon Magic) Has a class ability which boosts K: Arcana and SpellCraft by 2+Class Level as an Insight if spending an hour studying with a dragon or simply your Class Level without the dragon. Realistically, going into Epic, with the Dragon Familiar feat you can get an ever increasing bonus by continuing the class as an Epic progression too. Each level the skill cap goes up 1, and the insight bonus goes up by 1.
Thanks, I completely missed Wyrm Wizard! |
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Magrus
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Posts: 27
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« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2009, 12:11:38 PM » |
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Np.  I'd been considering the implications of a Wizard 6/Wyrm Wizard 44 in the epic game I'm joining elsewhere up until the DM threw Epic spellcasting out the window. A Spellcraft of 53 Ranks +46 Insight +16 Int +3 Skill Focus+2 Synergy would grant you...117 before anything crazy was thrown in. The dual bonus of K:Arcana and Spellcraft from Knowledge of the Wyrm would mean 11 Epic spells daily too. Shame that its out. |
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Agita
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« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2009, 12:12:25 PM » |
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Item familiar?
Not familiar with that, is it a feat? What book is it described in? Unearthed Arcana, also found in the SRD. It's pretty crazy - you can basically double your effective ranks in a skill with it. |
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Negative Zero
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« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2009, 12:22:26 PM » |
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PlzBreakMyCampaign
Hong Kong
Posts: 1373
Immune to Critical Hits as a Fairness Elemental
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« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2009, 12:29:37 PM » |
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Hmm is there any particular reason pre-epic you want this huge spellcraft check?
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An interesting read, nice to see a civil discussion The point of Spell Resistance is to make it harder to get buffed. And healed. Don't forget that. Huge amounts of people are fuckwits. That doesn't mean that fuckwit is a valid lifestyle. Old Geezer's Law of Hobby Taste: The more objectively inconsequential a hobby is, the more disagreements within the community will be expressed in outrageously insulting, overblown, and ludicrously emotionally laden terms. More Funny than HumbleYour a shifter... you have all you ever need. It blows MoMF out of the water But if your greedy for more [ Wish] for something that only effects you, like another class level or two that doesn't count against your ECL. Yes, I'm the 3.0 "Masters of the Wild" shifter, the awesome kind. My favorite form to take is Force Dragon. Yes, I am immortal ... My character is hands down the coolest guy in the campaign and there is nothing I could possibly want. PBMC gets a cookie for DotA r |
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Paradox
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« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2009, 12:29:58 PM » |
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Anklebite
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« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2009, 12:31:23 PM » |
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just incantatrix, really.
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I do not suffer from paranoia; I enjoy every second of it.
Pioneer of the Ultimate Magus + Sublime Chord + Ultimate Magus combo
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2009, 12:34:44 PM » |
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Why wait until epic levels to get Spellcraft checks that will make your DM go  ? |
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Anklebite
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« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2009, 01:25:57 PM » |
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its pretty simple really, just get a +30 item and an item familiar.
at level 20: 23+23+30+11(int)+4(synergies)+3(skill focus) = +95
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I do not suffer from paranoia; I enjoy every second of it.
Pioneer of the Ultimate Magus + Sublime Chord + Ultimate Magus combo
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2009, 01:57:11 PM » |
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its pretty simple really, just get a +30 item and an item familiar.
at level 20: 23+23+30+11(int)+4(synergies)+3(skill focus) = +95
That's IF your DM will allow a +30 item without throwing things at your head. Like full soda cans. |
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Paradox
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« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2009, 02:23:22 PM » |
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Caring what your DM thinks is for the player to decide, not the boards  |
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2009, 02:32:04 PM » |
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Caring what your DM thinks is for the player to decide, not the boards I'm just trying to cut down on player injuries. *grin* I don't want vengeful DM's coming after me! I have enough of those in the games I play in LOL |
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Madwand
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Posts: 52
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« Reply #16 on: September 05, 2009, 03:08:18 PM » |
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By far the best way to raise spellcraft is the Leadership feat. Get a cleric cohort. He can raise your spellcraft as follows:
1) Divine Insight (2nd)+ Ring of spell-storing or Imbue with Spell ability for a +15 insight bonus to any skill.
2) Much better: Guidance of the Avatar
Guidance of the Avatar
Divination
Level: Clr 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 minute or until discharged
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Your deity's chosen avatar imbues the subject with divine power. The creature gets a +20 competence bonus on a single skill check and must choose to use the bonus before making the roll to which it applies.
Enjoy.
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #17 on: September 05, 2009, 03:13:06 PM » |
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What books are those two spells in?
I couldn't find Guidance of the Avatar anywhere.
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QOShea
Domesticated Capuchin Monkey
Posts: 103
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« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2009, 03:38:31 PM » |
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My Google-fu is weak!
Thanks, wonder if my DM will allow that spell. I sure hope so! LOL
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