Books and Tomes in D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Books and Tomes in D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
grndyfn19
03-07-08, 05:14 PM I'm just wondering what the effect of a book or a tome would do to a PC if they stumbled across one, and not always a magical book/tome. I'm talking about if they walk into a library or something and they pick up a book. Does the book just increase their Knowledge in a certain skill? Does it give them certain abilities if magical? Besides a few magic items in the DMG that didn't detail what I was looking for, I haven't seen anything on this. Books are full of information, so how does a PC utilize that?
pigknight
03-07-08, 06:53 PM +X on Knowledge (X) check.
ZiggZagg
03-07-08, 07:08 PM +1 or +2 to a knowledge check that the book contains to. Don't let them abuse this though.
Bedeverekm
03-07-08, 07:19 PM If they have free access to a library or books that are well suited to the subject, then consider them masterworked tools for the skill check, perhaps? +2 on a relevant knowledge roll seems appropriate enough, assuming they study the subject for a suitable length of time.

I'd personally prefer to see people looking things up in the library to make the check, not to get the bonus in advance. Think how often in Buffy, for instance, Giles heard of something, and went straight to the right book, to check it. Very rarely. However, how often did they get a BIG pile of books, and read them for hours? Lots.
Nathreet
03-07-08, 08:02 PM No skill point bonus at all, nor any bonus. Some books may contain pertinent information which the DM may simply tell to the PC if he reads it. Thus, he automatically has that knowledge without need to make a knowledge check if it comes up.

Other books (or a library, especially), are essential to gain skill points when advancing a level. Those ranks in knowledge (nobility and royalty) don't pop into your head from your innate magical uberness. They must be gained by study. Same goes for other skills, for that matter. Most of the time we brush over this when we level up, and don't get into the details. The PC trains, yada, yada, okay next dungeon. The PHB and DMG basically say that the details on how these skills, abilities, etc. are gained are up to the DM.

Many DM's houserule various ways to give a couple free skill ranks here and there (without going overboard) in addition to what you get from leveling. That's a fine and excellent way of doing things too.
grndyfn19
03-07-08, 08:08 PM If they have free access to a library or books that are well suited to the subject, then consider them masterworked tools for the skill check, perhaps? +2 on a relevant knowledge roll seems appropriate enough, assuming they study the subject for a suitable length of time.

I'd personally prefer to see people looking things up in the library to make the check, not to get the bonus in advance. Think how often in Buffy, for instance, Giles heard of something, and went straight to the right book, to check it. Very rarely. However, how often did they get a BIG pile of books, and read them for hours? Lots.

That seems reasonable, but that's also what I expected and thought of from the beginning. Maybe another idea is, if it's not complicated, tell the character the information in the book right away if it's something they need to know really fast. For example, a PC walks into a library and sees a book called, "Lands of the Kobold". That PC picks up the book, and quickly flips to a page. On that page it reveals where certain kobold races are located and where to find them. The PC puts the book down, and heads towards the area that the book said. Or if it's longer, they must study it, but they will know all the information at once without the need of a Knowledge check. Granted, in most other circumstances it would give you a Knowledge bonus, but would this work?

Also, in another thread I posted recently: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=15284920#post15284920, I talked about learning new powers/abilities from training without the need of taking levels in a new class or prestige class. Would it be possible, even if it would make things a little unbalanced (I would find a way to fix it), to open up a book, study it, and learn new powers, fighting styles, etc? I'm talking mainly about martial classes since spellcasters can already do this, I believe, but it still can apply to them. Would this work, too?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
grndyfn19 03-07-08, 05:14 PM	I'm just wondering what the effect of a book or a tome would do to a PC if they stumbled across one, and not always a magical book/tome. I'm talking about if they walk into a library or something and they pick up a book. Does the book just increase their Knowledge in a certain skill? Does it give them certain abilities if magical? Besides a few magic items in the DMG that didn't detail what I was looking for, I haven't seen anything on this. Books are full of information, so how does a PC utilize that?
pigknight 03-07-08, 06:53 PM	+X on Knowledge (X) check.
ZiggZagg 03-07-08, 07:08 PM	+1 or +2 to a knowledge check that the book contains to. Don't let them abuse this though.
Bedeverekm 03-07-08, 07:19 PM	If they have free access to a library or books that are well suited to the subject, then consider them masterworked tools for the skill check, perhaps? +2 on a relevant knowledge roll seems appropriate enough, assuming they study the subject for a suitable length of time. I'd personally prefer to see people looking things up in the library to make the check, not to get the bonus in advance. Think how often in Buffy, for instance, Giles heard of something, and went straight to the right book, to check it. Very rarely. However, how often did they get a BIG pile of books, and read them for hours? Lots.
Nathreet 03-07-08, 08:02 PM	No skill point bonus at all, nor any bonus. Some books may contain pertinent information which the DM may simply tell to the PC if he reads it. Thus, he automatically has that knowledge without need to make a knowledge check if it comes up. Other books (or a library, especially), are essential to gain skill points when advancing a level. Those ranks in knowledge (nobility and royalty) don't pop into your head from your innate magical uberness. They must be gained by study. Same goes for other skills, for that matter. Most of the time we brush over this when we level up, and don't get into the details. The PC trains, yada, yada, okay next dungeon. The PHB and DMG basically say that the details on how these skills, abilities, etc. are gained are up to the DM. Many DM's houserule various ways to give a couple free skill ranks here and there (without going overboard) in addition to what you get from leveling. That's a fine and excellent way of doing things too.
grndyfn19 03-07-08, 08:08 PM	If they have free access to a library or books that are well suited to the subject, then consider them masterworked tools for the skill check, perhaps? +2 on a relevant knowledge roll seems appropriate enough, assuming they study the subject for a suitable length of time. I'd personally prefer to see people looking things up in the library to make the check, not to get the bonus in advance. Think how often in Buffy, for instance, Giles heard of something, and went straight to the right book, to check it. Very rarely. However, how often did they get a BIG pile of books, and read them for hours? Lots. That seems reasonable, but that's also what I expected and thought of from the beginning. Maybe another idea is, if it's not complicated, tell the character the information in the book right away if it's something they need to know really fast. For example, a PC walks into a library and sees a book called, "Lands of the Kobold". That PC picks up the book, and quickly flips to a page. On that page it reveals where certain kobold races are located and where to find them. The PC puts the book down, and heads towards the area that the book said. Or if it's longer, they must study it, but they will know all the information at once without the need of a Knowledge check. Granted, in most other circumstances it would give you a Knowledge bonus, but would this work? Also, in another thread I posted recently: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=15284920#post15284920, I talked about learning new powers/abilities from training without the need of taking levels in a new class or prestige class. Would it be possible, even if it would make things a little unbalanced (I would find a way to fix it), to open up a book, study it, and learn new powers, fighting styles, etc? I'm talking mainly about martial classes since spellcasters can already do this, I believe, but it still can apply to them. Would this work, too?