Books? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Books? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sivis
08-24-06, 11:47 PM Spellbooks give wizards spells but whatabout the other books? Books on History or Arcana? If you did have a book on lets say Magical Wands wouldnt that give you a boost to a knowledge arcana check invovling wands? Or a Monster Manual (tee hee) for I.D.ing monsters? Is there a book that contains these books?
spectralphoenix
08-24-06, 11:55 PM The Stronghold Builders Guide let you buy libraries that would give you a bonus to an appropriate knowledge check. Not very portable, however.
fatal error
08-25-06, 01:03 AM Books are generally assumed to be how you got ranks in your knowledge skills in the first place. If you're a strict DM, you would even ban your PCs from taking ranks in such skills if they level while in an area devoid of sources for said knowledge type.

That said, non-magical books are generally useless in most games, unless they contain a plot hint in them. There's an article on mundane books Here (http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=314) and Here (http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=315).
cwslyclgh
08-25-06, 01:20 AM Dragon Magazine #343 had a class acts article titled "Grimiores", which had to do with non-spell books (since a grimiore is technically a spell book I think the articles title was poorly chosen...)
risner
08-25-06, 02:06 AM Dragon Magazine #343

338 page 98
mvincent
08-25-06, 03:37 AM There are rules for generic "masterwork tools":

"Tool, Masterwork
This well-made item is the perfect tool for the job. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on a related skill check (if any). Bonuses provided by multiple masterwork items used toward the same skill check do not stack."
50 gp, 1 lb.

Books seem like suitable "Masterwork tools" in regard to knowledge skills.
cwslyclgh
08-25-06, 03:44 AM 338 page 98
ah you are correct I was looking at the one next to it on the shelf.
katarl
08-25-06, 06:43 AM In Monte Cooks Arcana Evolved, it has a simple system where books (individual books) grant a bonus on the check (if applicable) of one part of a skill (eg. dragons, knowledge arcana), up to a +5, and cost the bonus, squared, multiplied by 10gp.

In Tomes and Libraries, by Mongoose Publishing, there is a much more complicated system, but gives more bonuses.

Non-magical books don't see much discussion in dnd, unfortunately.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sivis 08-24-06, 11:47 PM	Spellbooks give wizards spells but whatabout the other books? Books on History or Arcana? If you did have a book on lets say Magical Wands wouldnt that give you a boost to a knowledge arcana check invovling wands? Or a Monster Manual (tee hee) for I.D.ing monsters? Is there a book that contains these books?
spectralphoenix 08-24-06, 11:55 PM	The Stronghold Builders Guide let you buy libraries that would give you a bonus to an appropriate knowledge check. Not very portable, however.
fatal error 08-25-06, 01:03 AM	Books are generally assumed to be how you got ranks in your knowledge skills in the first place. If you're a strict DM, you would even ban your PCs from taking ranks in such skills if they level while in an area devoid of sources for said knowledge type. That said, non-magical books are generally useless in most games, unless they contain a plot hint in them. There's an article on mundane books Here (http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=314) and Here (http://www.roleplayingtips.com/readissue.php?number=315).
cwslyclgh 08-25-06, 01:20 AM	Dragon Magazine #343 had a class acts article titled "Grimiores", which had to do with non-spell books (since a grimiore is technically a spell book I think the articles title was poorly chosen...)
risner 08-25-06, 02:06 AM	Dragon Magazine #343 338 page 98
mvincent 08-25-06, 03:37 AM	There are rules for generic "masterwork tools": "Tool, Masterwork This well-made item is the perfect tool for the job. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on a related skill check (if any). Bonuses provided by multiple masterwork items used toward the same skill check do not stack." 50 gp, 1 lb. Books seem like suitable "Masterwork tools" in regard to knowledge skills.
cwslyclgh 08-25-06, 03:44 AM	338 page 98 ah you are correct I was looking at the one next to it on the shelf.
katarl 08-25-06, 06:43 AM	In Monte Cooks Arcana Evolved, it has a simple system where books (individual books) grant a bonus on the check (if applicable) of one part of a skill (eg. dragons, knowledge arcana), up to a +5, and cost the bonus, squared, multiplied by 10gp. In Tomes and Libraries, by Mongoose Publishing, there is a much more complicated system, but gives more bonuses. Non-magical books don't see much discussion in dnd, unfortunately.