A Wizards' Skills... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Wizards' Skills... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aishar
04-15-05, 09:13 AM I'm building a 1st level wizard, human race, and with 18 Intelligence (at least I'm hoping for it, but an 18 will do for what I'm trying to explain here).
Anyway, I've just found out that I've got tons of skill points - that's 7 maxed-out skills, and I have a rather small amount of class skills.

I guess I'll take Spellcraft and Knowledge (arcana) like everyone, but I disdain Concentration, and anyway my DM runs a low-battle campaign, so it doesn't have much use. I also don't want Listen, Spot and Search, because everyone else at the group has better bonuses in these, and I'm trying to max out skills that are more unique to me. I'm playing a personality of an historian wizard, who's also very inquisital, and who's a sticker for moral and truth, if that's any help.

If everyone else have any ideas for me regarding additional skills which might be useful, please post these ideas.

Thanks in advance,

Aishar.
Father Dale
04-15-05, 11:17 AM ??????????

You "disdain" concentration?????

Its the most important skill for any caster.

It also makes a lot of sense for your character concept, being able to concentrate on a task and disregard distractions.

Anyways, decipher script is a classic wizard skill. Ranks in Knowledge history would be good for your character concept. Put a point into every knowledge skill and you would have a decent roll with all of them due to the high intelligence. My wizards usually have maxed Arcane, have a couple with several ranks in them (such as Planes and Nobility) and a few ranks in all the rest. Wizards are supposed to be smart and know a lot about everything.

Tumble is an excellant cross class skill for a wizard whose not wearing any armor. You will never tumble like a rogue, but its saved my wizards' lives many times. With a decent dex and a few ranks, you have a very good chance of tumbling away from a threatening enemy.

Any of the social skills would be good to cross class too. Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and even Intimidate can be fun.

A few ranks in Search and Escape Artist helps any character.
Dhar Sedai
04-15-05, 11:56 AM You could let your wizard have like a backround of sneaking or something (I usually let my wizards be a bit sneaky), and let him/her have ranks in hide, pick lock and tumble...
Call me mad if you want, but that is me:P
Salla
04-15-05, 02:43 PM I can't imagine not maxing out Concentration, but if you think you can get away with it, enjoy. :)

Me? All knowledge skills are class skills for you, so I'd spread the remaining skill points amongst those. Why? Skill checks are metagaming checks. Every classification of monster falls under a Knowledge category; if you, the player, know you're facing a troll, you can make a Knowledge check to see what you know ICly ("Bust out the fireballs."). Particularly for playing a historian/inquisitive sort, knowing a lot about everything makes perfect sense.
Gargs454
04-15-05, 03:37 PM Aye, gotta agree with the knowledge skills. History, Religion, and the Planes at the very least are good to get.

Profession possibly.

Decipher Script a definite.

Balance is not a bad skill to take, particularly with having a lower Ref Save and fewer HPs.

A few ranks in Swim could be useful as well, and maybe climb.

Essentially, knowledge is always a wizard's main gig. Being the informant has huge benefits. After that, if I have points left over, I like to throw some into areas where I think it might potentially save my bacon at some point. Assuming your Str., score is not all that great, you are not going to be a great swimmer, but a few ranks can be enough to keep you from drowning. Climb could potentially get you out of a tough spot. Balance can keep you from falling when trying to cross the narrow ledge.

You likely will not be able to spend a ton of points in these skills, but even just a few ranks can make a huge difference.
UltimateReality
04-15-05, 05:06 PM I'm with the others. Being able to say "I make a Knowledge (everything) check" is just awesome.

And don't ditch Concentration. You'll rue it man, mark my words...even if your DM rarely does combat and never targets you, there are other uses for the skill as well.

Oh! Craft(Alchemy)! Take that too.

One more thing: A use for Forgery given in, um, Complete Adventurer I think, tells how you can use it to make a code or cipher to use for your writing. Kinda nifty, and has lots of RP applications, even if the skill itself is cross-class.
krichaiushii
04-15-05, 09:28 PM Concentration has more than just combat applications, though they are rarely used in most games.

From the SRD:

CONCENTRATION (CON)
Check: You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include casting a spell, concentrating on an active spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. In general, if an action wouldn’t normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted.

DC Event

10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride,
in a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a stormtossed ship).

15 Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough wagon ride, in a small boat in rapids, on the deck of a storm-tossed ship).

20 Extraordinarily violent motion (earthquake).

5 Weather is a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet.

10 Weather is wind-driven hail, dust, or debris.

Distracting spell’s save DC Weather caused by a spell, such as storm of vengeance.4

Of course, there are more checks (involving combat) on the SRD chart, but these support my thesis.

Some DMs make use of these events. Your DM might, as well.

Another skill you might consider is Appraise. Aside from your nice stat bonus, it might be applied in character as your PC being able to identify old items of an archaelogical sort. Gather Information seems fitting too.

I once saw some variant rules for library research (in OA, perhaps?) that might fit your character, as well.
darksamuari
04-15-05, 10:17 PM What about Speak/Read and Write Language skill? He could possibly like to have many speakable languages under his belt?
PurdueDave
04-16-05, 12:01 AM 28 ranks...here's what I'd consider the core wizard skills.
4 = concentration (this is too mechanically necessary to ignore)
4 = spellcraft (all kinds of nifty things you can do, and it's your job)
4 = knowledge - arcana (if the shoe fits...)
9 = knowledge - the rest, 1 rank each (previous post explained this logic)
7 = remainder

If you want to enter a Prestige Class later then this is the time to think about it. For example, loremaster requires 10 ranks in 2 knowledge skills and fits the historian angle. I like k(dungeoneering) since druids/rangers cover k(nature) and clerics k(religion). Maybe max out another knowledge (+3 ranks) and decipher script (again, historian angle). Professor type? Maybe profession (orator or teacher)?
PurdueDave
04-16-05, 12:09 AM double

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aishar 04-15-05, 09:13 AM	I'm building a 1st level wizard, human race, and with 18 Intelligence (at least I'm hoping for it, but an 18 will do for what I'm trying to explain here). Anyway, I've just found out that I've got tons of skill points - that's 7 maxed-out skills, and I have a rather small amount of class skills. I guess I'll take Spellcraft and Knowledge (arcana) like everyone, but I disdain Concentration, and anyway my DM runs a low-battle campaign, so it doesn't have much use. I also don't want Listen, Spot and Search, because everyone else at the group has better bonuses in these, and I'm trying to max out skills that are more unique to me. I'm playing a personality of an historian wizard, who's also very inquisital, and who's a sticker for moral and truth, if that's any help. If everyone else have any ideas for me regarding additional skills which might be useful, please post these ideas. Thanks in advance, Aishar.
Father Dale 04-15-05, 11:17 AM	?????????? You "disdain" concentration????? Its the most important skill for any caster. It also makes a lot of sense for your character concept, being able to concentrate on a task and disregard distractions. Anyways, decipher script is a classic wizard skill. Ranks in Knowledge history would be good for your character concept. Put a point into every knowledge skill and you would have a decent roll with all of them due to the high intelligence. My wizards usually have maxed Arcane, have a couple with several ranks in them (such as Planes and Nobility) and a few ranks in all the rest. Wizards are supposed to be smart and know a lot about everything. Tumble is an excellant cross class skill for a wizard whose not wearing any armor. You will never tumble like a rogue, but its saved my wizards' lives many times. With a decent dex and a few ranks, you have a very good chance of tumbling away from a threatening enemy. Any of the social skills would be good to cross class too. Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and even Intimidate can be fun. A few ranks in Search and Escape Artist helps any character.
Dhar Sedai 04-15-05, 11:56 AM	You could let your wizard have like a backround of sneaking or something (I usually let my wizards be a bit sneaky), and let him/her have ranks in hide, pick lock and tumble... Call me mad if you want, but that is me:P
Salla 04-15-05, 02:43 PM	I can't imagine not maxing out Concentration, but if you think you can get away with it, enjoy. :) Me? All knowledge skills are class skills for you, so I'd spread the remaining skill points amongst those. Why? Skill checks are metagaming checks. Every classification of monster falls under a Knowledge category; if you, the player, know you're facing a troll, you can make a Knowledge check to see what you know ICly ("Bust out the fireballs."). Particularly for playing a historian/inquisitive sort, knowing a lot about everything makes perfect sense.
Gargs454 04-15-05, 03:37 PM	Aye, gotta agree with the knowledge skills. History, Religion, and the Planes at the very least are good to get. Profession possibly. Decipher Script a definite. Balance is not a bad skill to take, particularly with having a lower Ref Save and fewer HPs. A few ranks in Swim could be useful as well, and maybe climb. Essentially, knowledge is always a wizard's main gig. Being the informant has huge benefits. After that, if I have points left over, I like to throw some into areas where I think it might potentially save my bacon at some point. Assuming your Str., score is not all that great, you are not going to be a great swimmer, but a few ranks can be enough to keep you from drowning. Climb could potentially get you out of a tough spot. Balance can keep you from falling when trying to cross the narrow ledge. You likely will not be able to spend a ton of points in these skills, but even just a few ranks can make a huge difference.
UltimateReality 04-15-05, 05:06 PM	I'm with the others. Being able to say "I make a Knowledge (everything) check" is just awesome. And don't ditch Concentration. You'll rue it man, mark my words...even if your DM rarely does combat and never targets you, there are other uses for the skill as well. Oh! Craft(Alchemy)! Take that too. One more thing: A use for Forgery given in, um, Complete Adventurer I think, tells how you can use it to make a code or cipher to use for your writing. Kinda nifty, and has lots of RP applications, even if the skill itself is cross-class.
krichaiushii 04-15-05, 09:28 PM	Concentration has more than just combat applications, though they are rarely used in most games. From the SRD: CONCENTRATION (CON) Check: You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include casting a spell, concentrating on an active spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. In general, if an action wouldn’t normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted. DC Event 10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride, in a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a stormtossed ship). 15 Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough wagon ride, in a small boat in rapids, on the deck of a storm-tossed ship). 20 Extraordinarily violent motion (earthquake). 5 Weather is a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet. 10 Weather is wind-driven hail, dust, or debris. Distracting spell’s save DC Weather caused by a spell, such as storm of vengeance.4 Of course, there are more checks (involving combat) on the SRD chart, but these support my thesis. Some DMs make use of these events. Your DM might, as well. Another skill you might consider is Appraise. Aside from your nice stat bonus, it might be applied in character as your PC being able to identify old items of an archaelogical sort. Gather Information seems fitting too. I once saw some variant rules for library research (in OA, perhaps?) that might fit your character, as well.
darksamuari 04-15-05, 10:17 PM	What about Speak/Read and Write Language skill? He could possibly like to have many speakable languages under his belt?
PurdueDave 04-16-05, 12:01 AM	28 ranks...here's what I'd consider the core wizard skills. 4 = concentration (this is too mechanically necessary to ignore) 4 = spellcraft (all kinds of nifty things you can do, and it's your job) 4 = knowledge - arcana (if the shoe fits...) 9 = knowledge - the rest, 1 rank each (previous post explained this logic) 7 = remainder If you want to enter a Prestige Class later then this is the time to think about it. For example, loremaster requires 10 ranks in 2 knowledge skills and fits the historian angle. I like k(dungeoneering) since druids/rangers cover k(nature) and clerics k(religion). Maybe max out another knowledge (+3 ranks) and decipher script (again, historian angle). Professor type? Maybe profession (orator or teacher)?
PurdueDave 04-16-05, 12:09 AM	double