Help me increase my Spellcraft please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help me increase my Spellcraft please! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RellenMarn
01-26-07, 12:21 PM Hey everybody, I am playing a Wizard with a Spellcraft modifier of + 25. Due to limited resources in our campaign I would rather use the Complete Arcane rules for making a foreign spellbook your own and thus need to study the book for a week + the number of spells in the book and then make a spellcraft check at DC 25+level of highest spell in the book. I am looking at a DC of 34, hardly impossible, but I hate the idea of wasteing all that time if I fail the roll. Does anyone know of any way to improve my spellcarft check? I have no int enhancing item, but will definetly be trying to procure one, and I am not sure if the DM will buy the idea of a masterwork tool.

Any advice throughly appreciated!
Thubby
01-26-07, 12:41 PM skill focus, or that split feat +2 spellcraft and something else (knwledge arc maybe?).
the psionic "crystals" that grant a 1 time bonus to 1 skill. whatr they called again?
if their are any other magic savy people in the party, have them aid you (+2 per person is a bonus, however small)
i could be wrong, but doesnt one of the familiars help spellcraft?
RellenMarn
01-26-07, 12:47 PM Thanks Thubby! I should have mentioned that I have Skill Focus Spellcraft - to qualify for Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil. I wonder if I can get my hands on one of those crystals.... hmmm. I am considering the feat option, but a feat to gain a + 2 to a skill sticks in my craw.

Perhaps I should simply ask my fellow PC if I can borrow her Luck Blade...
nightwyrm
01-26-07, 02:59 PM Grab a cleric and have him cast something that would boost your skill checks.
TwistedPuppy
01-26-07, 03:46 PM First, make sure the DM is okay with you using the alternate rules from Complete Arcane. Of course, if he's already allowed CA it shouldn't be an issue.

Assuming your character can cast 9th level spells, and you've been maxing out Spellcraft, you should have 20 ranks in Spellcraft. You need a 19 INT to cast 9th level spells, so +4 for the ability modifier. Skill Focus gives you +3, and if you have 5 ranks in Knowledge: Arcana you get a +2 synergy bonus to Spellcraft. That should give you a +29 total on Spellcraft checks. Obviously anything that boosts intelligence (headband of Intellect) will help you out, too.
Suzaku455
01-26-07, 03:54 PM Why don't you just take 10 on the check? Your spell craft modifier is a 25 meaning if you take 10 you will pass all checks of 35 or less and avoid fumbles if your DM uses fumbles for some awful reason.
Artector
01-26-07, 04:11 PM Why don't you just take 10 on the check? Your spell craft modifier is a 25 meaning if you take 10 you will pass all checks of 35 or less and avoid fumbles if your DM uses fumbles for some awful reason.

I agree, I don't see any reason wy you can't take 10. There isn't much if any penalty for failure and there's not a lot of stress.

And those Skill Boosting items are called Shards. You might be able to get away with using them. A +10 competence bonus will make it easy. You can see the shards here, in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#shards).
RellenMarn
01-26-07, 05:04 PM Wow thanks guys the synergy with Knowledge Arcana is fantastic! I am not sure if the DM will let me take ten on a check which involves two weeks of study, but I will certainly ask. I am currently 14th level with maxed out Spellcraft and Int 20, no stat boosting items, but I am trying to get my hands on one.

Thanks again guys!
GaffeR
01-26-07, 06:43 PM I've contemplated this for use in Incantatrix builds. This assumes level 20

23 - Ranks
30 - Custom +competency spellcraft item (Bonus^2*100 gp)
3 - skill focus (spellcraft)
2 - synergy with Know (Arcana)
16 - Int (Poly any object into Black Ethergaunt (Fiend Folio), +6 enhancement, +5 inherent)
16 - motivate Int (Leadership and cohort with 1 level of Marshal)
8 - Shape Soulmeld (Mage's spectacles + Bonus essentia - 2 essentia invested)

98 Total. Now if you add on an item familiar, I think you can tack on an extra +23 unnamed bonus (but I'm not sure). That would bring the total to 121.

Obviously this is a bit overkill for your purposes, but you may be able to use some of it. It was mostly just a mental exercise for me and is more suitable for creating epic spells.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RellenMarn 01-26-07, 12:21 PM	Hey everybody, I am playing a Wizard with a Spellcraft modifier of + 25. Due to limited resources in our campaign I would rather use the Complete Arcane rules for making a foreign spellbook your own and thus need to study the book for a week + the number of spells in the book and then make a spellcraft check at DC 25+level of highest spell in the book. I am looking at a DC of 34, hardly impossible, but I hate the idea of wasteing all that time if I fail the roll. Does anyone know of any way to improve my spellcarft check? I have no int enhancing item, but will definetly be trying to procure one, and I am not sure if the DM will buy the idea of a masterwork tool. Any advice throughly appreciated!
Thubby 01-26-07, 12:41 PM	skill focus, or that split feat +2 spellcraft and something else (knwledge arc maybe?). the psionic "crystals" that grant a 1 time bonus to 1 skill. whatr they called again? if their are any other magic savy people in the party, have them aid you (+2 per person is a bonus, however small) i could be wrong, but doesnt one of the familiars help spellcraft?
RellenMarn 01-26-07, 12:47 PM	Thanks Thubby! I should have mentioned that I have Skill Focus Spellcraft - to qualify for Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil. I wonder if I can get my hands on one of those crystals.... hmmm. I am considering the feat option, but a feat to gain a + 2 to a skill sticks in my craw. Perhaps I should simply ask my fellow PC if I can borrow her Luck Blade...
nightwyrm 01-26-07, 02:59 PM	Grab a cleric and have him cast something that would boost your skill checks.
TwistedPuppy 01-26-07, 03:46 PM	First, make sure the DM is okay with you using the alternate rules from Complete Arcane. Of course, if he's already allowed CA it shouldn't be an issue. Assuming your character can cast 9th level spells, and you've been maxing out Spellcraft, you should have 20 ranks in Spellcraft. You need a 19 INT to cast 9th level spells, so +4 for the ability modifier. Skill Focus gives you +3, and if you have 5 ranks in Knowledge: Arcana you get a +2 synergy bonus to Spellcraft. That should give you a +29 total on Spellcraft checks. Obviously anything that boosts intelligence (headband of Intellect) will help you out, too.
Suzaku455 01-26-07, 03:54 PM	Why don't you just take 10 on the check? Your spell craft modifier is a 25 meaning if you take 10 you will pass all checks of 35 or less and avoid fumbles if your DM uses fumbles for some awful reason.
Artector 01-26-07, 04:11 PM	Why don't you just take 10 on the check? Your spell craft modifier is a 25 meaning if you take 10 you will pass all checks of 35 or less and avoid fumbles if your DM uses fumbles for some awful reason. I agree, I don't see any reason wy you can't take 10. There isn't much if any penalty for failure and there's not a lot of stress. And those Skill Boosting items are called Shards. You might be able to get away with using them. A +10 competence bonus will make it easy. You can see the shards here, in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/universalItems.htm#shards).
RellenMarn 01-26-07, 05:04 PM	Wow thanks guys the synergy with Knowledge Arcana is fantastic! I am not sure if the DM will let me take ten on a check which involves two weeks of study, but I will certainly ask. I am currently 14th level with maxed out Spellcraft and Int 20, no stat boosting items, but I am trying to get my hands on one. Thanks again guys!
GaffeR 01-26-07, 06:43 PM	I've contemplated this for use in Incantatrix builds. This assumes level 20 23 - Ranks 30 - Custom +competency spellcraft item (Bonus^2*100 gp) 3 - skill focus (spellcraft) 2 - synergy with Know (Arcana) 16 - Int (Poly any object into Black Ethergaunt (Fiend Folio), +6 enhancement, +5 inherent) 16 - motivate Int (Leadership and cohort with 1 level of Marshal) 8 - Shape Soulmeld (Mage's spectacles + Bonus essentia - 2 essentia invested) 98 Total. Now if you add on an item familiar, I think you can tack on an extra +23 unnamed bonus (but I'm not sure). That would bring the total to 121. Obviously this is a bit overkill for your purposes, but you may be able to use some of it. It was mostly just a mental exercise for me and is more suitable for creating epic spells.