A proper skill-monkey

[Tomalak]

It is my belief that such materials were left out intentionally, because WotC didn't want them in 3.5

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

While that may be true, WotC's thought processes on exclusion don't matter when we're considering why a DM may have included the books for his campaign.

Perhaps he really likes some of the omitted spells. Maybe he's hoping someone will play a Verdant Lord. Perhaps not everyone has bought all of the Completes, so he's making it easy on those players.

Of course, you could end the speculation and ask...

 

[Nedz]

Hi,
All of the above suggestions are sound, but why are you only seeking to max out these skills; why not try to go above par.
Consider dipping into Warlock for two levels.
Onlt 2+ skill points per level, but
The Invokations you would want are
Otherwordly Whispers +6 profane bonus on Knowledge(Arcane), Knowledge(Religeon) and Knowledge(the Planes) [CMage p 124]
Beguiling Influence +6 profane bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy and Intimidate [CArc]
Thus you are netting 20+ skill points per level and are setting 6 of your skills at max+6
What else do you get for your experience pieces ?
1d6 Eldritch Blast, which is pretty inconsequential except perhaps as a vehicle for an occasion magic ranged touch sneak attack.
Oh and you also get Det magic at will.
The cost: you have to be Chaotic or Evil.

 

[Dandu]

Warlock 4 gives the ability to take 10 on UMD.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Hi,
All of the above suggestions are sound, but why are you only seeking to max out these skills; why not try to go above par.
Consider dipping into Warlock for two levels.
Onlt 2+ skill points per level, but
The Invokations you would want are
Otherwordly Whispers +6 profane bonus on Knowledge(Arcane), Knowledge(Religeon) and Knowledge(the Planes) [CMage p 124]
Beguiling Influence +6 profane bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy and Intimidate [CArc]
Thus you are netting 20+ skill points per level and are setting 6 of your skills at max+6
What else do you get for your experience pieces ?
1d6 Eldritch Blast, which is pretty inconsequential except perhaps as a vehicle for an occasion magic ranged touch sneak attack.
Oh and you also get Det magic at will.
The cost: you have to be Chaotic or Evil.

An even better version of this is Dragonfire Adept, which has Draconic Knowledge, which grants +6 to all Knowledge skills and Spellcraft and lets you make checks as if trained. The class also has 4+Int skill points, all Knowledges as class skills, and a better skill list, other bonuses, and you can pick up Beguiling Influence at 3rd (no take 10 on UMD though).

Also, Exemplar (CAdv) sounds like the ultimate goal for such a character regardless of route, and Paragnostic Initiate (CC), a knowledge-based nonmagical prestige class, is a nice route for getting there.

 

[Herobizkit]

Hmm... yeah. Bard 1/Warlock 4 could be all the cheese you need.

 

[Nedz]

Taking 4 levels of warlock is probably 2 too many. You only get one more invokation which is most likely not useful for the character concept. If you want to be able to take 10 on UMD then fine - though you could always choose that at Rogue 10.
The extra 2 levels of Warlock give you 2d6 blast and 1 point of DR; but are poor for skill monkeys - unless you want +6 Jump, Tumble and Balance or +6 Spot, Search and Comp Lang (Written).

 

[Tomalak]

Thanks for the input, but the above suggestion was itself well off course for the concept. The character had a specific intent, and was not a caster of any kind. Still, the discussion is interesting.