cheap ways to increase INT

[superkurt13]

Was are the best ways for a 6th level character with 13,000gp to boost his intelligence? I already know about the Headband of Intellect +2 (4000gp), but are there any others that could help me?

 

[mikebr99]

Scarlet & blue Ion stone... +2 enh. to INT... 8,000gp

 

[Sejs]

Be a wizard and learn the Fox's Cunning spell?

Should run you about 300gp, including scribing costs.

 

[AuraSeer]

The headband is the way to go. It's the standard Int-boost item and has the lowest cost per point, for an ongoing effect. Other items, like the scarlet and blue ioun stone, are more expensive for little additional benefit; don't bother with them unless your headgear slot is already accounted for.

If you only need a short-term boost, you could use fox's cunning. For wizards it is basically free. A non-spellcaster can use it in potion form, 300 gp for 3 minutes. Unfortunately it doesn't help for stuff like bonus spells or skill points.

Note that all the above effects grant enhancement bonuses, and so they don't stack with each other. If you have a headband +2, and an ioun stone for +2, plus the spell for +4, your total bonus is still only +4.

To get an additional bonus that stacks, you'd need to wait until you can afford inherent bonuses. Those start at 27,500 gp for a +1, so you won't be seeing them for several levels yet.

 

[moritheil]

It would really help if you told us how often you needed that higher int. If it's continual, the headband is the way to go. If you only need it infrequently, potions of fox cunning are the way to go, and if you only need it once, see if you can get someone with Craft Wondrous Item to build you an item with just one use that grants higher bonuses (of course, this requires DM approval, but if it's a one-shot event, your DM is likely to say yes.)

 

[Plot-Device]

Theres something in DMG about some gnome on a plane who guards an orchard that blooms stat boosting fruit. If you could somehow get some of that (the option presented in the book is to aid him from some impending attack that he cant fend of himself and he's 16th level) it's free! Free!

I'd recommend finding some way to distract him. Figure out a way past the guards and magic if he's not there. Now find out of if he has family somewhere and have someone kidnap them. Then when he leaves, execute your plan.

Viola! As much INT as you can pick. Downside is that if you fail, you die.

Know what? Buy a headband.

 

[mvincent]

Was are the best ways for a 6th level character with 13,000gp to boost his intelligence?

- Craft a +4 headband yourself (burning your own XP to make things is well worth it)
- Be a gray elf (they start with +2 Intelligence)
- Pay a wizard to cast polymorph any object on you: "Unlike polymorph, polymorph any object does grant the creature the Intelligence score of its new form".
- Make yourself old (i.e. age increases your Int score).

 

[Reis_Thunderwood]

Get older.

Reis

 

[Malum]

apply your highest stat............to int.

 

[AZNtrogdor]

Sun Elf (Forgotten Realms), Gray Elf (Monster Manual), and Fire Elf (Unearthed Arcana) all have a plus 2 to int and no level adjustment.