Profession skill and the use there of.

[Malin Genie]

One of my PbP characters has Profession(Sailor) - although we haven't had any sea voyages, I've been able to use it to gain information about a star map on the wall of an elven library....

I would probably allow Profession to substitute for an appropriate other skill in the right context. So Profession(Acrobat) could substitute for Balance on a tightrope, but not in a puddle of grease or on a ship in a storm. Profession(Torturer) might substitute for Use Rope in tying someone up, but not in splicing ropes together or securing a line with a grappling hook - indeed, if the character also had 5 ranks of Use Rope I might even allow mutual synergy between them - again, in the specific context of tying someone up.

Although I hadn't really thought it through in any great detail, it occurs to me now that it would be sensible to use the 'different stats with same skill' variant if substituting in that way (so ranks in Profession(Acrobat) + Dex bonus rather than Wis bonus to walk a tightrope, etc)

 

[Storm Raven]

Here is the list of synergy bonuses I allow in my campaign. As you can see, they make taking a Profession skill quite useful.

Brew Potion: Profession - Apothecary
Craft Magic Tattoo - Craft: Tattoo
Scribe Scroll: Profession - Scribe

Bluff 5+ ranks - Diplomacy
Bluff 5+ ranks - Disguise (to stay in character)
Bluff 5+ ranks - Intimidate
Bluff 5+ ranks - Sleight of Hand
Craft 5+ ranks - Appraise (related to the subject of the Craft skill)
Craft: Alchemy 5+ ranks - Profession: Cook
Craft: Locksmith 5+ ranks - Open Lock
Craft: Trapmaking - Disable Device
Decipher Script 5+ ranks - Use Magic Device (involving scrolls)
Disable Device 5+ ranks - Craft: Trapmaking
Escape Artist 5+ ranks - Use Rope (when binding someone)
Gather Information 5+ ranks - Profession: Guide (in urban areas)
Handle Animal 5+ ranks - Profession: Farmer
Handle Animal 5+ ranks - Profession: Teamster
Handle Animal 5+ ranks - Ride
Handle Animal 5+ ranks - Wild Empathy (class feature)
Jump 5+ ranks - Tumble
Knowledge: Arcana 5+ ranks - Spellcraft
Knowledge: Architecture and Engineering 5+ ranks - Search (involving secret doors and compartments)
Knowledge: Dungeoneering 5+ ranks - Survival (when underground)
Knowledge: Geography 5+ ranks - Profession: Cartography
Knowledge: Geography 5+ ranks - Survival (to keep from getting lost)
Knowledge: History 5+ ranks - Bardic Knowledge (class feature)
Knowledge: Law 5+ ranks - Profession: Barrister
Knowledge: Local 5+ ranks - Gather Information (in local area)
Knowledge: Nature 5+ ranks - Profession: Sailor
Knowledge: Nature 5+ ranks - Survival (in aboveground natural environments)
Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty 5+ ranks - Diplomacy
Knowledge: Religion 5+ ranks - Turn or Rebuke Undead (class feature)
Knowledge: the Planes 5+ ranks - Survival (when on other planes)
Knowledge: War 5+ ranks - Profession: Siege Engineer
Open Lock 5+ ranks - Profession: Locksmith
Perform 5+ ranks - Profession: Actor
Profession: Actor 5+ ranks - Bluff
Profession: Actor 8+ ranks - Disguise
Profession: Apothecary 5+ ranks - Craft: Alchemy
Profession: Apothecary 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature (natural properties of animals or plants only)
Profession: Barrister 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Law
Profession: Barrister 8+ ranks - Diplomacy (when used to persuade or convince)
Profession: Cartographer 5+ ranks - Forgery
Profession: Cook 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature (for plants and animals commonly eaten)
Profession: Farmer 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature
Profession: Fisherman 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature (for fish, fish life, and coastal areas)
Profession: Groom 5+ ranks - Handle Animal
Profession: Guide 5+ ranks - Survival (to keep from getting lost)
Profession: Herbalist 5+ ranks - Heal
Profession: Innkeeper 5+ ranks - Gather Information
Profession: Prostitute 5+ ranks - Bluff (when used to seduce or deceive the opposite gender)
Profession: Prostitute 5+ ranks - Diplomacy (when used to seduce or deceive the opposite gender)
Profession: Sailor 5+ ranks - Balance
Profession: Sailor 5+ ranks - Use Rope
Profession: Scribe 5+ ranks - Forgery
Profession: Scribe 8+ ranks - Decipher Script
Profession: Soldier 5+ ranks - Knowledge: War
Profession: Teacher 5+ ranks - Knowledge (choose one specific Knowledge skill per 5 ranks)
Profession: Teamster 5+ ranks - Handle Animal
Profession: Woodcutter 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature (in relation to plants)
Search 5+ ranks - Survival (when following tracks)
Sense Motive 5+ ranks - Diplomacy
Sense Motive 5+ ranks - Profession: Innkeeper
Spellcraft 5+ ranks - Use Magic Device (when using scrolls)
Survival 5+ ranks - Knowledge: Nature
Survival 5+ ranks - Profession: Farmer
Survival 5+ ranks - Profession: Fisher
Survival 5+ ranks - Profession: Guide (in wilderness areas)
Survival 5+ ranks - Profession: Woodcutter
Tumble 5+ ranks - Balance
Tumble 5+ ranks - Jump
Use Magic Device 5+ ranks - Spellcraft (to decipher spells on scrolls)
Use Rope 5+ ranks - Climb (involving climbing ropes)
Use Rope 5+ ranks - Escape Artist (to escape rope bindings)

 

[Tuzenbach]

I'd imagine that for really long campagins involving being away from civilization for the duration it would benefit the party immensely to have an accomplished COOK in their midst. Good food far away from home would (one would imagine) increase the morale of a party the same way bardic song does. At least IMHO.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'd imagine that for really long campagins involving being away from civilization for the duration it would benefit the party immensely to have an accomplished COOK in their midst. Good food far away from home would (one would imagine) increase the morale of a party the same way bardic song does. At least IMHO.

Prestidigitation.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Sense Motive 5+ ranks - Profession: Innkeeper

This strikes me as odd.