Scry Skill

[atomn]

Hi everybody!

I was looking at a diviner PrC from a 3rd party book and as one of its prerequisite skills it listed Scrying. Scrying isn't listed in the 3.5 PHB and I gave away my 3.0 PHB, so I couldn't look it up. A few questions I could use some help on:

What was it used for?
What would be a comparable skill (or feat?) to substitute as the prerequisite?
One of the PrC's abilities was a +10 bonus to the Scry skill. What would be a comparable ability to put in its place?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Infiniti2000]

The scry skill was removed in 3.5 for IMO a better mechanic. But, a replacement for the +10 could be something like greater spell focus (divination(scrying)) and +1 caster level for divination(scrying) spells. The prerequisite would then obviously be spell focus (divination(scrying)).

Even that might be too weak. Perhaps a simple +5 on the DC of scrying spells with spell focus (divination) as the prerequisite.

 

[atomn]

Great, thanks!

 

[Delta]

A little more detail: 3.0 scrying spells didn't have a save by the target, they had a Scry skill check by the caster. From 3.0 SRD:

[h3]Scry[/h3] (INT; BARD, CLERIC, DRUID, SORCERER, WIZARD ONLY)

Check: The character can't use this skill without some magical means to scry. Use of this skill is described in association with those spells and items. These items allow the character to spy on others, and this skill just lets the character do it better. This skill also improves the character's chance to notice when the character is being scried, as detailed in the descriptions of the arcane eye and detect scrying spells.

Special: Although this skill is exclusive to certain classes, it can be used untrained. This means that a character with no ranks in Scry, and who is not allowed to buy ranks in this skill, can still make an Intelligence check to notice when he is being scried.

[h3]Scrying[/h3]
Divination
Level: Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M/DF, F
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: See text
Effect: Magical sensor
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

The character can see and hear a creature, who may be at any distance. The character must succeed at a Scry check to do so. The difficulty of the task depends on how well the character knows the subject and what sort of physical connection (if any) the character has to that creature. Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, the character gets a –5 penalty on the Scry check.

Knowledge DC
--------- --
None* 20
Secondhand (the character has heard of the subject) 15
Firsthand (the character has met the subject) 10
Familiar (the character know the subject well) 5

*The character must have some sort of connection to a creature the character has no knowledge of.

Connection Scry Check Bonus
---------- ----------------
Likeness or picture +5
Possession or garment +8
Body part, lock of hair, nail clippings, etc. +10

This spell creates a magical sensor located near the subject. Any creature with Intelligence 12 or higher can notice the sensor by making a Scry check (or an Intelligence check) against DC 20.

The character may cast the following spells through a scrying spell: comprehend languages, read magic, tongues, and darkvision. The following spells have a 5% chance per caster level of operating correctly: detect magic, detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, and message.

Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard Focus: worth at least 1,000 gp.
Cleric Focus: worth at least 100 gp.

 

[atomn]

Ah, I see! Thanks Delta!

 

[Starglim]

How many ranks was the prerequisite? You could work out what class level was required to gain that many ranks, then substitute as a prerequisite "Can cast a divination spell of x level" where the entry class level gains x level spells.

A comparable ability to the +10 to Scry checks might be a +5, or even more, to the DC of the target's Will save.

 

[atomn]

It was 10 ranks as the prerequisite. That's a good idea! Thanks!