skill books

[statimp]

Okay, so i had this character in mind. I wanted to make a hulking hurler (one that isn't ridiculously OP) that could still use skills and be useful in ways other than "me throw rock at thing" (think, beast from x-men). so me and my DM made a way for me to buy back the use of the int, cha and wis based skills that war hulk makes unusable. by spending 2 points for a skill i can make it usable again, similar to a barbarian becoming literate.

I have two questions...
1. does the aforementioned method of returning the use of skills seem reasonable?

2. are there any books in game that can be used to improve skill checks. i.e. you are trying to make a knowledge: nature check to determine whether a plant will kill you if you touch it or not. my character could pull out a book on the subject and find out the answer, instead of just knowing it by heart.

my reasoning is that a character with such ungodly high str could carry around libraries of books on practically every subject and be prepared for any situation. plus, they double as thrown weapons , +1 flaming dictionary of smiting anyone?

 

[kitcik]

On Q2, in theory you can have a "masterwork book" for each knowledge area that would give you +2 on a check in that area.

 

[Chronologist]

Masterwork books would definitely work, priced according to other masterwork items. You'd only gain the benefits if you made the knowledge check while reading, though.

Another option is to enchant them with competence bonuses, 100g x bonus squared, each one tied to a different knowledge skill. That might explain how you gain esoteric knowledge, you're reading an enchanted book that has more on the inside than it should.

As for knowledge skills, why not ask your Dm if you could just have them available for free? It's part of your character concept, which seems more oriented towards flavor than power (always a good thing), and game mechanics should never come in the way of fun.

 

[statimp]

i was hoping for more like, you encounter a suit of armor with a cross on it, i consult the book "Jacob's legends of Townsvilleshire" and determine that it is the ancient raiment of the divine paladin horbledoff.

or something to that effect.

but it seems like if the game doesn't already have items like that, making them would be difficult. so i will have to go with the enchanted books. what is the name of the enchantment that gives bonuses to knowledge checks?