Taking 10 on Spellcraft Checks to Learn a Spell?

[demon_jr]

In Tome and Blood it very specifically say that you can take 10 on spellcraft checks when researching new spells, so I don't think it would be unreasonable for simply copying one.

Good point.

I have noticed that many people have been using Knowledge checks in their examples.

Does this mean that they believe Spellcraft is just a different type of Knowledge check or is the Knowledge check being used purely as an example?

 

[Pax]

Knowledge skills hae been used specifically as an example, is all.

Spellcraftis a Knowledge skill, and MORE, IMO.

Ofc, I don't give Clerics and other divine casters "Spellcraft", I give them an otherwise-identical skill, "Theology" ... not so much the knowledge of what religion has/wears/eats/etc what ... but the knowledge of what various prayer-based invocations will result in. IOw, "spellcraft for religious types" ... heh.

Then again, I also apply a bit of differecne between Divine and Arcane magicks. And a watered-down version of "Psionics are Different" as well.

 

[Ravellion]

So, with a maxed out spellcraft skill, every wizard can learn any spell she can cast, Providing she has 14 INT to start with. (Do the math, it works out). Which wizard hasn't?

Then why the **** is that roll there in the first place!? Why don't the rules say: "Any wizard with her level +3 ranks in spellcraft can learn any spell of a level she can cast." That would save a lot of book space!

I have so far ruled that not being able to learn the spell means that you can't comprehend it. Since you haven't started scribing yet, it doesn't cost you money. It just inconveniences you for one level.

Taking 10 means instant success in 99.99% of the situations. That means that whole check shouldn't even be there. Like walking doesn't require a dex check.

Rav

 

[Ravellion]

Anyway, failure would mean that you can't learn the spell for an entire level. Is that harsh enough a penalty to disallow taking 10?

Rav

 

[Oni]

Well spellcraft may not always be maxed out, while it might not be an issue to a straight up wizard, someone that has dedicated their life solely to magic, it might make a difference to a multiclass character that hasn't dropped every possible point into spellcraft.

 

[bret]

Anyway, failure would mean that you can't learn the spell for an entire level. Is that harsh enough a penalty to disallow taking 10?

Rav

It is only Taking 20 that has the rule against working when there is a penalty for failure.

You might be able to say magic is too fickle, pointing to Use Magic Device (which doesn't allow take 10), but this would be strictly a house rule.

Since the wizard makes their lively hood by casting spells, I see nothing wrong with allowing them to learn any spell of a level they can cast.

If you feel differently, perhaps you should have the fighter against a class skill in order to learn that new feat they get every other level?