"The Quintessiental of Wizard" knowledge question.

[notjer]

I read this in "The Quintessiental of Wizard".

Bonuses: At 1st level, the academic gains the Skill Focus feat for any one Knowledge skill. In addition the academic gains two skill ranks for each point he spends on a Knowledge skill. These two ranks may be spent on the same skill or may be split across two different ones. The academic can never violate the maximum allowable skill ranks with these bonus ranks. Tje academic may use the bonus feats granted by the wizard class to select Skill Focus for any knowledge skill. In addition to the normal wizard class skills, the academic gains Decipher Script as a class skill.

Penalties: The academic must choose four knowledge skills as his areas of spesialisation and keep those skills at the maximum number of ranks allowed by his level. These Knowledge skills may be any topic other than arcane, nature, the planes, or religion. The academic's obsession with topics other than magic, be it divince or arcane, is what sets him apart from the traditional wizard.

I get most of the points, but Im a bit confused about one of the bonuses:In addition the academic gains two skill ranks for each point he spends on a Knowledge skill. These two ranks may be spent on the same skill or may be split across two different ones.

E.g. If I spend 1 rank in knowledge arcane I can spend 2 skill points on the same or other knowledge?

If I have 5 rank in knowledge history and spend another rank so I have 6 ranks now, whould I then still gain 2 skill points?

 

[UltimaGabe]

That ability is incredibly poorly worded, it seems, and if taken literally, is WAY too powerful. So, for every rank you put in a knowledge skill, you get two ranks, and they don't even have to be the same skill? Wtf? Obviously, that's not a 3.5 WotC book. I wouldn't allow it, purely due to the poor wording. The horrid brokenness of it is just a bonus.

 

[hong]

If you have to spend the 2 ranks both in Knowledge skills (as would seem to be the intent), it's not so bad. At least, I've never seen Knowledge skills to be game-breaking in play. Now if you could spend the 2 ranks anywhere you wanted, that would indeed be ridiculous.

 

[notjer]

I guess it is supposed to be used on knowledge skills which is the most logical. However, I don't know if they really mean the character would get 2 point to knowledge or not. You're going to max out a lot of knowledge skills, so maybe it aren't that ridicolous.

Let's say he is forced to spend 16 skills point from the start on 4 knowledge skills without benefit. Thereafter any skill point used on knowledge benefit +2 ranks to knowledge skills. If I have knowledge arcane and the planes and max these skills out, I will automatical get enough skill points to the forced knowledge skills. In addition I gain a skill focus feat on knowledge (x) skill.

I don't think he should gain bonuses from the 16 skills point at 1st leve, then he would gain another 32 point of knowledge which whould be insane, even thou about the fact that the character has 20 natural intelligens (natural 18 + 2 racial).

 

[Voadam]

Normally when you spend a skill point on a class skill you get a skill rank on a class skill or half a rank on a cross-class skill.

The academic gets two skill ranks when he spends a skill point on a knowledge skill either for the same skill or split among two.

He essentially gets a free skill rank to put into knowledge skills for every skill point he gains per level.

You could also ask the author, Mike Mearls for his interpretation.

 

[hong]

Actually, I just remembered that Geoff (my DM for that AOW game) has a house rule that Knowledge skills are half-cost, which is pretty much the same as here. It hasn't caused any problems.

 

[notjer]

Normally when you spend a skill point on a class skill you get a skill rank on a class skill or half a rank on a cross-class skill.

The academic gets two skill ranks when he spends a skill point on a knowledge skill either for the same skill or split among two.

He essentially gets a free skill rank to put into knowledge skills for every skill point he gains per level.

You could also ask the author, Mike Mearls for his interpretation.

That makes sence. Thanks.