Scholar

SCHOLAR

The scholar has a deep and abiding interest in understanding the world. Some seek power through knowledge, while others just love knowledge for its own sake.

In any case, scholars range from various civilized loremasters to the skaalds wandering the countryside, trading news and stories.

Many scholars dabble in ritual magic, as it favors their studious nature. There are not many scholars who survive a more regular application of ritual magic.

Hit Die: d6

Class Skills

Appraise, Craft, Knowledge (all), Linguistics, Profession, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device

Skill Ranks per Level: 8

Lvl   BAB   F     R     W     Special                                                                  

1     +0    +0    +0    +2    Loremaster

2     +1    +0    +0    +3    Research

3     +1    +1    +1    +3    Analysis

4     +2    +1    +1    +4    Enlightened discourse

5     +2    +1    +1    +4    Steady recall

6     +3    +2    +2    +5    Flash of brilliance, Eldritch understanding

 

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons.

Loremaster: A scholar adds half his level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skills, and may make Knowledge skill checks untrained.

Research: A scholar may use knowledge skills to gather information, provided the skill is at least loosely related and the scholar has access to useful records.

Analysis (Ex): As a full round action, the scholar can examine the threat(s) before him and make a Knowledge checks (depending on how many types of threat there are). Allies within 50 feet gain an insight bonus against enemies who fall within the scope of the Knowledge check up to a certain CR.

CR cap = Knowledge check - 10. An additional penalty of -5 is applied for uncommon enemies, or -10 for rare enemies.

Insight bonus is +1 for enemies at or below CR cap.

Insight bonus is +2 against enemies 5 or more below CR cap.

The scholar can decide whether this bonus applies to attacks, dodge AC, or a particular skill check.

Maintaining the bonus requires a swift action each round, mainly to keep apprising allies of useful information. If the scholar fails, the effect ends and any further effect requires a new roll.

The scholar must be able to see enemies and the allies, though can be hiding behind a rock or in some bushes, if need be.

Enlightened discourse (Ex): The scholar may use a Knowledge skill in place of Bluff or Intimidate, creating a storm of analytical terms and abundant verbiage. The target must, obviously, understand the language of the scholar, if not the specific terms used.

In some cases, enlightened discourse may be permitted to substitute for diplomacy, amongst other scholars or those who hold scholarship in high esteem.

Steady recall: A scholar may take 10 on Knowledge checks, regardless of the level of distraction.

Flash of brilliance: On a natural 20 on any Knowledge, Sense Motive, or Perception check, the scholar gets, in addition to normal results, some 'impossible' insight into the situation.

The insight may be only loosely related, like talking with a trade representative and suddenly realizing he's the pawn of the black lotus assassins.

The DM is free to 'sit' on this impossible insight for proper drama (or if the DM can't think of a good insight for the present circumstance), or to grant an action point instead.

Eldritch understanding: Through a great understanding of the world, the scholar gains a +2 when performing skills needed for ritual magic, as well as Spellcraft checks to identify spells and scrolls.

In addition, a scholar can attempt a counterspell, if he has held an action to do so. Doing so requires a Spellcraft check to identify the spell, and then an additional Spellcraft check at +5 DC. If the second check succeeds, the spell has been disrupted.

The scholar can attempt the same, using Knowledge (arcana), to dispel an existing spell. The scholar can only attempt this once per spell. Dispelling an existing spell requires the scholar to interact with the spell -- either to be in an area of effect or to touch the center of the spell, or similar.