Ashtagon
2010-04-03, 07:10 AM
(nb. In all cases, "skill ranks" refers to the characters skill ranks without the benefit of any ability score modifiers).
Writing
A character who is literate and has at least 5 ranks in a skill can write a book about any skill he knows, written in any language he is literate in. These books are non-magical texts that provide a temporary skill bonus to those who read them.
When you write a book, choose a skill level for the book. This is limited as follows:
* It can be no lower than 2. There is no such thing as a skill level 1 book.
* It can be no higher than your number of skill ranks.
* It can be no higher than your number of skill ranks divided by two (round down), plus your intelligence modifier. This reflects your ability to understand the topic at an academic level (regardless of practical knowledge of the topic).
* It can be no higher than 4 + your Intelligence modifier + your Charisma modifier. This reflects your ability to write in an interesting and engaging manner.
Writing a book requires a number of successful Craft (writing) skill checks equal to the skill level of the book squared. For example, a skill level 4 book requires 16 successful skill checks. The DC of this skill check is 15 + the skill level of the book. Depending on the topic writing the book will require a quiet study, a library, workshop, and/or a training/exercise ground. Each week spent writing typically requires 100 gp in materials.
Reading
In order to benefit from reading a book, a character must be literate in the language of the book, and his skill ranks must be at least equal to the skill level of the book minus four. For example, a character with no ranks in the skill could benefit from a skill level 4 book, but would gain no benefit at all from a skill level 5 book.
To gain the benefit of the book, you must spend one full week studying the book, and practising the techniques described in the book. You should have appropriate facilities available (library, workshop, training field, etc) and the book itself during this period.
On completion of the study period, you gain enough temporary skill ranks to raise your skill ranks to the skill level of the book. Exception: If you previously had no skill ranks, your skill ranks rise to the skill level of the book halved (round down). However, such a character is also now considered trained in that skill.
For example, a character with no skill ranks who read a skill level 2 or skill level 3 book would become trained in that skill with 1 skill rank. If he had instead read a skill level 4 book, he would become trained with 2 skill ranks. A character with 1-3 skill ranks who reads a skill level 4 book would end up with 4 ranks in that skill.
All benefits of reading a studying a book in this fashion expire one month after the study/training period ends. You cannot read several books of increasing difficulty in order to raise your skill ranks to astronomical levels - the benefits of these books do not stack. You could re-study the book later, and then gain the benefits once more.
Gameplay
A skill level 4 book represents a typical undergraduate university text. The author would have been at least 5th level. Assuming he has +2 bonus on his Intelligence and has maxed out his Craft (writing) skill, and all relevant skills are class skills, he has a +10 modifier on his DC 19 Craft (writing) check - 60% chance of success. He can expect to take 26 2/3 weeks to finish writing it.
Another example: Albert Einstein decides to write a treatise on Perform (violin). Albert happens to be a 6th level expert with 9 ranks (maxed out) in Craft (writing), but a mere 2 ranks in Perform (violin), since it is a cross-class skill for him, and he was frequently accused of being unable to count when performing, so he isn't even very good at it. He has 20 Intelligence (+5) and 12 Charisma (+1).
His limiting factor is his actual ranks in Perform (violin) - 2 ranks. He writes a skill level 2 book, which will require 4 successful Craft (writing) skills checks, at DC 17. His Craft (writing) modifier is +14 (after taking his Intelligence into account). He might expect to fail one of those checks, so he sets aside five weeks in his diary to write this book.
He later realises that music isn't his thing, and decides to write a treatise on Knowledge (physics). He's on more solid ground here, as he has 9 ranks in the skill (it's a class skill for him). This time, the limiting rule is 1/2 his skill + his intelligence modifier. he can write a skill level 9 book. This will require a total of 81 successful skill checks, each at DC 24. His +14 skill modifier on Craft (writing) means he has a 55% chance of success on each roll. It's going to take him a little under three years to finish his magnum opus. And no one is going to understand it anyway.
Writing
A character who is literate and has at least 5 ranks in a skill can write a book about any skill he knows, written in any language he is literate in. These books are non-magical texts that provide a temporary skill bonus to those who read them.
When you write a book, choose a skill level for the book. This is limited as follows:
* It can be no lower than 2. There is no such thing as a skill level 1 book.
* It can be no higher than your number of skill ranks.
* It can be no higher than your number of skill ranks divided by two (round down), plus your intelligence modifier. This reflects your ability to understand the topic at an academic level (regardless of practical knowledge of the topic).
* It can be no higher than 4 + your Intelligence modifier + your Charisma modifier. This reflects your ability to write in an interesting and engaging manner.
Writing a book requires a number of successful Craft (writing) skill checks equal to the skill level of the book squared. For example, a skill level 4 book requires 16 successful skill checks. The DC of this skill check is 15 + the skill level of the book. Depending on the topic writing the book will require a quiet study, a library, workshop, and/or a training/exercise ground. Each week spent writing typically requires 100 gp in materials.
Reading
In order to benefit from reading a book, a character must be literate in the language of the book, and his skill ranks must be at least equal to the skill level of the book minus four. For example, a character with no ranks in the skill could benefit from a skill level 4 book, but would gain no benefit at all from a skill level 5 book.
To gain the benefit of the book, you must spend one full week studying the book, and practising the techniques described in the book. You should have appropriate facilities available (library, workshop, training field, etc) and the book itself during this period.
On completion of the study period, you gain enough temporary skill ranks to raise your skill ranks to the skill level of the book. Exception: If you previously had no skill ranks, your skill ranks rise to the skill level of the book halved (round down). However, such a character is also now considered trained in that skill.
For example, a character with no skill ranks who read a skill level 2 or skill level 3 book would become trained in that skill with 1 skill rank. If he had instead read a skill level 4 book, he would become trained with 2 skill ranks. A character with 1-3 skill ranks who reads a skill level 4 book would end up with 4 ranks in that skill.
All benefits of reading a studying a book in this fashion expire one month after the study/training period ends. You cannot read several books of increasing difficulty in order to raise your skill ranks to astronomical levels - the benefits of these books do not stack. You could re-study the book later, and then gain the benefits once more.
Gameplay
A skill level 4 book represents a typical undergraduate university text. The author would have been at least 5th level. Assuming he has +2 bonus on his Intelligence and has maxed out his Craft (writing) skill, and all relevant skills are class skills, he has a +10 modifier on his DC 19 Craft (writing) check - 60% chance of success. He can expect to take 26 2/3 weeks to finish writing it.
Another example: Albert Einstein decides to write a treatise on Perform (violin). Albert happens to be a 6th level expert with 9 ranks (maxed out) in Craft (writing), but a mere 2 ranks in Perform (violin), since it is a cross-class skill for him, and he was frequently accused of being unable to count when performing, so he isn't even very good at it. He has 20 Intelligence (+5) and 12 Charisma (+1).
His limiting factor is his actual ranks in Perform (violin) - 2 ranks. He writes a skill level 2 book, which will require 4 successful Craft (writing) skills checks, at DC 17. His Craft (writing) modifier is +14 (after taking his Intelligence into account). He might expect to fail one of those checks, so he sets aside five weeks in his diary to write this book.
He later realises that music isn't his thing, and decides to write a treatise on Knowledge (physics). He's on more solid ground here, as he has 9 ranks in the skill (it's a class skill for him). This time, the limiting rule is 1/2 his skill + his intelligence modifier. he can write a skill level 9 book. This will require a total of 81 successful skill checks, each at DC 24. His +14 skill modifier on Craft (writing) means he has a 55% chance of success on each roll. It's going to take him a little under three years to finish his magnum opus. And no one is going to understand it anyway.