Maximize Knowledge

[notjer]

Hi guys,

I've been looking into on how to maximize the knowledge skills for a human wizard, and now I would like some input.

I have the variant Academic from the Quintessential of Wizard (knowledge to half the skills cost + skill focus). I have been denied to use the class Dragonfire Adept (invocation: draconic knowledge - aura that provides +6 insight on knowledge & spellcraft).

I am open to all options; class, feats, variants etc., I just need some inspiration.

Best Regards
Notjer

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

The best way to maximize knowledge is to not be a wizard.

Be a dwarf cloistered cleric (for skill points and free knowledge domain, oh, and Bardic Knowledge!). Take the Ancestral Knowledge feat (Races of Stone) to use Wis instead of Int for knowledge checks (and the ability to use knowledge checks untrained). Make sure to worship a god with the knowledge domain. Cast Lore of the Gods (2nd level spell, C.Champion), which lasts 10 min/CL and gives +TEN to all knowledge checks. Profit.

Some reasources useful for any pokedex (or "knowledge whore," I'm partial to both terms):
Absent-Minded trait (UA): +1 all knowledges for a -1 on spot and listen.
Lore of the Gods skill trick (C.Scoundrel): +5 to identify creatures / their characteristics. Useable once/encounter, or every 5 minutes if out of combat.
Knowledge Devotion feat (C.Champion): Not a boon to knowledge checks themselves, but adds combat viability to your ranks spent in them in the form of a +1 to +5 bonus on all attack and damage rolls.


If you insist on being a wizard, make it a gnome wizard. They have some awesome Illusionist substitution levels and the excellent Shadowcraft Mage prestige class as options. More importantly, the Trivial Knowledge feat (also in Races of Stone).

 

[notjer]

Thx for the suggestions. I have already picked knowledge devotion and absent-minded. I will try to get approval for the Collector of Stories [mental] feat. Due to other personal criteria for my character it will stay a human wizars, but again, thx for the suggestions. Might be fun to try some of the other (better) alternatives.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Collector of Stories is not a feat, that's the beauty of it. It's a skill trick a mechanic introduced in C.Scoundrel. Basically, they cost 2 skill points to learn, can only be used once/encounter, and have skill rank requirements like a feat may have, in order to qualify to learn them. CoS simply requires 5 ranks in one knowledge skill and can only be used on trained knowledge checks.

There are feats to gain two skill tricks, so I guess you could say a skill trick is worth roughly half a feat (especially since the Open Minded feat gives +5 skill points, on the other end), though I don't think thats an accurate value judgement.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Also, there IS a way for your wizard to get Lore of the Gods spell if you want it. You need to dip Rogue or something else that'd let you qualify for Unseen Seer (a divination-based mage/rogue hybrid PrC from C.Mage). The PrC itself doesn't cost you any caster levels till 3rd level, and it's level 2 you want. At that level, you can learn one divination spell from ANY spell list, up to a spell level you can currently cast. Whether it's worth the hoop jumping, CL loss, and dilution of character theme is up to you...

 

[Talonblaze]

I had an attempted build for a human wizard as well. Made him at the vulnerable age category to get the most out of his secondary ability scores as early as possible then took Able Learner and abused Open Minded alot to allow him to still focus on things like Spellcraft and such. Later dipping into Archivist for extra skills and abilities.

Course, don't know how suitable that would be for you. I've been trying to find stuff that boosts knowledge without it adding to actual rank (where its restricted) as well.

Bardic Knowledge would be sweet too.

 

[jefgorbach]

Also, there IS a way for your wizard to get Lore of the Gods spell if you want it. You need to dip Rogue or something else that'd let you qualify for Unseen Seer (a divination-based mage/rogue hybrid PrC from C.Mage). The PrC itself doesn't cost you any caster levels till 3rd level, and it's level 2 you want. At that level, you can learn one divination spell from ANY spell list, up to a spell level you can currently cast. Whether it's worth the hoop jumping, CL loss, and dilution of character theme is up to you...

or if allowed, hire somebody who knows that spell to help research an arcane variant.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Magic Item Compendium p.190:
Tome of Worldly Memory- Study book for 1 minute for a +5 to a single knowledge check. If you have at least 5 ranks in the knowledge skill in question, do so as a standard action. 1500gp.

 

[Iku Rex]

In addition to the Tome of Worldly Memory...

Crystal Mask of Knowledge (MIC, 2500): +5 competence bonus to one knowledge skill.
Headband of the Lorebinder (MIC, 1600): +4 competence to bardic/loremaster knowledge.
Scrolls of Uncertain Provenance (MIC, 8000): +5 competence bonus to knowledge checks. (Alignment requirement.)
Book of All Knowledge (CCha, 3000): +10 insight bonus 1/day after 2d4 or 1d4 (if worship deity with knowledge domain) hours.

Dragonfire adepts (Dragon Magic) get access to the Draconic Knowledge invocation (+6 unnamed bonus to knowledge checks).
The Dantalion vestige (Tome of Magic, 5th level) can grant a +8 unnamed bonus to knowledge checks. (Not very helpful really.)
It doesn't grant bonuses to knowledge checks, but the paragnostic apostle PrC (CCha) is worth considering anyway for a knowledge focused character.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Didn't Dragon Magic have a feat for any dragonblooded character to learn a single draconic aura (which may have required a second feat to actually obtain, I forget)?