Tome of Knowledge

Last Updated: September 11, 2019

  • Campaign: Chathi Chathendum's Company of Thayan Traders : House of the Summer Rose: LIVE
  • Price: 50 gp (+2); 150 gp (+3); 450 gp (+4); 950 gp (+5); 1,650 gp (+6); 2,550 gp (+7); 3,650 gp (+8); 4,950 gp (+9); 6,450 gp (+10); 8,150 gp (+11); 10,050 gp (+12);
  • Body Slot: - or - (held)
  • Caster Level: 3rd to 10th
  • Aura: Divinition
  • Activation: - (see text below)
  • Weight: 3 lbs

    This leather bound tome looks well-read.

    The Tome of Knowledge is a masterwork tool (base cost = 50 gp) that grants a +2 circumstance (non-magical) bonus on a specific Knowledge or other skill check.

    In addition, a Tome of Knowledge is often enchanted to grant anywhere from a +1 to a +10 competence (magical) bonus on the same specific Knowledge or other skill check as that provided by the circumstance bonus.

    The total price and bonus listed above includes the combined circumstance bonus and competence bonus.

    A character must study a Tome of Knowledge for a full 24-hours before the circumstance/competence bonus is gained. This time can be done all at once (risk of fatigue similar to a forced march - PHB p164) or spread out over several sessions (i.e 4 hours over 6 days). Once this is completed, the circumstance/competence bonus is applied at any time that a specific Knowledge or other skill check is used since the character is assumed to have remembered something from their studies. However, a character must keep a Tome of Knowledge in their possession and study from the Tome of Knowledge for an hour each week or apply a -2 cumulative penalty to the circumstance/competence bonus for each week missed until the bonus is lost. Each hour of study can reverse each -2 penalty.

    If one has access to a Tome of Knowledge, but has not yet had time to study it, one can still get the bonus. This requires 1 hour of research for each use of a specific Knowledge or other skill check, so one would not be able to get the bonus in a situation that requires an immediate response such as in a combat or a social situation.
    "Excuse me, Sir… Uhm…. (while leafing through pages of “Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. VII, Chivalry and Heraldry in Faerun”) … is that heraldic symbol on your tunic a chicken or a griffon…"
    Note that this 1 hour of research will count towards the initial 24-hours of study required to use a Tome of Knowledge.

    Note that if one has a Lens of Speed Reading, then study times are reduced from 24-hours to 6 hours, and from 1 hour to 15 minutes.

    History:

    A Tome of Knowledge is a generic name used to describe any book that provides a circumstance bonus (and possible competence bonus). Below is a list of example book titles and the skills they would enhance. Other book titles are possible, player's and DM's are encouraged to get creative.

    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. I, Unearthed Arcana" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, arcana checks.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. II, City Wonders and Castle Secrets" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, architect/engineer checks.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. III, Caverns, Caves and Dungeons Deep" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, dungeoneering checks.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. IV, The Kingdoms of Faerun" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, geography checks.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. V, The Complete History of Faerun" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, history checks.
    	- Other titles providing the same bonus include, "Ancient Lore of the Great Rift: The Last Ten Millennia", written in Dwarven 
    	  and "Secret History of the Hin in Toril", written in Hin.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. VI, Flora and Fauna of Faerun" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, nature checks.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. VII, Chivalry and Heraldry in Faerun" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on nobility/royalty checks.
            - Other titles providing the same bonus include, "Clan and Kin - Bonds Forged of Blood", written in Dwarven
    	  and "Heroes of Hin - Strong at Heart", written in Hin
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. VIII, Faerun's Faiths and Pantheons" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, religion checks.
    	- Other titles providing the same bonus include, "Blessings of the Soul Forger", written in Dwarven 
    	  and "FolkLore of Luiren: Yondalla's Favourite 'Tall' Tales", written in Hin
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. IX, The Cosmology of Toril" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, the planes checks.
    	- Other titles providing the same bonus include, "There and Back Again - A Hin's Journey across the Heavens", written in Hin.
    - "Elminster's Encyclopedia Vol. X, The Netherese Scrolls and other Ancient Scripts" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on decipher script checks.
    - "Volo's Guide to Cormyr" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, local: Cormyr checks.
    - "Volo's Guide to the Dalelands" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, local: The Dalelands checks.
    - "Volo's Guide to the North" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, local: The North checks.
    - "Volo's Guide to Waterdeep" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on knowledge, local: Waterdeep checks.
    - "Volo's Guide to Monsters" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on all knowledge checks to identify monsters and their special powers or vulnerabilities.
    - "Khelben 'Blackstaff' Arunsun's Spell Compendium, A Practitioner's Practical Guide to the Weave" provides a circumstance/competence bonus on spellcraft checks.
    	- Other titles providing the same bonus include, "Jebalek's Notebook on the Proper Craft and Art of Spellweaving for Gnomes on all Things Illusionary and Arcane", written in Gnome.
    - "The Art of the Deal" by Merchant Guildmaster D.T. of Waterdeep provides a circumstance/competence bonus on profession: merchant checks, if reader is evil.
    
    


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