What checks can i use the investigator's inspiration ability on?


Rules Questions


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Inspiration Ability wrote:


An investigator has the ability to augment skill checks and ability checks through his brilliant inspiration. The investigator has an inspiration pool equal to 1/2 his investigator level + his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). An investigator's inspiration pool refreshes each day, typically after he gets a restful night's sleep. As a free action, he can expend one use of inspiration from his pool to add 1d6 to the result of that check, including any on which he takes 10 or 20. This choice is made after the check is rolled and before the results are revealed. An investigator can only use inspiration once per check or roll. The investigator can use inspiration on any Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft skill checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he's trained in the skill.

Inspiration can also be used on attack rolls and saving throws, at the cost of expending two uses of inspiration each time from the investigator's pool. In the case of saving throws, using inspiration is an immediate action rather than a free action.

Seems straight forward enough, can be used on skill check and ability check and can be used on Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft skill checks without expending a charge. No problem so far

But then we get to

Unconventional Inspiration Investigator Talent wrote:
An investigator can pick any one skill that he is trained in but that he can't use his inspiration with. He can use inspiration with that skill. An investigator must be at least 17th level to select this talent.

I can't figure what the purpose of this talent would be as the base ability seems to indicate that inspiration can be used with all skill checks. Also 17th level? seriously?

Further complicating the issue we have

Inspired Intelligence Investigator Talent wrote:
An investigator can add his inspiration die to all Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft checks without expending a use of inspiration, even those he's not trained in.

Which aside from the inclusion of skills not trained in is precisely what the base ability already lets me do.

This feels like perhaps there was a list of allowed skills that is supposed to be there and was replaced with the line about not expending points for knowledge, linguistics and spellcraft. That is of course complete speculation.

Still I'm wondering if there's been any official or semi official word regarding this.

- Torger

Dark Archive

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The Investigator can use it on any skill check or ability check, Unconventional Inspiration should read as: "An investigator can pick any one skill that he is trained in but that he can't use his inspiration on without expending an inspiration point. He can use inspiration with that skill without expending an inspiration point. An investigator must be at least 17th level to select this talent."
Inspired Intelligence is mainly for investigator's that give up the ability to use inspiration on those skill checks.
I don't know if there has been any official or semi-official word regarding this, but it is most likely how the ability and Investigator talents are supposed to work.


Helcack wrote:

The Investigator can use it on any skill check or ability check, Unconventional Inspiration should read as: "An investigator can pick any one skill that he is trained in but that he can't use his inspiration on without expending an inspiration point. He can use inspiration with that skill without expending an inspiration point. An investigator must be at least 17th level to select this talent."

Inspired Intelligence is mainly for investigator's that give up the ability to use inspiration on those skill checks.
I don't know if there has been any official or semi-official word regarding this, but it is most likely how the ability and Investigator talents are supposed to work.

Ah, hadn't delved into archetypes yet, didn't realize there were any that got rid of the don't expend for knowledge, linguistics and spellcraft clause.

Your interpretation for unconventional inspiration is reasonable, at least it would do something then.

- Torger


As far as Inspiration vs Inspired Intelligence, note "provided he's trained in the skill" versus "even those he's not trained in."


Rhorik Hogsvard wrote:
As far as Inspiration vs Inspired Intelligence, note "provided he's trained in the skill" versus "even those he's not trained in."

Yea I noted that.

Torger Miltenberger wrote:
Which aside from the inclusion of skills not trained in is precisely what the base ability already lets me do.

But upon further reflection that's beside the point since Linguistics checks, spellcraft checks and knowledge checks with a DC above 10 can't be made untrained. So that means you now have the ability to add inspiration without spending points to checks that you have no means to make in the first place.

- Torger


Fair cop.


But at 3rd level, the Investigator can make Knowledge checks untrained. (cf Keen Recollection).

Silver Crusade

PokeyCA wrote:
But at 3rd level, the Investigator can make Knowledge checks untrained. (cf Keen Recollection).

Exactly this. The investigator can make the checks untrained (and thus can get a result higher than 10), but can't use free inspiration on them without inspired intelligence. That's what the talent does; it allows you to use free inspiration on those untrained skills.

I don't know why any investigator who could take that talent would have untrained knowledge checks, but that's just me.


DesolateHarmony wrote:
PokeyCA wrote:
But at 3rd level, the Investigator can make Knowledge checks untrained. (cf Keen Recollection).

Exactly this. The investigator can make the checks untrained (and thus can get a result higher than 10), but can't use free inspiration on them without inspired intelligence. That's what the talent does; it allows you to use free inspiration on those untrained skills.

I don't know why any investigator who could take that talent would have untrained knowledge checks, but that's just me.

Right you are, still seems strange that it would call out linguistics and spellcraft (skills that can't be used untrained) if all it does is let you use no cost inspiration on untrained checks.

- Torger

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