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So I know this has occasionally been a sore topic in the past. What exactly is the current PFS rule on masterwork tools? I tried searching, and didn't find anything even remotely definitive, though I may have just missed something.
I really should get some of these for some of my PCs. The only one I can think of right away is my fighter with Profession: Chef wanting some cookbooks. I'm thinking for 50 gp, it's not just a single book. He's getting the whole Time-Life series. The limitation on using them is that it requires time to look things up, so it would be useful for day job rolls, but useless for impressing people with his culinary knowledge in conversation. That would require going from memory, with no bonus for the books.
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The last time Michael Brock commented on the topic he basically said "Don't abuse them, otherwise we'll limit them as an option".
Buying a Badge that grants +2 to all Diplomacy rolls? No.
Buying a Badge that grants +2 to Diplomacy when interacting with guards? Sure.
Be sure that you're telling your GM you're using a Masterwork Tool, as well. They may deem it inappropriate during certain circumstances. This often becomes a problem with HeroLab users, I've noticed, who have the bonus "always on".
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UE suggests that either the tool should have limited uses, or only apply in limited situations. "Only for Day Jobs" is a nice, specific limitation.
For a specific Craft skill, Masterwork Artisan's Tools are what you need. My witch has a spinning wheel which she keeps at the Grand Lodge.
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I'll give you a few of the ones I use:
Writ of Introduction from Trade Prince Al-Hakam - Diplomacy when trade is being discussed
Yad - UMD for Scrolls
Wooden Swords - Perform Dance (for dayjob) Dervish Dancer Swashbuckler
I know I have more, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
They all have specific roles and are flavored to be something that makes sense with that role.
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Your cookbooks should be fine, Fromper. The only times I've heard of any issues is when players buy a Masterwork Tool, but don't have any idea of what the particular tool is. If you can name the tool and briefly describe how it is used, then you shouldn't have any problems.
For example, one of the VOs stated in another thread that he has a character with a masterwork yad for Use Magic Device when reading scrolls.
A friend of mine has a masterwork speaking trumpet for Perform (oratory).*
* I just remembered that I need to get one of these for one of my characters.
Edit: ninja'd by BartonOliver. I'm really glad, too; your masterwork yad is one of the coolest mwk tools I've heard of.
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I make far less use of masterwork tools than perhaps I should.
One of the few exceptions is my gunslinger, who had reason to visit an opera house in Absalom and picked up a set of opera glasses while he was there - a masterwork tool for Perception (visual, long distance only).
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In 5 more games, I plan on buying a shieldmarshal of Arkenstar badge (Because I will be a shieldmarshal at that point. )
50 gp, Masterwork tool
+2 to intimidate when ???I am inclined to "when in Arkenstar" but I am not sure if I am being unduly harsh on myself.
Alternately, "when dealing with gunslingers" (I am a gunhunter after all)
Opinions? (The point is not to have something mechanically awesome. The point is to have a sheriffs badge, and represent it mechanically as well as I can.)
Ask your table GM each session and be prepared for it to vary each time.
Some will be more lenient and others will be more restrictive.
Personally, I try to interpret the rules pretty liberally when I'm GMing and pretty conservatively when I'm playing, so at my table I would probably allow it to work against all humanoids (I might be inclined to allow it to only work against non-chaotic humanoids).
Again, your best bet is discussing it with each table GM before the session.
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Your cookbooks should be fine, Fromper. The only times I've heard of any issues is when players buy a Masterwork Tool, but don't have any idea of what the particular tool is. If you can name the tool and briefly describe how it is used, then you shouldn't have any problems.
For example, one of the VOs stated in another thread that he has a character with a masterwork yad for Use Magic Device when reading scrolls.
Edit: ninja'd by BartonOliver. I'm really glad, too; your masterwork yad is one of the coolest mwk tools I've heard of.
For extra flavor keep your yad on a weapon cord.
Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area North & East
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My musket master had a slide attached to her gun so she could rack it like a shotgun. Didn't actually do anything, but somehow the sound helped intimidate people. If she's holding the gun with both hands and they're only a little familiar with guns.
My inquisitor of Norgorber is decked out in many adornments related to Norgorber on top of his armor. (Yes, this is a bit counter to Norgorber's teachings) If people know anything about Norgorber, he's a bit more intimidating. (Not that the boost from +33 to +35 changes much)
My dervish dancer had some very attractive leggings with excellent movement as her masterwork tool for Perform: Dance.
My most common masterwork tool though is for Stealth. It's a ninja suit / gambesson that muffles the sounds of movement and blends in very well. Also becomes the lightest weight clothing you can wear, as a masterwork tool is only 1 pound vs 2 pounds for the lightest regular clothes (pirate clothes). On the other hand, it uses your clothes slot, so no cold/hot weather gear.
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I bought a masterwork Perception tool for my investigator -- a pair of goggles that only help with visual checks. They're also not really usable in any situation that requires decorum. Is that too broad?
I'd say they are probably ok, as long as you don't have something else in the eye slot, while MW tools are slotless it's hard for me to picture any other way for them to work than to use your eye slot as well, but YMMV. You do meet both a sensibly flavored item and only one aspect of a skill, which are generally my benchmarks.
Also, if you're looking for help in Perception and don't have something in your eye slot, both eyes of the eagle and lenses of detection are relatively cheap for a +5 competence bonus (and oddly despite being eye slots help with all your perceptive senses).
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I bought a masterwork Perception tool for my investigator -- a pair of goggles that only help with visual checks. They're also not really usable in any situation that requires decorum. Is that too broad?
Tools like that, especially for Perception (but also, Bluff, Diplomacy, etc.) work well for deliberate checks, but can't typically (I would think) be brought to bear for unanticipated checks (to notice the monster tracking you).
(In addition, were I GM, I would ask it be refined further as a distant tool (e.g., telescope) or up an close one (e.g., magnifying glass).)
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^ good example of table variation.
Yep.
I've seen the gamut from "everything is acceptable for a near-permanent bonus" to "it takes a significant amount of time for you to use a very specialized situation-specific tool."
Although what I've seen most in PFS is GMs trusting the players and not asking questions (mostly for time and fun reasons), which leads to players taking advantage.
Really, just be reasonable, and like @nosig says, make sure the GM knows what's going on so she/he can be part of the discussion.
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Venture-Lieutenant, Minnesota—Minneapolis
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I have noticed some other players who use MW Tools will just add the bonus into their skill number, and often even forget that it is there. (Does Hero-Lab at it in automatically?)
It adds the bonus if the tool is equipped. That said, it is very easy to equip an item and forget about it.
I generally equip any items used for skills requiring a tool, since otherwise you are at a -2 Penalty for not having a tool. I also do this for Perform skills using a MW instrument.
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his is sort of a repost from another (older) thread on Masterwork tools, and the important part that I can see for PFS is that players often forget to tell the judge they are using a masterwork tool. Sometimes they just add it into their skill bonus and forget it themselves.
If you don't live on the forums you're probably not aware this is a gray area of the rules. You probably just saw "oh cool, masterwork tool, 50gp hello tumble" and moved on.
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I have noticed some other players who use MW Tools will just add the bonus into their skill number, and often even forget that it is there. (Does Hero-Lab at it in automatically?)
It adds the bonus if the tool is equipped. That said, it is very easy to equip an item and forget about it.
I generally equip any items used for skills requiring a tool, since otherwise you are at a -2 Penalty for not having a tool. I also do this for Perform skills using a MW instrument.
Actually, in my experience, HL will only add the MWT bonus if it applies to all circumstances, like Thieve's Tools or a healer's kit.
If it only applies for certain uses, it will instead put an asterisk on the skill bonus, and, if you hover over it, will then tell you, "+2 to Survival for not getting lost, wayfinder" or something similar.