I would play Ioun Stones the same as Headbands, you choose a skill on item creation and that is what you get ranks in after 24hrs. IMG we all have headbands of Wis/Chr or just Chr, but they are all at least +4, so buying an ioun stone +2int and a wayfinder is going to be cheaper. We are going to buy multiple stones +2int that grant different skills, so we can slot in the appropriate skills given 24hrs notice. Like a "cyber" character (Shadowrun, Matrix movies) can download skills.
I have seen cost comparisons between headbands and ioun stones, but IMO the cost comparison should be between ioun stone and things that give skill bonuses. The formula for skill items is bonusxbonusx100gp (for a slotless item). An Ioun Stone gives HD in ranks for 4000gp. To get an item that gives +7 to a skill cost 7x7x100=4900gp to make. So if your character is 6th or lower it is cheaper to buy a +6 slotless skill item, at 7th or greater it is cheaper to just buy more ioun stones if you just want skill ranks. Of course, multiple skill items can all be used at the same time. On the other hand, skill items get expensive quickly. A +10 slotless skill item costs 10,000gp to make. It is cheaper if you don't mind the item taking an item slot.
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No they do not!...
Thats because the Ioun stone is not a permanent bonus, they are temporary. As you so lovingly noted above:...
It must be removed at night to go to sleep since it cannot float around your head when your head's on a bed or floor etc., which is why it was given the activates as soon as equipped feature, which is hence why it is not a permanent bonus which would supply skill points. ..
Why don't the wonderful people who published this lovely material ever clarify the rulings for us, since they had intended them to be used in certain ways?
Jimmy,
Just for the record, your writing style is coming off as aggressive and sarcastic. If that's intentional, go right ahead and make whatever impression you choose to make. If that's not intentional, then I recommend you think twice about how you want to address people who might turn out to be friends.
One other note:
True, but if you really want the INT that badly, why would you waste twice the cost on an item that cannot be improved instead of paying 1.5 times the abilities price and tacking it on to the same headband?
Some characters find magic items during an adventure, rather than buying / crafting them all. This thread is addressing the question of how they work, rather than what's the most gold-efficient way to buy things.
Yes they do add skill points, assuming that the increase is enough to increase the number of skill points per level for addtional levels.
Going from Int 7 to Int 8 for a Fighter does not grant any more skills (Due to the minimum of 1 Skillpoint per level).
Going from Int 13 to 14 would add in all cases.Int additions from magic items, such as Headbands of Intellect give skillpoints only in skills decided upon at time of creation.
Links will be here ->Int Mod & Original JJ Statement
Thanks! That's as definitive a citation as anybody could ask for.