Woundrous Item: Headband of Mental Prowess


Rules Questions


A player of mine just got this item randomly choosen and we don't understand the following phrase (which I've seen on many other Woundrous Items):

"Treat this as a temporary ability bonus for the first 24
hours the headband is worn."

We don't understand if eighter:

A- The item only lasts for 24 hours and then is destroyed.

B- The bonus counts as temporary bonus for the first 24 hours, then is no longer temporary but the bonus itself is permanent as long as the character wears the headband (so I can cast Owl's Wisdom or similar spells that grant temporary bonuses to stack on top of the item's bonuses).

Thanks a lot in advance.

Dark Archive

Neither, actually. The bonus is temporary for 24 hours at which point it becomes permanent for the purposes of bonus spells, etc. for as long as it is worn. It's still an enhancement bonus, however, so it will not stack with owl's wisdom.


Also, after 24 hours, you can qualify for feats with your new higher wisdom because it's a 'permanent' increase. However, if you lose the headband, and you no longer meet the pre-reqs for the feat, you lose access to the feat until you wear another headband (or get owl's wisdom cast on you.


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Since a headband of mental prowess grants a bonus to two mental abilities, the temporary function for 24 hours depends on what those abilities are.

Temporary Intelligence: Temporary increases to your Intelligence score give you a bonus on Intelligence-based skill checks. This bonus also applies to any spell DCs based on Intelligence.

Temporary Wisdom: Temporary increases to your Wisdom score give you a bonus on Wisdom-based skill checks and Will saving throws. This bonus also applies to any spell DCs based on Wisdom.

Temporary Charisma: Temporary increases to your Charisma score give you a bonus on Charisma-based skill checks. This bonus also applies to any spell DCs based on Charisma and the DC to resist your channeled energy.

After the 24 hours is up, these bonuses become permanent as long as the headband is continuouly worn. (Prevents the swapping of the headband between people more or less for greater effect).

Permanent Bonuses: Ability bonuses with a duration greater than 1 day actually increase the relevant ability score after 24 hours. Modify all skills and statistics related to that ability. This might cause you to gain skill points, hit points, and other bonuses. These bonuses should be noted separately in case they are removed.


Thank you all for the answers! =D


Mergy wrote:
Neither, actually. The bonus is temporary for 24 hours at which point it becomes permanent for the purposes of bonus spells, etc. for as long as it is worn. It's still an enhancement bonus, however, so it will not stack with owl's wisdom.

If I drink a Potion of Owl's Wisdom, how long will it's effect last?


Thrall of Orcus wrote:

Permanent Bonuses: Ability bonuses with a duration greater than 1 day actually increase the relevant ability score after 24 hours. Modify all skills and statistics related to that ability. This might cause you to gain skill points, hit points, and other bonuses. These bonuses should be noted separately in case they are removed.

To be clear, you do not receive a skill point increase, in the sense of actually spending more skill points. Unless the magic item is truly permanent (i.e. cannot be lowered even by removing the item, like a book).

You receive a skill for each +2 associated with the Int magic item. And the ranks of that skill is at the level of your character level.

You will of course receive a higher modifier with Int associated skills, due to the higher intelligence score, but not actual extra ranks (skill points) to spend.

Here is the ruling on it:

link

Sczarni

These are great skill monkey filler items, especially if you can craft them or up the benefits and choose which skill to increase. Basically you become a master of three skills for free with a plus six int one. And no, they don't. Have to be int skills.


redmammoth wrote:
Mergy wrote:
Neither, actually. The bonus is temporary for 24 hours at which point it becomes permanent for the purposes of bonus spells, etc. for as long as it is worn. It's still an enhancement bonus, however, so it will not stack with owl's wisdom.
If I drink a Potion of Owl's Wisdom, how long will it's effect last?

Depends on who created the potion, but by default, it's based on the minimum caster level of the spell, which is 3rd level. So 3 minutes (the spell lasts 1 minute/level).

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