I have read everything I can find on identifying magic items and I just want to check my understanding of things.
If I am reading things correctly a sufficiently skilled person trained in Knowledge: Arcana can spend some time examining an item, make a roll against a DC based on the level of the item and know what it is and does. The Identify spell just adds +10 to the roll.
Is this correct or am I missing something?
Thanks
-Erich
You have the general concept, but the wrong skill. You use Spellcraft to identify magic items.
I'm a little confused as to why there's no synergy between K:Arcana and Spellcraft.
They have some overlap, you'd think a synergy bonus would be warranted.
They cover entirely different things, Fleshgrinder.
Knowledge represents academic lore and information. It's a purely intellectual skill, what one would pick up in a classroom. Spellcraft represents covers the practical application of magical knowledge. It's the information you obtain through experience working with magical energies and objects. There are connections between the two skills, but those connections are limited; they embody different concepts.
The biggest reason for no synergy bonus, though, is that limiting skill-based synergy bonuses was a design objective of the Pathfinder RPG.
Ah, spellcraft, got it.
Is this a situation where a PC could take 10 or 20 on the roll?
(for that matter does that concept even exist in Pathfinder? Gotta look that up...)
Thanks
-Erich
You cannot Take 20, since you are only allowed to attempt to identify a given item once per day.
You can Take 10, though.
Actually, I thought you needed to make knowledge arcana rolls using detect magic to first identify the auras, followed then by spellcraft to narrow down to specific spells or effects.
Note that even identifying the item might not explain how to activate it.
Actually, I thought you needed to make knowledge arcana rolls using detect magic to first identify the auras, followed then by spellcraft to narrow down to specific spells or effects.
Nope, you do not utilize Knowledge (arcana) at all in the identification of magic items.
Note that even identifying the item might not explain how to activate it.
Incorrect. If you make the required check you identify the item and how to operate it. These are the properties of the item described in the skill description.
Detect Magic: "3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Knowledge (arcana) skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura: DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + 1/2 caster level for a nonspell effect.) If the aura eminates from a magic item, you can attempt to identify its properties (see Spellcraft)."
Spellcraft: "This skill is also used to identify the properties of magic items in your possession through the use of spells such as detect magic and identify."
"Attempting to ascertain the properties of a magic item takes 3 rounds per item to be identified and you must be able to thoroughly examine the object."
Table: Spellcraft DCs
"Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic: 15 + item's caster level"
Questions remaining:
A) Can you use Spellcraft to identify the properties of a magic item in your possession without using spells such as detect magic and identify?
B) When using Detect Magic, are you required to succeed at the Knowledge (arcana) check which determines the school of magic in order to attempt the Spellcraft check to identify the properties of the magic item?
Yes, you can use spellcraft to "dry" identify an item, the two spells simply add bonuses to the spellcraft roll.
Given a long enough rest, I'm wont to just let the players know what it is that they got. Bookkeeping an unidentified is a pain.
Of course that hurts them a bit when it's cursed and I rolled the Spellcraft check low for them...
I'm a little confused as to why there's no synergy between K:Arcana and Spellcraft.
They have some overlap, you'd think a synergy bonus would be warranted.
I am pretty sure that Pathfinder got rid of synergy bonus' to simplify play.
Was this a recent change to PF, as I am nearly positive there were a handful of synergy bonuses at one point.
Not as many as 3.5, but I could have sworn there were a few.
Maybe I'm just remembering making a 3.5 character recently.
Was this a recent change to PF, as I am nearly positive there were a handful of synergy bonuses at one point.
Not as many as 3.5, but I could have sworn there were a few.
Maybe I'm just remembering making a 3.5 character recently.
Not new, it was part of the initial revision of the 3.5 rules.
A) Can you use Spellcraft to identify the properties of a magic item in your possession without using spells such as detect magic and identify?
No, you cannot. You don't have to use identify, but the skill expressly cites the use of detect magic when identifying items. Luckily, as a cantrip, most spellcasters always have this spell on hand and it is not usually an issue.
B) When using Detect Magic, are you required to succeed at the Knowledge (arcana) check which determines the school of magic in order to attempt the Spellcraft check to identify the properties of the magic item?
No, you do not have to successfully determine the school of magic.
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PRD says "The spells detect magic, identify, and analyze dweomer all reveal command words if the properties of the item are successfully identified." (see magic item rules)
You can use a DC30 Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (history) check to identify a command word. (see magic item rules)
A DC25 Appraise will tell you that an item has magical properties, though nothing more.
A Perception check can tell you the properties of a potion (DC15 + caster level).