Breadth of Experience and professions...

[Vicon]

Hey everyone!

I really hope I can get a concrete ruling on this (citing RAW) but if not please share how you handle it as GM (or if you are a player how your GM handles it)...

...Basically I have a Gnome that is almost 150 years old starting the Serpent Skull AP, and I've given him Breadth of Experience as a feat. Breadth of experience (in addition to +2 to all knowledges, gives +2 to professions -- and enabled you to use these skills untrained... which got me thinking... How many jobs might may character have had, having lived almost a century and a half?

Since I can use the professions untrained... how many can I give myself? My wisdom bonus is +3 so with Breadth of Experience each profession I have starts at 5 without even putting a rank into it... the thing is, I could easy make an argument that considering my lifespan, having become competent in even a couple DOZEN professions is thoroughly reasonable.

I don't want to break the rules... so I'm wondering what the guidelines are?

[Corlindale]

By RAW you know about ALL professions that could reasonably be tied to a Profession skill. Doesn't necessarily have to mean you've actually worked with them all - but you've worked in a fair bit, and picked up enough to know your way around the rest.

[thenovalord]

they also should think in slow motion....wanna build a caertain organic object....plant it and can back and harvest 1,5, 10 years later.

long lived artisans can really step back and think and take their time

[Bertious]

I'm fairly certain it counts to all of them but i can't cite RAW for it anywhere but the feat itself.

I always saw the feat as indicating things like "Why no i've never actually been a shipwright but i have mended a few wagons and built a wooden house i'm sure i can figure out the rest."

I used the feat myself in kingmaker on an elven synergist that had served time as a teacher to a restovian lord's children while studying the aldori sword style.

[BltzKrg242]

For some reason, this feat escaped my eye til just now..
Oh my Elven Bard just did a happy dance...

[Bigger Club]

I could not find any rules, about it and would assume there are none. Rules wise it means you actually are treated like you had experience in every possible profession.

That being said my group plays it so that if it stands a reason that the character would have experience based on their background they can use the skill as per the rules. Mostly this means that the elf from the desert tribe will not be rolling profession sailor and such. Basically it comes down to common sense.

But if you actually want some numbers. As a gnome, adulthood is 40 years when you actually get the first level you are 44-93, I would assume during that time you did not do too much other stuff. So about 60-100 years of studies. Let's say that your average helper has 1 rank in the skill coupled with the +3 from being a class skill to a combined 4. No attribute bonuses because that is basically talent instead of actual skill. Breath of experience gives +2 so half of that.If we suppose that it would take about 5 years to get to the level of the beginner in the craft(not the skill of the same name necessarily) from the more long lived races, we can say it would take a 2 and a half years from our gnome. You got 10 knowledge skills that takes 30 years so we have 30-70 years left which comes down to 10-23 profession skills.

Mind you those numbers were totally from the hip and have absolutely no real purpose but I thought I might as well shoot some ballpark figures.

[The black raven]

The RAW here is pretty clear.

For the fluff, just consider that your character knows so many things about so many topics that he can do a decent job at any and all career (ie, anything based on Profession or Knowledge).

However, those he actually practiced are those he spent a skill point in.

[Vicon]

Bltz -- I can't imagine making a gnome/elf/dwarf bard WITHOUT that feat! welcome to the club... and here's a special song for your bard to play when he's explaining how he got 90+ professions with multiple points in each:

(to the tune of 'the dubliners' "Jack of all trades": (you can adapt it to your bard's specific history)
but youtube the song to get the tune!

Golarion JACK OF ALL TRADES (sing first verse in head to get tempo!)
Time how long the song is and consider paring down... remember chorus btwn every 2 verses!

Oh I am a roving sporting blade, they call me Jack of all Trades
I always placed my chief delight in courting pretty fair maids.
...In Andoran I came of age -- then tried for a situation
I'm always proud to hear it's now the pride of all the Nations.

On Gralton Quay I later went and there became a porter
Me and my master soon fell out which cut our dealings shorter
*...In Daggermark… a pastry cook; In Tymon was a baker
In Xer I did fine coffins make; and in greengold a Laker.

cho: I'm a roving jack of many a trade
Of every trade of all trades
And if you wish to know me name
Well They call me Jack of all trades.

In City Kerse I ran a shop - and there was well requited
A Courtier in Ustalav, where I was nearly knighted!
*…For In my time I'd high reknown…, or I am much mistaken
In Lastwall I went flipping broke -- sold butter, eggs and bacon.

In Tamran town I sold old shoes: In village Meath a grinder
In Pangolais I lost my wife and I'm glad I ne'er could find her. ;)
*…In Korvosa I dyed old clothes… of which I'd often boasted
And all over Varisia, sold mutton ready roasted.

--Chorus

Egorian, I dressed old hats; Senara was a sire, (sawyer)
In Pill Lane, I sold forks n' spoons, in Nex an honest liar, (lawyer)
*…In Plunkett Streets sold castoff clothes… in Merab was a broker
In Katapesh another shop, sold shovel, tongs and poker.

In Liepstadt then a banker was, and outside Geb a drover
In Qadira, a waiter and in Vudras towns, a glover
*…In Tian-shaw I sold old books… in Valashmai, a Jailer
In Padiskar, a carpenter; in the Shackles was "a sailor."

--Chorus

In Aspenthar a Shipwright and, at the same time a tailor,
In Ridwan I did candles make in Kraggodan, a weaver.
*…In Kokutang went bust again… and I ain't going back there-
The people all are cannibals, almost wound up a snack there!

In Vigil was a Watchman and In Woodsedge was a grainer
In Thronestep, I did carry sacks; n' Earns I was a glazier.
*…In Starfall, was a Clockworksman… and turned a tidy fortune,
Tied up those funds in a Fog Peaks mine; And lost the larger portion.

--Chorus

In Bellis restored furniture with fleas and bugs I sold it
In Oppara I farmed some land but sadly failed to hold it
*…In Carpenden sold hay and straw… and a Herbalist no fakin'
By Fishambles in Totra the grand trade of basketmakin'.

In Quantium a coachmaker; a jeweler and a gilder
In Solku was a tanner, and in Mechitar a builder!
…. (gasp!)….
In Dyinglight, sold hosiery; In Absolom sold all blades
So if you wish to know my name, well they call me Jack of all Trades!!!

Chorus!

[Jodokai]

You my friend, much like a gnome, have way too much time on your hands.

[Vicon]

It's not nice to deride people for sharing, Jodo...

I would go as far as to say the last thing a forum needs is people coming to the forum to tell people they have too much time on their hands to share in the forum.