So this came up as a question during our gaming session tonight...
A PC had a Scarlet and Blue Ioun stone with the Fly skill in it, he was using treasure to buy a Headband of Vast Intelligence +4. Now since both of Ioun Stone and Headband have Enhancement Bonuses, they do not stack. However the question of the skills came up. Would you still get the skill from the Ioun Stone, if you weren't getting the Int bonus? (We decided no, and he gave it to his henchman.) Does this sound right?
You know I could see it either way, but I think that saying No sounds more correct (as the item is "off" as you're not getting the benefit from it).
No, you don't get the skill points if you don't get the int bonus. The skill points come from the increase in int, so no bonus int = no bonus skill points.
Actually the skill points don't come from an increase in int. It comes from having the item. Int items just give you a bunch of temporary ranks in a skill per every +2 they have.
Now I think because they items enhancement bonuses don't stack, the skill bonus would also not stack. I'm sure it is intended that way. But I honestly need to look more carefully at the rules as written.
I will say that 8k for a maxed skill is more than I would be willing to pay.
The intelligence bonus doesn't stack, but I can't see why the associated skill wouldn't add; a skill is not a bonus (the item actually confers skill ranks, not a bonus to skills), and they don't occupy the same body slot (one being a headband, the other a slotless item). Indeed, one could simply - when in need of a skill - add a scarlet/blue ioun stone with the associated skill.
As for 8000gp being "worth it" for a skill? I'd certainly buy one with Perception for, say, my 15th level wizard to suddenly have +15 perception!
(My high-level sorcerer actually carries one with Disable Device as an associated skill: if I need a rogue, simply call or summon a huge or better air elemental (with about a 30 dex) - an elder air elemental with the stone has an instant +25 or so disable device!)
Actually the skill points don't come from an increase in int. It comes from having the item. Int items just give you a bunch of temporary ranks in a skill per every +2 they have.
The Ioun Stone's only effect is an enhancement bonus to INT, which follows the relevant rules for that.
("Permanent Bonuses: Ability bonuses with a duration greater than 1 day actually increase the relevant ability score after 24 hours... This might cause you to gain skill points, hit points, and other bonuses.")Headbands of Intellect do spell out the hardwired skill association.
You can read that as being the associated bonus skill from the INT increase, or as independent...
If it's independent, then you are still 'due' further bonus skill ranks after the bonus becomes 'permanent' (24 hrs+).
(Kor started a thread on this topic, but it was marked 'does not need FAQ', which by default leaves us with RAW of Ioun Stones effects on INT)
@David Haller: do you really encounter enough traps that have no urgency to disarm within 24 hours, that you carry around an ioun stone just for that purpose? (the skill bonus doesn't kick in until 24 hours, for both headbands and ioun stones) how many summons are sticking around that long anyways?
what does the rogue's guild think about this anyways? isn't this depressing the demand for their members' services?