The appraise skill

[Question]

A dc 20 check determines the value of a common item. Ok.

What about non-common items (especially magic items)? And how is a common item determined anyway?

A valuable gem, is that common or not? A potion of cure light wounds, a masterwork sword?

Has anyone actually used the appraise skill in their games? Seems like one easily skipped over bit.

[Sindalla]

Most people use it as an optional skill.

We never use it, our GM just tells us whatever we found and what it's worth. This usually saves us a lot of time and makes record keeping of the group treasure a lot easier.

If your GM likes the use of skills, or likes to mess with his players a little bit, then this is a fun skill.

If the GM has a set DC and you don't meet it, then he tells you it's worth Y when it's really worth X, then you may get a weird look from the merchant you're selling that item to. The merchant may even laugh at you and tell you to get out of his store.

[master_marshmallow]

I am trying to use it more and more because I don't want any aspect of the game to go unused by GM fiat. Appraise matters especially when bargaining which my players try and do a lot. I also want to reward the use of appraise over something like Bluff or Diplomacy in those kinds of situations.

[RDM42]

I'll often use it for a synergy bonus when trying to barter with merchants or buy items: a good appraise might be able to raise what you get for selling your items by some small percentage. Even if it only nets single digit percentages, it makes a good appraiser valuable. I also tend to assume that appraise gives you more information than just value; you Know at least to some degree WHY its worth what its worth, so,it can give you some small bits of various knowledges, by no means anything ear what you get from a knowledge check, but something nonetheless.