Scarlet and blue sphere ioun stone

[Zaister]

I know this has been asked before, but as far as I can see never satisfyingly answered, and since we have Mark now for rules questions, maybe it makes sense to ask this again.

The scarlet and blue sphere ioun stone grants a +2 bonus to Intelligence. Should it have an associated skill that gets maximized, similar to a headband of vast intelligence +2? The rules don't mention anything like this, but wouldn't it make sense?

[Lifat]

I have searched high and low for a dev answer to this. I can't find it.
The only thing is that James Jacobs specifically stated how the Headband was supposed to work, ie. granting skill ranks decided at item creation and therefore not switchable by the user.

He also stated that this was to avoid the switching around. Now... Considering the reason behind the decision to handle Headbands that way I think it is very reasonable to say that RAI is that the Ioun Stone should work the same way as the Headband. That said, as nothing about the Ioun Stone states it by RAW, then you could rule that you can switch around with it. I do think we need a FAQ on this.

[Herbatnik]

In Shattered Star capaign "this ioun stone's associated skill is Knowledge [history]". So analogy with headband is pretty sure correct.

[Claxon]

I ocncur with Lifat. RAI, it would give the ranks to only one skill and always the same skill, similar to the headband.

[Nefreet]

Nobody checked the FAQ?

[Jiggy]

Nefreet wrote:

Nobody checked the FAQ?

To be fair, no one would realize that particular FAQ was relevant unless they were already reading it down to the end.

[Nefreet]

I must read the FAQ too much =(

[Lifat]

Herbatnik wrote:

In Shattered Star capaign "this ioun stone's associated skill is Knowledge [history]". So analogy with headband is pretty sure correct.

Which strengthens the belief that RAI is to handle the Ioun Stone the same way as the headband, but it still doesn't make it RAW so technically RAW is that Ioun Stones is handled differently.

Personally speaking I never run my games RAW. I always run it RAI. That doesn't mean that RAW is insignificant, because how are we supposed to know what RAI is without RAW? Most of my rulings are according to RAW and only deviates in cases like this where there are such strong indications that RAI is different from what RAW states.
Of course my rulings are only according to RAW whenever I know what RAW is, when I don't I usually try to make a fair judgment call and move on. Then I read up on it between sessions or in a natural break.

EDIT: DAMN YOU NEFREET! :D I guess that RAW is that Ioun Stones are handled the same way as a headband.

[Zaister]

Well the FAQ only says "should"...,

The Shattered Star quote, however, is a good indicator. But then, now and again, you find stuff in modules that doesn't work according to the rules, such as potions made from personal spells, for example.

[The Morphling]

The fact that these come with skills/languages "baked in" reminds me VIVIDLY of the concept of an "Endowment of Wit" from The Sum of All Men series, in which people could willingly sacrifice their own cleverness/intelligence so that another person could add it to their own.

Great book, if anyone is interested.