Survival Kits

[Jack Smythe]

So, I'm working on building pre-made gear lists for character roll-ups to save time. Found the survival kit item, which seems pretty good, but I'm a bit confused as to some of the things.

Kit, Common [5 gp, 4 lbs]:

Spoiler:

A survival kit provides the necessary tools for day-to-day existence in a temperate wilderness. It typically contains a flint and steel, a mess kit, two waterskins (enough to hold water for 1 person for 1 day), very basic maps showing major landmarks, and a small utility knife.

Kit, Mwk [50 gp, 5 lbs]:

Spoiler:

A masterwork survival kit contains higher quality gear and a guide to identifying flora and fauna. It grants you a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to get along in the wild, deal with severe weather, keep from getting lost, avoid natural hazards such as quicksand, and predict the weather.

First, the weight. Does it include the extra items [ie waterskins, flint and steel, mess kit], or is that just for the maps and suchlike in and of themself? Because just two empty waterskins plus mess kit is 5 pounds, but it seems a bit odd for a few maps to weigh 4 lbs.

Second, what does it mean by higher quaility gear? Do I still only have waterskins, or does it boost up to canteens, or is that only refering to the kit-specific items? Further, what exactly is giving the bonus? Is there 'tools' in the kit [ie, a stick for quicksand], or is the book? ANd do I need to keep the book on me or be reading it for the bonus?

Third, bit of a side one, is the utility knife usable as a weapon [ie dagger], or would it be a small 'improvised' weapon?

Thanks!

[Jewelfox]

Jack Smythe wrote:

So, I'm working on building pre-made gear lists for character roll-ups to save time. Found the survival kit item, which seems pretty good, but I'm a bit confused as to some of the things.

Kit, Common [5 gp, 4 lbs]:
** spoiler omitted **

Kit, Mwk [50 gp, 5 lbs]:
** spoiler omitted **

First, the weight. Does it include the extra items [ie waterskins, flint and steel, mess kit], or is that just for the maps and suchlike in and of themself? Because just two empty waterskins plus mess kit is 5 pounds, but it seems a bit odd for a few maps to weigh 4 lbs.

Second, what does it mean by higher quaility gear? Do I still only have waterskins, or does it boost up to canteens, or is that only refering to the kit-specific items? Further, what exactly is giving the bonus? Is there 'tools' in the kit [ie, a stick for quicksand], or is the book? ANd do I need to keep the book on me or be reading it for the bonus?

Third, bit of a side one, is the utility knife usable as a weapon [ie dagger], or would it be a small 'improvised' weapon?

Thanks!

This stuff confused me too, and I don't think there are obvious answers. It would have been nice if they'd clarified.