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Simple question: does the bardic ability Lore Master allow a bard to take 10 on a research check?
Attempting a Research check requires an uninterrupted 8-hour period of research, and a character cannot take 10 or 20 on a Research check.
However, a bard's Lore Master ability allows it to take 10 on knowledge checks even in situations they normally can't, like being distracted or being in battle. Furthermore, they can take 20 a certain number of times a day as a standard action.
My take on it is that 20 wouldn't work, seeing as the research roll represents 8 hours of studying / reading / whatever compared to a single standard action. However, taking 10 doesn't actually take an action different to a normal roll. It doesn't matter the time it takes, just a normal roll. It also makes sense, given that the ability is literally mastering lore. On the other hand, I can see the argument that researching for hours on end isn't a basic knowledge check and wouldn't qualify.
So does Lore Master allow a bard doing a research check to 1. take 20 on the check as a standard action, 2. take 10 on the check with the 'always can' option, or 3. do nothing special with the ability.