Implanted Ioun Stones?

[DrakeRoberts]

My search-fu may be failing me, because I could have sworn I'd seen this covered already somewhere, but it is what it is:

If I want an implanted ioun stone in PFS, how do I go about that? I understand there are rules in the Seekers of Secrets book, of course, and that the Additional Resources don't specify any exception to those rules, but with an unlimited amount of time in between scenarios, can one just automatically get stones implanted so long as they can make the checks on 20's?

Is there an implied number of attempts per session (that must therefore be rolled at the table), in the same line of reasoning as to how PFS handles teaching animal companions tricks?

Also, what if I can't make the checks on a 20? The charisma one is necessarily self-only, but since you theoretically could fast to (effectively) lower the DC to 15, nobody should be able to fail that on a 20. But what about the skill checks? Can an NPC healer or scholar be handled to make the check? Or can a party member spend however much time is needed to succeed on the check at the end of a session?

Sorry for the thought-dump, but I figured I'd try to get all aspects I've considered into a single post when presenting the question. Thank you for your time and help!

[Belafon]

Short answers:

The skill checks need to be done by you or a party member. You are correct that the unlimited time means implanting will (usually) be successful - eventually. However, all checks need to be witnessed by a GM. And the fasting is a full-on no food and no water fast. Which means there's a not insignificant chance of falling unconscious even before the 3-day period is completed. Even moreso if you add 5 days to it. In practice, the time you and the GM have IRL will often be the limiting factor.

[GreySector]

Here is Mike Brock's post on the subject.

[MisterSlanky]

I've several implanted ioun stones on a few characters. The hint is to get high enough that "taking 1" will let you succeed. No rolling required, and by this point you usually have enough gold anyway!

[andreww]

MisterSlanky wrote:

I've several implanted ioun stones on a few characters. The hint is to get high enough that "taking 1" will let you succeed. No rolling required, and by this point you usually have enough gold anyway!

I don't believe you even need that. As per Mike's post the entire implant process is simply handwaved. If you have the source you can implant your ioun stones.

[MisterSlanky]

This...

Quote:

So, that only leaves the time and rolls. As there is unlimited time between scenarios, this really doesn't matter to be honest. I don't think it is worth the time or effort to legislate any of these since they really don't create an imbalance in anyway.

Is hi-larious to me, because this is the same person that made the ruling that required us to roll our disease save against a non-CON disease 30 times in front of our GM while our friends make sure we don't die.

[Belafon]

Michael Eshleman wrote:

Here is Mike Brock's post on the subject.

Ah. Thank you Michael. I was completely unaware of that post.

[SCPRedMage]

Kevin Willis wrote:

Michael Eshleman wrote:

Here is Mike Brock's post on the subject.

Ah. Thank you Michael. I was completely unaware of that post.

Michael will always be glad to link you to Michael's posts. Michael just wants you to know what Michael said.

[DrakeRoberts]

Thanks! I knew I'd seen a post about it somewhere before!

[DrakeRoberts]

What seems a bit unclear is if you need to have Heal +10 and Knowledge (Arcana) +5 to do it. Mark's post seems to suggest that, due to it being a non-issue balance-wise, PFS just lets you implant if you want. His reasoning about indefinite time, however, points to just being able to effectively take 20.