Crafting a headband of vast intelligence

[Atalius]

When I craft a headband of vast intelligence +2 I was told I could choose to give a bonus to perception? How does this work? And how many points could I put into it?

[Bob Bob Bob]

Headband of Vast Intelligence wrote:

A headband of vast intelligence has one skill associated with it per +2 bonus it grants. After being worn for 24 hours, the headband grants a number of skill ranks in those skills equal to the wearer's total Hit Dice. These ranks do not stack with the ranks a creature already possesses. These skills are chosen when the headband is created. If no skill is listed, the headband is assumed to grant skill ranks in randomly determined Knowledge skills.

Basically, you retroactively get skill ranks for your Int increase. To prevent abuse (taking off the headband and putting it back on, picking different skills) the skill ranks are associated with the headband itself. So if you craft one, you can choose for it to give you max ranks in Perception (or any other specific skill you pick). And another skill for a +4 headband, and another one for a +6 headband. It's not a bonus, it's actual skill ranks.

[Wheldrake]

And note that skill ranks gained in this fashion are NOT CUMULATIVE with skill ranks the wearer already possesses.

[Komoda]

I don't know if the above answers your question. You don't put any points into it during creation. The bonus to the skill is based on the wearer's level. A 10th level character would gain 10 Ranks in that skill. As stated above, ranks don't stack.

From the FAQ:

Headband of Vast Intelligence: If I wear this item, do I get retroactive skill ranks for my Int increase in addition to the skill ranks associated with the item?

No. The skill associated with the magic item represents the "retroactive" skill ranks you'd get from the item increasing your Intelligence. You don't get the item's built-in skill ranks and another set to assign however you want.

[Trish Megistos]

@Wheldrake

What? Say you have one point in perception. Then you pick up the headband, get more skillpoints and put one of them into perception.
You'd still have only 1 rank in perception?

[Jeraa]

Trish Megistos wrote:

@Wheldrake

What? Say you have one point in perception. Then you pick up the headband, get more skillpoints and put one of them into perception.
You'd still have only 1 rank in perception?

You do not get more points for putting on a headband. The headband has had a skill assigned to it by its creator. If the headband has had the Perception skill attached to it, you would use either your own personal skill ranks, or those ranks granted from the headband (whichever is higher).

[taks]

That's why you don't craft a headband with skills you already have a lot of ranks in. Essentially, you lose them. I don't know how PFS does it, but I let my players pick when they find a headband, and obviously they can pick when they buy one (assuming the economy supports the purchase).

[Trish Megistos]

Good to know. So +2 would grant one skill, +4 2 skills and +6 3 skills?

[Jeraa]

Trish Megistos wrote:

Good to know. So +2 would grant one skill, +4 2 skills and +6 3 skills?

Yes.