This is the text for the Headband of Vast Intelligence.
The headband grants the wearer an enhancement bonus to Intelligence of +2, +4, or +6. Treat this as a temporary ability bonus for the first 24 hours the headband is worn. 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.
So for a +2 band, how many skill ranks do I get and what does it mean it doesn't stack?
It means you get hit dice number of skill ranks, in whatever skill associated with it.
8th level, 8 skill points.
If you already have even 1 rank in the skill, it doesn't stack - ie., it doesn't add.
This is the text for the Headband of Vast Intelligence.
The headband grants the wearer an enhancement bonus to Intelligence of +2, +4, or +6. Treat this as a temporary ability bonus for the first 24 hours the headband is worn. 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.
So for a +2 band, how many skill ranks do I get and what does it mean it doesn't stack?
Read the description. The handband has 1 associated skill for every +2 bonus. So a headband of +2 intelligence has 1 skill, and a +6headband has 3 skills. The number of skill ranks in that skill are equal to your hit dice (which is the same as your level in most cases). So a 5th level character would gain 5 skill ranks in that particular skill.
"Doesn't stack" means the skill ranks granted by the headband do not combine with your own skill ranks. If you have ranks in Knowledge (Arcana), and the headband is tied to the Knowledge (Arcana) skill, you use either the ranks granted by the headband or your own, never both to the same skill.
Ok. So I should pick something that I don't have ranks in already. Thanks. I wanted to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong.
Ok. So I should pick something that I don't have ranks in already. Thanks. I wanted to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong.
Just remember that the creator of the headband picks what skill it contains, not the wearer. If making it yourself that isn't a problem, but buying one with the skill you want, or finding one in a dungeon with the skill, isn't guaranteed.
Understood. Would I be able to put ranks into that skill afterwards?
Understood. Would I be able to put ranks into that skill afterwards?
You can put ranks into any skill you want when you level up (except Fly, which has restrictions). But they won't stack with the ranks granted by the headband. And the headband automatically provides more ranks when you level up (it is always equal to the wearers level), so as long as you have it there is no need to put your own ranks into that skill.
Got it. We've been making a lot of Arcana checks lately, I could put it in that. I just really need to get my Int up to 13. I was playing in a game where the GM gave everyone Weapon Finesse and Combat Expertise for free and I took Pack Flanking at level 3. When that game got cancelled, another player offered me a spot in the game he was running. He said I could just re-use the same sheet since both games were at the same level. But he didn't give out the feats and had me re-roll my stats and we both forgot that Pack Flanking needs Combat Expertise. So now I have to wait until I level up to get Combat Expertise and I need the headband to get the 13 Int needed for it.
Ok. So I should pick something that I don't have ranks in already. Thanks. I wanted to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong.Just remember that the creator of the headband picks what skill it contains, not the wearer. If making it yourself that isn't a problem, but buying one with the skill you want, or finding one in a dungeon with the skill, isn't guaranteed.
But also be aware that this rule gets forgotten a lot, so there's a good chance your headband won't come with a pre-set skill and you'll need to pick it yourself.
Also, the headband technically will grant you a bonus language, and this is probably also tied to the headband, but there's no details about it in the rules.
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And if the headband grants skill ranks in Linguistics, you get a bonus language for each level (for the skill rank) plus the ranks from your intelligence increase. :)
My headband of Int (Linguistics) looks like a large set of earmuffs with a small fish swimming in the clear plastic globe over each other. The Babblefish and the Babblefish!