With Arcane Power out, one skill suddenly got very important: Arcana
The Sage of the Ages epic destiny utility power allows for some very very beautiful things, assuming you get your arcana check high enough:
Trick of Knowledge (Utility 26) Encounter * Arcane Minor Action * Personal Effect: Make an arcana check and gain a benefit based on your check result until the end of the encounter. 30 or lower: no effect 31-35: +5 to saving throws 36-40: +2 bonus to all defenses 41-45: +2 to arcane attack rolls 46-50: make saves at the beginning of your turn instead of end. 51-55: pick 2 of the below benefits 56-60: pick 3 61 or higher: pick 4
So, how can we make sure we roll at least 51 (61 would be better, of course...) every encounter ? Help me out, please...
items bonus: iron of spite (head, phb) +6 item bonus runic armor (armor, av2) +6 item bonus ring of wizardry (ring, phb) +3 item bonus mirror of secrets (Artifact, Open Grave) +2/+4/+6 item bonus (concordance dependent) opal ring of remembrance (ring, AV): +4 item bonus
Power bonus: Inspire Competence +2 power (requires a Bard) Good Omens (Cleric PP Divine Oracle daily util, phb): +5 power bonus Fevered Certainty of Caiphon (warlock daily util, dragon 366): +5 power bonus Elexir of Aptitude (consumable, AV): +1/+3/+5 to skill check, lasts 1 hour, requires healing surge Symbol of Excellence (holy symbol, AV): +1-6 power bonus, requires daily item use
Good Races: Eldarin (phb) +2 to int, +2 to arcana Gnome (phb2) +2 to int, +2 to arcana Deva (phb2): +2 to int, Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes -> reroll with +1d6 bonus (+1d8 with feat)
Backgrounds +2 (generic, phb2) High Imaskar (FRPG): reroll arcana check, keep second result Netheril (FRPG) +1 The Great Dale (FRPG) +1
Untyped bonuses Paragon of Learning (ED Sage of Ages feature, AP) +6 untyped Arcane Underpinning (PP Academy Master feature, dragon 374) +2 untyped Dabbler (PP Jack-of-all-Trades feature, MP2) +2 untyped Unseen Aid (Sorcerer encounter util, PHB2) +2 untyped Resourceful Action (Halfling PP Halfling Scoundrel feature, PHB2) +5 untyped, requires AP Fate of the Void (Star Pact Warlock pact boon, PHB) +1 untyped/ enemy killed Morans Eye (P1 King of the Trollhaunt Warrens, wonderous item/implement, probably unique) +5 untyped for posession Moonstone Sphere (E1 Deaths Reach, wonderous item/implement, probably unique) +2 untyped for posession Head of Vyrellis (H3 Pyramid of Shadows, wonderous item/implement, probably unique) +2 untyped for posession Tacticans Armor (Armor, AV): +1 untyped (maybe, check wording with DM) Familiar: Book imp +2 (Dragon 374) Familiar: Crafter Homunculus +2 (Dragon 374) Familiar: Rakshasa Claw +2 (Dragon 374, paragon) + free action item stow/retrieve (could allow to switch head slot items?) Familiar: Skull +2 (Dragon 374) Familiar: Greyspawn Shortfang +2 (paragon) (Dragon 374) Familiar: Blazing Skull +2 (epic) (Dragon 374) Familiar: Chaos Shard +2 (epic) (Dragon 374) Relics of Creation (AV2, epic item set): +2 to +6 (depending on # of setitems)
Bonuses granted by Allies Aid Another: +2 untyped per character helping BUT: requires standard action -> not practical Clockwork Precision (Bard daily util, AP): aid another adds +3 untyped per character helping, but still requires standard action -> not practical Find Another Way (Bard PP Lifesinger feature, AP) : +2 untyped for allies within 5 squares Speak with Spirits (Shaman Class Feature, phb2) + feat Spirit Speaker: +wis bonus to skill check Crucial Advice (Ranger Util 2, phb, encounter, immediate reaction): reroll check, with +wis power bonus, but works only on allies (not oneself) Fatesinger Bard: Majestic Word -> roll twice, use better result Glittergold's Gambit (Channel Divinity feat, FRPG) -> reroll attack roll or skill check Golden Mean (Lord of Fate ED daily utility power, AP): take 10 on any check
Rerolls Potion of Clarity (consumable, AV, costs healing surge): reroll with +1 to +6 bonus Arcane Insight (Wizard Util 2, Dragon 366, encounter, free action): reroll arcana check, use better result Keeper's Prescience (Sage of the Ages 24 ability): roll d20 each round, switch result with any roll during that round Dark One's Own Luck (Warlock Daily Util 6, PHB): reroll an attack roll, skill check, ability check, or saving throw Kensei Control Action (Fighter PP Kensei feature, PHB): AP->reroll attack roll, damage roll, skill check or ability check (no extra action)
Bonus to specific Arcana Checks Note: These bonuses won't work with Trick of Knowledge. But they might still be of interest to get a high arcana result in other circumstances... Consult Mystic Sages (ritual, skill:religion): Get +10 to an arcana check (specific purposes given in a list) Arcane Ritualist (feat, AP): Get a untyped +2 bonus for one specific ritual Oghmas Recall (feat/channel divinity power, FRPG): Get a +10 power bonus for a knowledge check
Other benefits of high Arcana Sorcerous Vision (feat, AP): Use Arcana check for Insight and Perception checks (requires Sorcerer class or MC Sorcerer) Arcane Mutterings (lvl2 encounter skill power, dragon 379): Use Arcana instead of Bluff, Intimidate or Diplomacy check Fools Gold (lvl2 ritual, AP): Create illusionary gold, worth x100 component cost. DC to find out: your arcana check. 10 gp -> 1000gp :D Seek Rumor (lvl2 ritual, FRPG): Substitute Streetwise with Arcana to find out everything there is to know... Knock (lvl2 ritual, PHB): Arcana+5 instead of Thievery to open locks
Current maximum: 15(lvl)+9(int)+6(item)+5(trained)+2(race)+2(background)+6(ED)+2(familiar)+2(PP)+3(feat) = +52
Which would allow us to always roll 53, getting at least 2 benefits. Chance to hit 56 with 2 rerolls: 99.9% (3 benefits), Chance to hit 61 with 2 rerolls: 95.71% (4 benefits). But higher is always better better, and more options cannot hurt, not everyone is a wizard, or wants to take the headslot item etc...
So, any ideas how to increase that number ? A way to take 10 would be especially nice :D. Or another way to get the +6 item bonus, the head slot is too precious for the iron of spite.
You could have your friends help you on the skill check, but that only gives up to +5.
The second level encounter utility bard spell "Inspire Competence" gives you a +2 power bonus to one skill for the next check using that skill.
I bet there are some other leader utilities that give you a bonus to skill checks.
Good ideas, i added them to the main post. I don't believe that the others will use up a standard action every combat to help your skillcheck, but the bard bonus great...
Arcane Insight (Wizard Encounter Utility 2) lets you reroll any arcana check as a free action.
Edit: Finally figured it out. You forgot to add the feat bonus. It should be +50, not +47'
This was how I did it when I first saw Sage of the Ages: ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ====== AgeSage, level 30 Gnome, Wizard, Sage of the Ages Arcane Implement Mastery: Staff of Defense Noble Scion: Arcana Background: Noble Scion
FINAL ABILITY SCORES Str 12, Con 16, Dex 10, Int 28, Wis 12, Cha 15.
Starting Ability Scores Str 10, Con 14, Dex 8, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Arcane Insight (Wizard Encounter Utility 2) lets you reroll any arcana check as a free action.
Is this a spell from Arcane Power ? (i don't have the book yet, I'm working with the information on rpg.net) the perfect power for a wizard/sage of ages.
Is this a spell from Arcane Power ? (i don't have the book yet, I'm working with the information on rpg.net) the perfect power for a wizard/sage of ages.
It's in Dragon 366. I also added to my last post the way I did this in the CB a week or two ago.
Making a friend with a Shaman will also add a hefty bonus. One of their class feature is Speak with Spirits which add a bonus to next skill check equal to their Wisdom modifier (about +9) and they have a heroic tier feat call Spirit Speaker which allow them to grant said bonus to an ally within 5 squares of them.
Since the benefits from both the bard utility and shaman power are untyped you can combine both so makes friend with both of them and you get a +11 bonus. On top of that if the said bard took the Fatesinger epic destiny, their level 24 feature is Fate's Clarity. Fate's Clarity allow the recipient of majestic word to roll twice on all attacks, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks until the start of her next turn and use the better of the two results.
Of course, you could just multiclass into Shaman/Ranger/Bard and snag the relevant utility. Your wisdom won't be as high, but if you're an orb wizard it'll be good enough.
