Spellcraft
- Ability: Intelligence
- Classes:
- Cross-Class: Yes
- Requires Training: Yes
- Check: A successful check means that your character has identified a spell being cast by an opponent. The difficulty class of this check is equal to 15 + spell level. The character also gains a +1 bonus for every 5 ranks in this skill to all saving throws against spells.
- Special: A specialist Wizard gets a +2 bonus when dealing with a spell from his specialized school. As well, a successful Spellcraft check is required before your character can attempt to counterspell. The specialist Wizard suffers a -5 penalty when dealing with a spell or effect from a prohibited school.
- Use: Spellcraft checks are automatic whenever a spell is cast nearby.
Notes:
- Spellcraft is used to identify spells and to Counterspell.
- Unlike other skills (such as the AC bonus from Tumble), the saving throw bonus is based on fully modified ranks (not base ranks).
- The saving throw bonus generally applies only to spells with a duration of instant in the spell description.
- A negative Spellcraft, such as when a Curse Song lowers your skills, will provide a penalty for saving throws against spells (-1 for each -5 points.) However, since Spellcraft requires training, the penalty will only occur if the player has at least one rank in Spellcraft. For example, if a character who put no skill points into Spellcraft is cursed for -6 points, they will receive no penalty, since they're not trained in Spellcraft and can't use it. If a character that has 1 rank in the skill is cursed for -6 points, they will get -1 saves versus spells.
- Note that there is a +20 cap to bonuses to saving throws. Spellcraft, class features that provide a bonus to saving throws, and any other saving throw bonuses (such as from spells or items) count toward the +20 cap (though Spellcraft only counts towards saves versus spells while other bonuses may apply to all saves.)
