Playing the "All knowing sage"

[Zain]

Dear playground.

I was wondering what skills, feats and that sort of thing you would use to play the "all knowing sage type"

Class is most likely wizard, maybe take divination as my main school?

what sort of familiar?

For the most part this is core only

thank you

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Wizard3/Master Specialist (diviniation)5/Divine Oracle2/Loremaster10 with an Imp familiar

[Knaight]

Something flying works for the idea of a scout. And owls are just traditional. It fits the archetype, even if the familiar bonus isn't necessarily the best.

[Boci]

Archivist?

[avr]

Archivist works at least as well as Wizard here. Class features related to knowledge skills etc. Not core but available online in an except.

Ed: ninja'd

[Tequila Sunrise]

For the most part this is core only
Just emphasizing for the benefit of all.

Anyway, you've pretty much got yourself covered. Ya can't get much more all-knowing than a basic diviner in core, though Pharoah's Fist loremaster suggestion is a good one.

[deuxhero]

what sort of familiar?



The UA Enhanced Awareness variant (in SRD, so it shouldn't be an issue (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#enhancedAwareness)) AT WORST. You don't want an EXP bomb period, Spell Focus (divination) and assorted extras for not having one is just a bonus.

Go Loremaster as soon as you can (see if you can convince the DM to let you keep sense motives as a class skill) VERY easy to qualify for (Scribe Scroll + 2 feats any wizard should have+ skill ranks any wizard should have +1 meh feat that you get back a few levels into the class, but BETTER because you may have met additional requirments in the meantime), and instant free Legend Lore/1 day is pretty decent.

Do you have your race set? Human is always amazing, Teifling is very nice if you have access to LA buy off. Deep Imaskari (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20031003b) aren't that great (your best ability is replicated for 1000 gold), but are interesting and just about the only non-planetouched non-con penalty race with a INT boost (though Dex hit hurts about as much as con, prehaps worse as enemys get more chances to hurt you in the first place with lower initiative and AC).

Some of the PRCs on this list (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=1109.msg112147#msg112147) (free stuff from excerpts and previews) can be useful if your using only core for access, rather the bookkeeping or such.

[Cyclocone]

For a Core Only build, you're looking at... Loremaster... aaaand.... yeah, that's pretty much it.

If you can access other stuff, Unseen Seer is nice for a sneaky Diviner, and Divine Oracle is practically mandatory. (Also, Tainted Scholar has sort of a diviner-y feel to it...)

Get a Beguiler (Shining South) for your familiar, its True Seeing is handy.

For feats, definitely get Uncanny Forethought (Exemplars of Evil) so you can go "Yeah, I knew this would happen. Good thing I prepared [absurdly situational spell] this morning".

[erikun]

Wizard, with all Knowledge skills, obviously

Various Diviner variants (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#divinerVariants), granting bonuses from Sense Motive as a class skill to insight bonuses to any roll

Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVariantCloistere dCleric), with all Knowledge skills and Lore

Archivist, with all Knowledge skills, bookkeeping, and a Bardic Knowledge-like ability

Loremaster (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/loremaster.htm), with Knowledge skill, wizardly spellcasting, and Lore

Divine Oracle, with various insight bonuses. Enterable by either wizard or cleric.

Knowledge Devotion (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Knowledge_Devotion) makes use of your Knowledge checks for extra to-hit and damage

[KitTheOdd]

If you can get Dungeonscape, look at Factotum. Not only can you KNOW everything - but you can do stuff with that random info also.

[ZeroNumerous]

If you can use it then the Archivist actually has a point behind his knowledge skills. If you can't use archivist, then Knowledge Devotion helps a little bit. If you can't use either, then just max ranks in every Knowledge skill except (Local) and be a Loremaster.

[Thurbane]

There's an ACF or Feat called Spontaneous Divination (?) that is almost broken good for a divination based character (heck, for anyone who can qualify really).

[erikun]

There's an ACF or Feat called Spontaneous Divination (?) that is almost broken good for a divination based character (heck, for anyone who can qualify really).
Are you thinking Insightful Divination (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Insightful_Divination) perhaps?

[Gralamin]

There's an ACF or Feat called Spontaneous Divination (?) that is almost broken good for a divination based character (heck, for anyone who can qualify really).

Alternate Class Feature for Wizard. Don't use it, it is a bad bad bad bad ability.


Are you thinking Insightful Divination (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Insightful_Divination) perhaps?

No, he means the Alternate Class Feature in Complete Champion.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Alternate Class Feature for Wizard. Don't use it, it is a bad bad bad bad ability.

Yes, it makes Abrupt Jaunt look balanced.

[Thurbane]

Ah yes, that's the one I was thinking of. It wouldn't be so horribly balanced if it was worded that you can spontaneously swap out a memorized spell for a Divination spell that you know, but from memory, it reads that you can swap it out for any Divination spell, from any class list, and you don't have to know it.

[Powerfamiliar]

I once played a gnome dragonfire adept, with draconic knowledge (feat (from dragon magic) AND the inspiration of the same name), trivial knowledge, and insight aura. It was super fun, you could make untrained knowledge checks, with a bonus of about (6 + 1 + number of draconic feats + (1 to 4 depending on level) and trivial knowledge let you re-roll. Made for a great know-it-all character.

[Ernir]

If you have Complete Scoundrel, take a look at the skill trick "Collector of Stories". +5 competence bonus on knowledge checks to identify creatures and their weaknesses, if you have ranks in the appropriate knowledge skill.

[dspeyer]

IIRC, the classes with 6+int skills and all knowledges in class are bard, cloistered cleric, and factotum. The first two get generic knowledge too, while the third has int synergy. You could probably create a wizard / prestige bard that would be great at this if you can afford the early perform(storytelling) ranks.

[Thurbane]

If you have Complete Scoundrel, take a look at the skill trick "Collector of Stories". +5 competence bonus on knowledge checks to identify creatures and their weaknesses, if you have ranks in the appropriate knowledge skill.
That would be pretty sweet for an Archivist.