Gather Information for a Wizard

[Story]

Are there any easy ways to boost Gather Information for a 4th level Wizard without investing much resources into it? The problem is that I'm having trouble finding other Wizards to buy spells from or try to track down magical locations.

I already have Knowledge (Local) 5, but I don't want to spend cross class ranks if I can help it. I'm currently looking into getting a Masterwork Tool. Share Talents and Eagle's Splendor unfortunately don't last long enough to make a Gather Information check. And of course I'm not high enough level to afford a Circlet of Persuasion, especially after all the other more important items I still need.

P.S. Guidance of the Avatar also don't last long enough, and I'm reluctant to use it anyway, as I suspect that doing so will cause all the NPCs to start using it too.

[thethird]

Human paragon is pretty good (if you are human) even if you loose one caster level. Also check this (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=6832.0)

[Ranting Fool]

The "Third eye gather" from Magic Item Compendium gives a +10 bonus but costs 10,000 (very costly at your level)

You could always hire a specialist NPC to try and track down spellcasters for you (Private Eye type) which would be vastly cheaper :smallbiggrin:

[JeminiZero]

Friendly Face (Races of Destiny 166) gives +5 circumstance bonus for 10min/level. Its level 1, so you can also extend it for 80 minutes. If you devote most of your slots for the day to this spell, it should likely be enough to last the 5 hours maximum required for gather info.

[Story]

Ooh, I didn't think of preparing a spell multiple times. That should also work with Share Talents.

[aeauseth]

No wizard guild? Must be a smaller village. DM might make wizard equipment hard to find in small villages, thus the difficulty. Travel to a large city and join a wizard guild.

I have had good luck with chain of eyes (SC). I've also had good luck hiring an NPC or rogue guild for specific info.

[Oscredwin]

Ask a party mate for help?

[Kelb_Panthera]

Set something on fire in a fit of pique then wait for a local caster to show up to help and ask him where the mage's guild-hall is?

Unless you're in an area where there are no magical organizations represented or those magical organizations are secretive finding a guild-hall, mage's tower, church of a god of magic, etc shouldn't be more than a DC 5. You're just asking directions not trying to ferret out a black-market contact.

[Story]

As it turns out, there were no mage guilds in the city that I could find (Gather Information 12). Also the masterwork tool got rejected, but I have been using Friendly Face.

What I'm really puzzled about is how I managed to learn nothing about the Frog God's Fane despite a Knowledge (Religion) check of 31. I know DMs can change the DCs, but that's a little much. The only thing I can think of is that it simply doesn't exist in this world.

[Kelb_Panthera]

As it turns out, there were no mage guilds in the city that I could find (Gather Information 12). Also the masterwork tool got rejected, but I have been using Friendly Face.That's mildly disturbing. Is it a theocracy or otherwise run by those who feel threatened by magi? If not then this does not bode well for wizardly PC's.


What I'm really puzzled about is how I managed to learn nothing about the Frog God's Fane despite a Knowledge (Religion) check of 31. I know DMs can change the DCs, but that's a little much. The only thing I can think of is that it simply doesn't exist in this world.

This is a bit less worrisome. Some DM's probably feel that being able to buy a feat is over-powered. I'm not agreeing with that but I can at least understand it.

[ericgrau]

You need advanced skill to discover basic knowledge that is many people know and has no negative consequence when others discover you are snooping around?

If you can't get an ally to do it then hire somebody. Or go to the innkeeper or a bartender and ask "are there any wizards in this town?" Not "help me find some wizards" or anything less direct but "are there any wizards" and "where are they?" Then if he doesn't know say "you really don't know any? Not even a famous and powerful one?" Then if you find one go to him and ask about the others.

Well, actually, know when to stop and be more polite about it. I think what this really is, is a need for ranks in knowledge (the DM). If most of your power suddenly depends on gather information and you can't get him to budge, then you can get a +3 or a +5 from 1 or 2 feats and taking those feats may now be worth it.

Alternatively pick up locate object. Locate the nearest spellbook. Strike a deal with its owner. Move to a different section of town and repeat each day.