Hiring a teacher in 3.5e?

[JavaFox]

So, after finding out that the next session will be picking up a year after the events of last time, one of my players wants to spend her amassed fortunes on an education!? Any ideas on how to handle her hiring tutors, and what pirks would be reasonable?

[InvisibleBison]

I'd say that she'd be able to get permanent competence bonuses to her skills. Borrowing from the magic item creation guidelines, she'd need to spend x^2 * 400 gp to get a +x competence bonus to 1 skill (x^2 * 100 base, * 2 for slotless, *2 for non-magical). The training would take x^2 weeks. I'd also probably put a limit of no more than +5 to any one skill, to keep this from being too attractive an option.

[JeminiZero]

Complete Scoudrel has rules for special locations that grant various benefits, for various costs, the most famous of which is the Otyugh Hole.

Just refluff these special locations to be various teachers.

Edit: and by sheer coincidence, there is also this thread:

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?400840-List-of-Feat-Granting-Items-Locations-Grafts

[JavaFox]

Thanks InvisibleBison, I think I'll go with this formula, Though I'll be limiting it to +1/2 lvl max +5 instead of the flat 5 since they're still only lvl 4 right now.

I'll look into your suggestion as well, GeminiZero. Though I think buying feats is something I want to avoid. I'm sure I have complete scoundrel lying around somewhere.

[Thurbane]

I think A&EG has rates for hiring NPC specialists.

As for benefits, if you don't want to give away something equivalent to a magic item, have a look at some association benefits from the more scholarly organizations in various books...

[Ashtagon]

d20 Cyberscape had rules for some kind of weird cybernetic enhancements that basically amounted to "you craft a magic weapon using your bones and/or assorted internal organs as the item to be enchanted".

That's basically how I'd handle this, rules-wise. She is buying an "enchanted brain" with a skill bonus. It probably shouldn't be vulnerable to AMF, but equally, the range of options should be very much limited by DM fiat and what could be considered realistic (or at least, D&D realistic). You'll also need to decide how this stacks with actual magic item slots. I'd probably go with "magic items and 'enchanted' body parts 'overlap', and you use the better bonus from each", similar to how named bonuses work generally.