What would I have for a listen bonus? And what would you equip me with?

[eyebreaker7]

https://village.photos/images/user/c305cbbe-e053-4c83-8f55-e8d66ccfa88f/resized_8b55e576-e723-4e75-95b3-1a59a9c34ab4.png

Lets go with a female goblin wizard level 5. What would you give me for spells, feats and equipment?
She was an apprentice to another goblin wizard that was powerful enough to summon a demon but not powerful enough to contain it. He was only 5th level as well and cast Planar Binding, Lesser. The demon killed him and set about destroying the rest of the village and now roams the lands wrecking stuff, It's a fairly weak spell so it's a fairly weak demon to go after and kill.
So, make her and also gimme an idea what kind of bonus she should have to listen because of her ears.

Not sure how she wasn't killed by the demon. Maybe she let it loose in exchange for some blood or something that would make her more powerful?

[Xeni]

gimme an idea what kind of bonus she should have to listen because of her ears.

take skill focus listen and quick reconnoiter lol

[daremetoidareyo]

I gotchu fam

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?522931

[eyebreaker7]

take skill focus listen and quick reconnoiter lol

What is quick reconnoiter? Is it a serious feat or is that what the lol is for? Whatever she gets for a hearing bonus is going to be free that's why I figured a listen skill bonus. Figured a feat might be to much?

[Maat Mons]

I once took Quick Reconnoiter in a game where the DM refused to give me passive/reactive listen checks. But normally, no, it's not something you'd take. Nor is Skill Focus. I'm pretty sure he was joking.



You could go with the usual power options:

Trade familiar for abrupt juant. Requires being a conjurer, but conjuration is a good school, and it fits with her backstory.

Trade your 5th-level bonus feat for domain granted power. Select the pride domain, so you reroll 1s on saves.

Trade your 1st-level bonus feat for Improved Initiative, using the Fighter-feat variant in Unearthed Arcana. This might not be compatible with the domain granted power ACF. Check with your DM.



If you want to lean into the summoning angle, the Unearthed Arcana variant summoner lets you trade your familiar for a reduction in casting time for your summoning spells.

You can also trade the extra spells you'd normally from specializing to gain the ability to spontaneously cast Summon Monster spells. I'm not sure how this interacts with focused specialist.



I can't think of anything worth investing in on the Listen front. The cheapest Listen-boosting item I know of in 9,000 gp. And that's all your wealth as a 5th-level character.

[daremetoidareyo]

Bonus
Drill, Dungeonscape p.30: As a standard action, you can use the drill to create a hole in an object if the drill can ignore the object’s hardness. The hole is 1 inch deep and 1 inch in diameter. Any Search checks or Spot checks through the hole are made at a –5 penalty. Listen checks through the hole are made at a –2 penalty. There are three types of drills. A wood drill ignores up to 5 points of hardness when drilling. An iron drill, commonly used on metal or stone, ignores up to 10 points of hardness. An adamantine drill, used on only the most difficult surfaces, ignores up to 20 points of hardness. A drill that does not ignore enough hardness of an object cannot bore a hole in that object. Standard drills become dull after 20 rounds of use; masterwork drills last for 100 rounds. New bits can be purchased for 10% of the cost of the drill.
Thieving Helmet, A&EG p.26: This specially designed helmet has metal funnels around the ears, which grant a +1 circumstance bonus on Listen checks.
Listening Cone, A&EG p.36 & Complete adv p.123:This device is made for listening through doors and other solid surfaces. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Listen checks made through a door or other relatively thin, solid obstacle.
Listening Cone, Dungeonscape. p.32: Listening Cone: This iron cone can be placed against a surface, such as a door, to aid in Listen checks made through the surface. The DC for listening through a door when using a cone increases by 2 (rather than 5), and the DC for listening through stone walls increases by 5 (rather than 15). Listening cones have no effect if not used against a surface.
Keenear Powder, Complete adv p.118: +1 alchemical bonus on Listen checks for 1 minute. One dose of keenear powder is enough to affect the hearing of a creature of any size, but the creature must have ears to gain any benefit from the powder. Applying keenear powder is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

[eyebreaker7]

I'm meaning a bonus she would get for having big ears. lol.

[Khedrac]

I'm meaning a bonus she would get for having big ears. lol.

There's no reason why she should get a bonus for big ears. Some of the creatures with the best hearing in real life have no external ears (e.g. owls, though they may have feather tufts there,, and ceteceans). On the other hand some creatures havedeveloped complex ears for improving hearing (e.g. bats).
If you want the character to be good at hearing with their big ears put skill points into listen.

[ShurikVch]

I'm meaning a bonus she would get for having big ears. lol.
Well, Blindsight, 5-foot Radius (Sword and Fist) is a staple for "bat ears"
Same thing for the Hear The Unseen (Complete Adventurer)
Also, to be overly literal, - Keen-Eared Scout (Player's Handbook II) :smallwink:
Superior Hearing [racial] (Dragon #324) gives +1 on Listen and all music-related Perform checks
Passive Reconnoiter (Dragon #346) allow to get +3 circumstance on Listen and Spot checks if you will concentrate for a full round