Author Topic: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?  (Read 24558 times)

Offline Eviltedzies

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I am currently trying to find any spell that either duplicates/mimics feats and or spells that give bonuses to skills.
The criteria I am looking for in the spells is preferably flexibility and, in the case of skill points, spells that give bonuses to any skill.

Examples of spells I'm looking for include:

Psionic powers marked with an *

Spells/Powers that duplicate multiple feats:
Alter Self (Racial Feats)
Heroics (Extra Fighter Feat)
Mirror Move (Mimics a recently witnessed combat feat)
Polymorph Chain (Racial Feats)

Spells/Powers that duplicate specific feats:
Arrowstorm (Ranged Whirlwind Attack)
Beastland Ferocity (Diehard)
Bladestorm (Whirlwind Attack)
Blood Frenzy (Extra Rage)
Lion's Charge (Catfolk Pounce without the suck)

Spells/Powers that give bonuses to any skill:
Crown of Glory (+4 morale bonus on all skill checks)
Divine Insight (+5 - +15 insight bonus to one skill check)
Dream Casting: Rage (+2 morale bonus to any skill used in attacking the casting?)
Focusing Chant (+1 circumstance bonus to all skill checks)
Greater Heroism (+4 morale bonus to all skills)
Greater Skill Knowledge* (+10 competence bonus to a single skill check)
Good Hope (+2 morale bonus to all skill checks)
Guidance (+1 competence bonus to all skill checks)
Guidance of the Avatar (+20 competence bonus to a single skill.)
Heroism (+2 morale bonus to all skills)
Improvisation (+2 luck bonus/level to selected checks or attack.)
Major Action* (Allows you to take 20 on a single skill check)
Minor Action* (Allows you to take 10 on a single skill check)
Moment of Prescience (+1 to +25 insight bonus to attack, skill, opposed check, or AC vs single attack)
Prayer (+1 luck bonus on all skill checks)
Skill Knowledge* (+5 competence bonus to a single skill check)

Spells/Powers that give bonuses to individual and or some skills:
Alter Self (Racial and size bonuses to skills)
Appraising Touch (+10 insight bonus to Appraise)
Balancing Lorecall (+4 insight bonus to Balance)
Bears Endurance (+2 enhancement bonus to Constitution based skills)
Bulls Strength (+2 enhancement bonus to Strength based skills)
Cats Grace (+2 enhancement bonus to Dexterity based skills)
Eagles Splendor (+2 enhancement bonus to Charisma based skills)
Find Traps (Insight bonus to search and find traps like a rogue)
Find Traps* (2 or higher bonus to Search checks and can locate traps untrained)
Foxes Cunning (+2 enhancement bonus to Intelligence based skills)
Glibness (+30 unnamed bonus to Bluff for purpose of lying)
Gutsnake (Can use Balance and Climb skill of giant constrictor)
Invisibility (+20 to Hide checks)
Jump (+10 to jump checks)
Microkinesis* (Replaces need for tools for Open Lock and Disable Device. Also give minor untyped bonus to said skills for boosting the power.)
Polymorph spell chain (Racial and size bonus to skills)
Owls Wisdom (+2 enhancement bonus to Wisdom based skills)
Sirine's Grace (+8 unnamed bonus to Perform; also gives +4 Cha and Dex)
Snipers Eye (+10 competence bonus to Spot)
Spiritual Advisor (+4 divine bonus on Knowledge checks; may make checks untrained)
Surge of Fortune (+2 luck bonus to attack and damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks,  ability checks, AC, spell penatration checks AND take an automatic 20 once during duration.)
Voice of the Dragon (+10 bonus to Diplomacy)

Spells/Powers that negate the need for a skill completely:
Fly (Jump checks)
Freedom of Movement (Escape Artist checks or opposed grapple check)
Iron Silence (Removed Hide/Move Silently penalty from armor)
Knock (Open Lock)
Silence (Move Silently checks)
Tongues (Speak langauge skill)
True Seeing (Eliminates need for certain Spot and Sense Motive checks)


Special Comments:
*Using Alter Self or Polymorph to become a Midguard Dwarf grants Forge Ring, Craft Magic Arms & Armor, and Craft Wondrous Item as bonus Feats.

If you know of any other's please let me know. I want to see how cheap a character can afford to be when choosing feats and or skills.  :D

Edit Log:
5/6 - Added Moment of Prescience, Invisibility, Silence, Jump, Fly, Alter Self, Polymorph, Heroism, Greater Heroism, Voice of the Dragon, Surge of Fortune, Spritual Advisor, Tongues, Freedom of Movement, True Seeing, Greater Skill Knowledge, Skill Knowledge, Major Action, Minor Action, Find Trap Psionic, Microkinesis, Knock, Find Traps, Glibness, Good Hope, Guidance, Prayer, Appraising Touch, Balancing Lorecall, Crown of Glory, Dream Casting (Rage), Focusing Chant, Gutsnake, Iron Silence, Snipers Eye, and Sirines Grace
~Alphabetized entries.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 11:36:13 PM by Eviltedzies »

Offline sirpercival

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2012, 07:38:42 AM »
Moment of Prescience (at high level)
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(member in good standing of the troll-feeders guild)

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Offline PipTheBlue

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2012, 08:39:56 AM »
Two obvious ones I can think of without any books at hand:

Invisbility (+20 to hide)
Silence (+∞ to move silently)

Offline Eviltedzies

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2012, 01:21:16 PM »
Thanks for the good additions. Common I know there are more out there.

Offline PipTheBlue

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2012, 01:29:36 PM »
Okay, two more:

Jump (+10 to jump checks)
Fly (makes jump checks unneeded)

All spells that enhance speed also grant you a bonus on jump

Offline Eviltedzies

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2012, 01:47:43 PM »
Thanks. Obviously many spells give bonuses to specific skills. While those are still very useful, keep an eye out for spells that grant bonuses to any skill you choose upon casting. Also don't forget different types of bonuses like sacred, profane, ect.....

Offline kitep

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2012, 01:54:59 PM »
Alter self - get racial feats and skill bonuses.

This probably applies along the whole polymorph chain.

I believe the Midguard Dwarf in particular deserves mention since they get racial feats of crafting several kinds of magic items.  I imagine the Alter self handbook would list a lot more racial feats and skills.

Offline Eviltedzies

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2012, 02:06:28 PM »
Alter Self and Polymorph added.

I like the Midguard Dwarf idea, but I'm trying to stick to spells. If we put races into the mix things could go crazy very quickly.
Still, free crafting feats AND qualifying for making said items all for a +4 LA isn't bad.

Offline Mooncrow

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2012, 02:29:36 PM »
I think the midgard dwarf is a good example of planer binding/polymorph(?) netting you crafting feats, rather than actually rolling as that race. 

Offline darqueseid

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2012, 03:37:07 PM »
heroism +2 to all skills, greater heroism, +4 to all skills (morale)
The stat bonus spells (eagles splendor , etc) give +2 bonuses indirectly to skills
Voice of the dragon (spc) gives a +10 bonus to diplomacy..

is that what your looking for?


Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2012, 04:21:13 PM »
Surge of Fortune (Complete Champion)
Gain a +2 luck bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks, AC, and spell penetration checks; take an automatic natural 20 on one of these rolls.

Spiritual Advisor (also Complete Champion)
Gain a +4 divine bonus on Knowledge checks; make checks with an untrained Knowledge skill or retry a failed Knowledge check.

Tongues
User can speak and understand any language.  Obviates the need for any ranks in Speak Language.

Freedom of Movement
User automatically succeeds on Escape Artist checks to escape a grapple or pin.

True Seeing
Obviates the need for certain Spot or Sense Motive checks
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 04:30:29 PM by Jackinthegreen »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2012, 05:03:53 PM »
Alter Self (and the rest of the Polymorph chain) also give you the racial bonus feats, not just skill bonuses.
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Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2012, 05:35:21 PM »
Open Minded feat ... gives 5 ranks to spend as normal.


Getting psi over to arcane or divine, takes some work and cooperation.

3.0e psi that wasn't updated (or nerfed)
(click to show/hide)


3.5e Mind's Eye stuff
(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 05:36:57 PM by awaken_D_M_golem »
Your codpiece is a mimic.

Offline kitep

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2012, 05:49:31 PM »
Quote
Alter Self and Polymorph added.

I like the Midguard Dwarf idea, but I'm trying to stick to spells. If we put races into the mix things could go crazy very quickly.
Still, free crafting feats AND qualifying for making said items all for a +4 LA isn't bad.

I probably wasn't clear.  Use the spell Alter Self to become a Midgard Dwarf.  Then you get the crafting feats for free, as a result of a spell.

Of course, the spell may not last long enough for you to actually craft things, but that's a different problem....

Offline Eviltedzies

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2012, 08:14:12 PM »
Added a lot of spells and a few psionic powers. Great stuff. I also tried to format things to look a bit nicer.

Offline kitep

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2012, 09:41:46 PM »
Knock negates the need for the open lock skill

« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 09:49:34 PM by kitep »

Offline kitep

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2012, 09:52:19 PM »
Find traps - can Search for traps like a rogue can.  Insight bonus of 1/2 your level for using Search to find traps (but not for other uses of Search)

Glibness - +30 Bluff (unnamed bonus) to convince others of the truth of your words (but not for other uses of Bluff)

Good Hope - +2 morale on all skill checks
Guidance - +1 competance on all skill checks
Heroism, Greater - +4 morale bonus on all skill checks (regular Heroism gives +2)
Prayer - +1 luck bonus on all skill checks
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 09:58:14 PM by kitep »

Offline kitep

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2012, 10:18:50 PM »
Appraising Touch - +10 insight to Appraise
Balancing Lorecall - +4 insight to Balance
Crown of Glory - +4 morale on all skills
Divine Insight - insight bonus of 5 + caster level (max bonus +15) to any skill
Dream Casting (rage) - +2 morale to any skill used in attacking the casting
Focusing Chant - +1 circumstance to all skills
Gutsnake - can use Balance and Climb skill of a giant constricter snake instead of your own
Improvisation - 1/2 caster level luck bonus to any skill
Iron Silence - removes armor check penalty for hide and move silently to armor(s) touched
Sniper's Eye - +10 competance to Spot
Sirine's Grace - +8 to Perform (unnamed); also gives +4 enhancement to Cha and Dex.


Offline Eviltedzies

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2012, 11:38:51 PM »
I'm loving this, thanks a lot. I'm hoping that by organizing these spells I, and hopefully other players will have an easy resource to go to when they just cant bring themselves to spend a feat or skill points on something they might otherwise be able to achieve via magic.

You keep them coming and I'll mark them down.

Offline Kasz

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Re: Spells that save you from taking feats or investing skill points?
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2012, 04:42:17 AM »
I know it's not a "Spell" but if flexibility between skills is what you want...

Factotum 1 - Cunning Knowledge (Ex): unnamed bonus equal to your factotum level to a skill in which you have at least one rank once per day.

unnamed but only as good as your factotum levels.