Druid Wild Shape familiarity

[Bananaphone]

I have a druid with the Aberration Wild Shape and Dragon Wild Shape feats.
I'd like to make Knowledge checks for familiarity on form, but unfortunately Aberrations fall under Knowledge(dungeoneering), and Dragons fall under Knowledge(arcana).  Both of which are cross-class skills for a Druid.

I can't take any flaws and I'm tight on feats, so I can't take the Education feat.
There is the Paragnostic Assembly affiliation which can boost my knowledge check and even make a knowledge skill a class skill (eventually), but I hate the idea of paying monthly dues to an organization.

Are there any Druid spells that I can use to boost my Knowledge checks, or Int?  Or any cheap magic items? Alternative Class Features?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

0 ranks allows only DC 10 checks, which gets you nothing.
1 rank allows trained checks
Take 20
4 Aid Anothers from the party, who only need the dc 10 check
= 29
= 10 + 19hd
... which covers everything up to level 20.

And you don't have to be the dude with the 1 rank.

[NunoM]

I'm not sure what's the Knowledge check you need, but see if this helps..

First of all, you really must invest a couple of skill points in those skills, even if they are cross-class, because if you don't, you're limited to DCs lower that 10.

That said, here goes:
"Collector of Stories" skill trick (Complete Scoundrel): +5 in Knowledge checks to identify special abilities of creatures

Items:
- TOME OF WORLDLY MEMORY (MiC, p.190) 1500GPs: 3/day, Study book for 1 minute to receive +5 competence in Knowledge check (standard action if you have 5 ranks in the skill)
- BOOK OF ALL KNOWLEDGE (Complete Champion, p. 142) 3000GPs: 1/day can give a +10 insight bonus to a Knowledge check, if studying the book for 2d4 hours. 1d4 if patron god is Boccob.

+ anything that grants you bonus to skill checks (ex.: Stone of good luck)

[Bananaphone]

Thank you both for the suggestions.   
I do plan on taking 7 ranks in both skills, so that will help. (costing me 28 skill points!  ugh.)


@ Awaken DM Golem
I did not think one was allowed to Take 20 on Knowledge checks?  I suppose I might be able to swing it with my DM if I say I'm studying aberrations and dragons from books in a great library.


@ NumoM   
Those 2 magic items seem perfect.  Cheap, so they may be easy to find/buy, and they have different bonus types.
Collector of Stories I forgot to mention I already had in mind.  Thanks though!

[sirpercival]

Can you get access to Guidance of the Avatar?

[Bananaphone]

Can you get access to Guidance of the Avatar?

If only!  That would be a handy spell.  Cleric 2 though 

[Nytemare3701]

Can you get access to Guidance of the Avatar?

If only!  That would be a handy spell.  Cleric 2 though 

You only need to make it once, so get a consumable of it?

[sirpercival]

Can you get access to Guidance of the Avatar?

If only!  That would be a handy spell.  Cleric 2 though 

You only need to make it once, so get a consumable of it?

Potions, my dawg.

[Esgath]

You can't take 20 on a knowledge check, because retries are not allowed.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

oops right , drat !!

Now I gotta find that 1st level spell here someplace ... (looks busy) ... umm ...

[kitep]

Third Eye Improvisation (MIC-141) 1000gp - +5 comp bonus in 1 skill that you are untrained in.  You are treated as being trained in this skill (so you can get over 10).  usable 1/day, so you could learn a new form every day

Crystal Mask Of Knowledge (MIC-91) 2500gp - +5 comp on 1 knowledge skill - same type of bonus and same body slot, so can't use with third eye

Tome of Worldly Memory (MIC-190) 1500gp - +5 comp bonus on a single knowledge check, 3/day - comp, so won't stack with third eye, but it doesn't take a body slot

Guidance (drd0) - +1 comp to skill check

I'm not seeing many druid spells that raise skill checks.  Any chance you have a cleric and/or a wizard in the party that will help you out?
What number do you need for a successful skill check?

[Bananaphone]

10+HD=DC for the relevant knowledge check.
Take 10 + 7 ranks + 3 INT bonus + 5 Collector of Stories skill trick = 25 DC, which is 15 HD.
Not bad.  I only need one of those magic items listed and I will hit at least 20 HD.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

[Kethrian]

The spell Primal Instinct gives you a +5 to a knowledge skill, if you have the dragonblood subtype, and that skill is treated as trained.  Double bonus for the +5 to initiative, as well.