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--- rules:research [2025/01/01 21:33] – ro
+++ rules:research [2025/01/02 04:49] (current) – ro
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 ====== Research ======
-Research uses the same set of rules as downtime professions, with the "cost" representing the depth of knowledge and difficulty needed to answer the question. Once a gp value equal to the cost of the research problem has been reached, the research is finished, any excess gold is lost and cannot be converted to other projects.
+A character can research topics a topic of interest by using their knowledge skills. You may initate a research project at any time as long as you are trained in at least one of the project's research skills.
-===== Research questions =====
+===== Research Checks =====
-__Find a monster__ \\
+Research checks allow you to contribute progress towards research projects. Contributions are measured in measured in rp (research progress).
-Cost: 10 gp × [monster hit dice]; skill: Knowledge (X), where X is based on monster type. If you wish to find Dragonhide to craft armor, consult the SRD entry on Dragonhide to determine how large the dragon you need to kill is.
-__Add a monster to polymorph/wildshape repertoire__ \\
+For each week of dedicated research towards a project, you may make a check using any of the project's associated reseach skills. You contribute rp equal to half your check result to the project.
-Cost: 15 gp × [monster hit dice]; skill: Knowledge (X), where X is based on monster type
-__Find rumor of a natural wonder__ \\
+Excess rp on completion of a project is lost, and cannot be converted to other projects.
-Cost: 10 gp × [AEL of map region]; skill: Knowledge (Geography)
-__Find rumor of a forgotten dungeon, ruins site, etc__ \\
+===== Research Projects =====
-Cost: 10 gp × [AEL of map region]; skill: Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) or Knowledge (Nobility)
-__Learn ritual for a weapon of legacy__ \\
+Each research project has an associated "cost", representing the depth of knowledge needed to answer the question. Once the rp cost of the research problem has been reached, the research is completed.
-Cost equal to 1/20th ritual cost; skill: Knowledge (Arcana) or Knowledge (Religion) as appropriate
-__Locate a weapon of legacy__ \\
+Multiple people can contribute to a research project at the same time in order to speed up research.
-Cost equal to 1/20th of the “nonlegacy game statistics” price; skill Knowledge (History), or other as appropriate to the item
-__Find rumor of a specific magic item__ \\
+==== Hunts ====
-Cost equal to 1/20th price of magic item, must be added to dungeon/site/wonder research of an appropriate ECL for the item, skill: same as related site research\\
-//Example//: Player wants to find a specific scroll of a level 2 spell (cost: 150gp), so the player researches a dungeon of AEL 1 (this is allowed since an AEL 1 dungeon encounter could drop a level 2 scroll as loot) with cost 1 * 15 gp = 15 gp. The total cost is 15gp + 1/20 (150gp) = 22.5 gp. The skill used may be Knowledge (History), or the DM may rule for example that Knowledge (Nature) may be used because the scroll relates to nature.
-__Recover Special Material__ \\
+Hunts are research projects dedicated to finding something specific. Completing research for a hunt will usually reward the researcher with a location on the map where they can find their mark.
-Cost equal to 1/20th the value of the material.
-The ECL of the expedition will always match the PC who is recovering the material, and will contain additional rewards at the discretion of the DM who is running the expedition. The party will usually recover more of the particular material, with the amount depending on the ECL of the expedition. The party will never recover less of the material than they set out to find, so long as they successfully complete the expedition. Note that a crafter only needs 1/3rd of the value of the finished product in raw materials to craft an item made using those materials. For example, a crafter would need 1,005 gp worth of Adamantine to craft an Adamantine Longsword, since an Adamantine Longsword is worth 3,015 gp. Also note that excess material is a trade good and would thus be sold at base price (though player characters may wish to buy it for higher than base price due to the scarcity).
+Your mark is guaranteed to be at the location, however you may or may not encounter it depending on your choices on the expedition.
-Certain actions using **Gather Information** in Barrow's Maw may also be taken:
+Rangers may add their favored enemy bonus to research checks when making contributions to any hunt involving a monster of their favored enemy type.
-__Learn information about a faction (see table):__ \\
+=== Add a creature to polymorph/wildshape repertoire ===
-Cost: 10 gp × [Obscurity]<sup>2</sup>
-__Find an expert (cumulative +2 on research checks):__ \\
+Research Skills: Use the appropriate knowledge skill for the creature type (nature for animals, arcana for magical beasts, etc) or Survival with Track feat\\
-Cost equal to one quarter the cost of the research check in question
+Cost: 15 rp × [creature hit dice]
-__Find rumors (add a one time gp sum to research progression)__ \\
+=== Find a monster ===
-¾ of gp progress made on a find rumor check may be added to research progression once per research question
+Research Skills: Use the appropriate knowledge skill for the creature type of the monster (religion for undead, arcana for dragons, etc) or Survival with Track feat\\
+Cost: 10 rp × [monster hit dice]
+//If you wish to find Dragonhide for crafting armor, consult the SRD entry on Dragonhide and determine how large the dragon you need to kill is first.//
+=== Locate a weapon of legacy ===
+Research Skills: Knowledge (History) or other as appropriate\\
+Cost: 1/20th of the “nonlegacy game statistics” price
+=== Learn ritual for a weapon of legacy ===
+Research Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) or Knowledge (Religion) as appropriate\\
+Cost: 1/20th ritual cost
+=== Recover Special Material ===
+Research Skills: Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Geography), Knowledge (History), or Knowledge (Local)
+Cost: 1/20th the value of the material.
+The ECL of the expedition will always match the PC who is recovering the material, and will contain additional rewards at the discretion of the DM who is running the expedition. The party will usually recover more of the particular material, with the amount depending on the ECL of the expedition. The party will never recover less of the material than they set out to find, so long as they successfully complete the expedition.
+Note that a crafter only needs 1/3rd of the value of the special material in the finished product to craft an item made using those materials. For example, a crafter would need 1,000 gp worth of Adamantine to craft an Adamantine Longsword, since Adamantine increases the price of a longsword by 3,000 gp. Any excess material is considered a trade good and is sold at base price.
+==== Rumors ====
+Rumors tend to be a little less reliable than hunts. When you research a rumor you may not find exactly what you were looking for, but you will always find something. \\
+Completing research on a rumor will usually reward the researcher with a location on the map relevant to the rumor they were researching.
+=== Find rumor of a natural wonder ===
+Skills: Knowledge (Geography)\\
+Cost: 10 rp × [AEL of map region];
+=== Find rumor of a forgotten dungeon, ruins site, etc ===
+Skills: Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) or Knowledge (Nobility)\\
+Cost: 10 rp × [AEL of map region]
+=== Find rumor of a specific magic item ===
+To find rumor of a specific magic item, you must research rumors of a dungeon of appropriate AEL with an additional cost equal to 1/20th the base price of the magic item.
+//Example//: Ernest the Druid wants to find a scroll of the level 2 spell Tree Shape (cost: 150gp). He researches a dungeon of AEL 1 (since an AEL 1 dungeon encounter could drop a level 2 scroll as loot), with cost 1 * 15 rp = 15 rp. With the additional cost of the scroll, the total research cost increases to 22.5rp (15rp + 150gp/20 = 22.5 rp). Ernest would normally use Knowledge (History) for this research, but a DM may allow him to use Knowledge (Nature) because the scroll relates to nature.
+===== Investigations and Other Research =====
+Investigations can offer a character infomation about a faction, location, object, or anything else they may encounter within the basin. Generally, investigations are more open-ended than other types of research projects. As such, the rewards and results may not be as tangible.
+Due to the varied nature of investigations, the research skills listed below may not be applicable to every investigation of that type. Ask a DM to help you determine which skills are applicable. To determine the cost of an investigation, have a DM help you determine the obscurity of your investigation subject using and calcuate using the formula listed below.
+Faction Research Skills: Gather Information, Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (History)\\
+//Sometimes Applicable//: Knowledge (Religion), Knowledge (Nobility)
+Location Research Skills: Gather Information, Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (Geography)\\
+//Sometimes Applicable//: Knowledge (Architechture & Engineering), Knowledge (Religion), Knowledge (Nobility)
+Object Research Skills: Gather Information, Knowledge (History)\\
+//Sometimes Applicable//: Knowledge (Religion), Knowledge (Nobility)
+Cost: 10 rp × [Obscurity]<sup>2</sup>
 ^**Obscurity** ^**Description** |
-^  1  |common knowledge, peasantfolk or local equivalents would know this|
+^  1  |//Common knowledge//. Peasantfolk or local equivalents would know this|
-^  2  |Open knowledge, not a secret but not something everyone would know about. A tavernkeep or gossipy individual may know this|
+^  2  |//Open knowledge//. Not a secret but not something everyone would know about. A tavernkeep or gossipy individual may know this|
-^  3  |Secret knowledge, things that are current but being actively repressed. Information brokers may know things like this, but people directly connected to whatever is being researched would be best.|
+^  3  |//Secret knowledge//. Things that are current but being actively repressed. Information brokers may know things like this, but people directly connected to whatever is being researched would be best.|
-^  4  |Obscure knowledge, something a well studied historian or academic expert would know.|
+^  4  |//Obscure knowledge//. Something a well studied historian or academic expert would know.|
-^  5  |Esoteric knowledge, only a truly devoted scholar specialized in a relevant field would know this.|
+^  5  |//Esoteric knowledge//. Only a truly devoted scholar specialized in a relevant field would know this.|
-^  6  |Dead/undiscovered knowledge, no one living is studying or is interested in studying this. Researchers who are working on this probably haven't made meaningful progress in their work. Any information likely comes from existing documents, old books, or ruins.|
+^  6  |//Dead/undiscovered knowledge//. No one living is studying or is interested in studying this. Researchers who are working on this probably haven't made meaningful progress in their work. Any information likely comes from existing documents, old books, or ruins.|
-^  7+  |Lost knowledge. There is likely no one alive who has even heard of what you are researching, and primary source documents are very scarce, assuming they exist at all.|
+^  7+  |//Lost knowledge//. There is likely no one alive who has even heard of what you are researching, and primary source documents are very scarce, assuming they exist at all.|
+===== Assisting Research =====
+Other skills can be used to provide various bonuses to research projects.
+If a skill usage has an associated cost, the cost can be paid by making research checks using the relevant skill.
+==== Appraise ====
+=== Thorough Appraisal ===
+Research projects involving art objects or magic items can be assisted by a trained appraiser. Make a research check using appraise and add the rp result to the project's progress. A research project can only benefit from one thorough appraisal.
+==== Decipher Script ====
+=== Research Synergy ===
+If you have at least 5 ranks in descipher script, you gain a +2 bonus to research checks involving ancient dungeons, factions, locations, or objects.
+If you have at least 10 ranks in descipher script, you gain a +4 bonus to research checks involving dead languages.
+=== Decode Documents ===
+Decoding ancient documents and breaking hidden cyphers can greatly reduce the effort required to do research. Successfully decoding documents grants everyone a cummulative +2 bonus to their research checks towards a project. Decoding documents can only be done for projects of esoteric obscurity or higher.
+Cost: ⅓ research project cost
+==== Forgery ====
+=== Authenticity Check ===
+Research projects involving documents, art objects, or magic items can be assisted by someone trained in forgery. Make a research check using forgery and add the rp result to the project's progress. A research project can only benefit from one thorough appraisal.
+==== Gather Information ====
+=== Consult an Expert ===
+Consulting an expert allows one to contribute to a research project using gather information. Make a research check using gather information and add the rp result to the project's progress. Consulting an expert can only be done once per project.
+=== Locate Resources ===
+Locating resources helps speed up further research into a project. Successfully locating resources grants a cummulative +4 bonus to one character's research checks made towards that project.
+Cost: ¼ research project cost
+=== Research Synergy ===
+If you have at least 4 ranks in gather information, you gain a +2 bonus to research checks.
+==== Search ====
+=== Library Assistant ===
+If you have at least 4 ranks in search, you give a +1 circumstance bonus to the research checks of all researchers working on a project. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 ranks beyond 4. You cannot contribute to research projects while being a library assistant.
+=== Research Synergy ===
+If you have at least 5 ranks in search, you gain a +2 bonus to research checks.
+==== Survival ====
+=== Research Synergy ===
+If you have at least 5 ranks in survival, you gain a +2 bonus to research checks involving monsters. This bonus applies even if you are using survival to make research checks.
+==== Use Magic Device* ====
+//*Use Psionic Device offers the same benefits to researching psionic items as UMD gives to researching magic items//
+=== Contraption Analysis ===
+Research projects involving magic items can be assisted by someone familiar with magic devices. Make a research check using Use Magic Device and add the rp result to the project's progress. A research project can only benefit from one contraption analysis.
+=== Research Synergy ===
+If you have at least 5 ranks in use magic device, you gain a +2 bonus to research checks involving magic items.