DM Entry: Masterwork Tools and Skill Kits

The following material has been added to the Aryathan Jiil Campaign Setting.pdf an uploaded to the google drive.

Masterwork Tools

Masterwork Tools (Player’s Handbook page 130): This well-made item is the perfect tool for the job. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on a related skill check (if any). Some examples of this sort of item from Table 7–8 include masterwork artisan’s tools, masterwork thieves’ tools, disguise kit, climber’s kit, healer’s kit, and masterwork musical instrument. This entry covers just about anything else. Bonuses provided by multiple masterwork items used toward the same skill check do not stack, so masterwork pitons and a masterwork climber’s kit do not provide a +4 bonus if used together on a Climb check.

Here are examples of tools and kits for use with other skills, as the text above says, “just about anything else.” First I will list skill kits that have been officially published, simply for the sake of completion on this topic and for comparison with the new ones, below that.

Tools and Skill Kits	Source	Body Slot or Space	Skills	Circumstance Bonus	Uses	Price	Weight
Alchemist’s Lab	Player’s Handbook 129	5 ft square	Craft (alchemy)	+2	Unlimited	500 gp	40 lbs
Animal Trainer’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Various	Handle Animal	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	5 lbs
Artisan’s Tools, Masterwork	Player’s Handbook 129	1- and 2-handed tools	Craft (each Craft skill uses a different tool)	+2	Unlimited	55 gp	5 lbs
Book Lot	Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook 25	Book lots must be arranged into library stronghold spaces; see Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook	Knowledge (each Knowledge skill uses a different book lot)	+2	Unlimited	1,000 gp	1 book lot
Book Lot, General	Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook 25		All Knowledge skills	+1	Unlimited	3,000 gp	1 book lot
Book Lot, Comprehensive	Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook 25		Knowledge (each Knowledge skill uses a different book lot)	+4	Unlimited	5,000 gp	3 book lots
Book Lot, Master	Stronghold Builder’s Guidebook 25		Knowledge (each Knowledge skill uses a different book lot)	+6	Unlimited	20,000 gp	6 book lots
Climber’s Kit	Player’s Handbook 130	2-handed tools	Climb	+2	Unlimited	80 gp	5 lbs
Disguise Kit	Player’s Handbook 130	1-handed tools	Disguise	+2	10	50 gp	8 lbs
Forger’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Various	Forgery	+2	10	25 gp	2 lbs
Healer’s Kit	Player’s Handbook 130	1- and 2-handed tools	Heal	+2	10	50 gp	1 lbs
Jester’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Various	Perform (comedy), Perform (buffoonery), and Disguise	+2	10	10 gp	5 lbs
Listening Cone	Dungeonscape 25	1-handed tool	Listen	Special	Unlimited	8 sp	1 lbs
Magnifying Glass	Player’s Handbook 130	1-handed tool	Appraise and Search	+2	Unlimited	100 gp	0 lbs
Merchant Scale	Player’s Handbook 130	2½ ft square	Appraise	+2	Unlimited	2 gp	1 lbs
Military Saddle	Player’s Handbook 132	Body slot on mount	Ride	+2	Unlimited	20 gp	30 lbs
Musical Instrument, Masterwork	Player’s Handbook 130	2-handed tools	Perform (each Perform skill uses a different instrument)	+2	Unlimited	100 gp	3 lbs
Navigator’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Various	Knowledge (geography) at sea, Survival at sea, Profession (cartographer) to make maps	+2	Unlimited	250 gp	8 lbs
Planar Atlas	Planar Handbook 71	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	Knowledge (the planes) (each plane has its own Atlas)	+2	Unlimited	25 gp	2 lbs
Scryer’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Various	Scrying	+2	Unlimited	40 gp	2 lbs
Sextant	Stormwrack 108	2-handed tool	Knowledge (geography) to set and hold a course	+2	Unlimited	250 gp	10 lbs
Swimmer’s Kit	Arms & Equipment Guide 28	Face, Body, and Feet slots	Swim	+2	Unlimited	15 gp	5 lbs
Thieves’ Tools, Masterwork	Player’s Handbook 130	2-handed tools	Disable Device and Open Lock	+2	Unlimited	100 gp	2 lbs
True Holy/Unholy Symbol	Planar Handbook 71	Necklace body slot	Turn or Rebuke undead checks, as well as Reign Undead skill checks	+2	Unlimited	500 gp	1 lbs

New Masterwork Tools and Skill Kits	Body Slot or Space	Skills	Circumstance Bonus	Uses	Price	Weight
10-ft Pole, Masterwork	2-handed tool	Balance	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	8 lbs
Crystal Tea Set (1 person)	Tea pitcher and cup	Tea Ceremony	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	5 lbs
Dowser, Masterwork	2-handed tool	Survival to locate water	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Ear Horn, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Listen around you but not through doors or walls	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Blend Cream, Masterwork	Face body slot, lasts 8 hours	Hide	+2	10	100 gp	1 lbs
Fancy Hairpin	1-handed tool	Escape Artist against locks and manacles	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	0 lbs
Fareye Oil, Masterwork	1 vial, lasts 10 minutes	Spot	+2	10	50 gp	1 oz
Foot Pads, Masterwork	Shoe add-on	Move Silently	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Freeglide, Masterwork	Body, clothing, and armor rub lasts 8 hours	Escape Artist against grapples and other such bindings	+2	10	50 gp	1 lbs
Game Materials, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Game (each Game skill uses a different game material)	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 – 10 lbs
Hunter’s Kit	Various	Survival to locate food	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Jewelry (rings and earrings)	Face and Finger slots (does not occupy magic ring slots)	Kuji-Kiri	+2	Unlimited	50+ gp	1 lbs
Knee and Elbow Pads, Masterwork	Knees and elbows	Tumble	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	4 lbs
Law Enforcement Badge (illegal except for law enforcement)	Worn jewelry	Intimidate	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	0 lbs
Leather Bullhorn, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Truespeak	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Leather Gloves, Masterwork	Hands body slot	Use Rope	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Local City Map, Masterwork	2-handed tool	Gather Information (each city has its own map)	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Lucid Dreams Aroma Candle	Candle lasts 8 hours	Lucid Dreaming within 20 ft of candle while burning	+2	Set of 10	50 gp	1 lbs
Magician’s Kit	Various	Sleight of Hand	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	5 lbs
Manual of Common Martial Maneuvers	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	Martial Lore	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Manual of Common Psionic Powers	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	Psicraft	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Manual of Social Psychology	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	Sense Motive	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Manual of Common Spells Effects	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	Spellcraft	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Manual of Universal Item Triggers	Book, 10 minute study lasts 8 hours	All Use Magic Device checks, all Use Psionic Device checks, and Knowledge (arcana) checks to identify magic items	+2	Unlimited	200 gp	1 lbs
Meditation and Relaxation Techniques	None; must spend 2 hours training to learn techniques	Autohypnosis and Concentration	+2	Unlimited	200 gp	0 lbs
Pocket Watch, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Hypnosis	+2	Unlimited	300 gp	0 lbs
Predator Calls, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Mimic	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Professional Tool, Masterwork	Various 1- and 2-handed tools	Profession (each Profession skill uses a different tool)	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 – 10 lbs
Ranger’s Kit	Various	Survival	+2	Unlimited	200 gp	1 lbs
Saw-Bladed Knife, Masterwork	1-handed tool	Escape Artist against ropes	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Silver Necklace	Necklace body slot	Control Shape	+2	Unlimited	200 gp	0 lbs
Skytale (approximately rhymes with Italy)	1-handed tool	Decipher Script	+2	1 month	50 gp	1 lbs
Spring Soles	Shoe add-on	Jump	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Spring-Loaded Sheath	Sheath add-on	Iaijutsu Focus	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	1 lbs
Sundark Glasses	Face body slot	Bluff	+2	Unlimited	50 gp	0 lbs
The Statesman Brand Cologne	Spray on body lasts 8 hours	Diplomacy and Gather Information	+2	10	100 gp	0 lbs

10-ft Pole, Masterwork: This is a master crafted pole with special leather straps in the center of the pole for better gripping and its perfectly balanced, granting a +2 circumstance on Balance checks.

Crystal Tea Set (1 person): This is a crystal tea pitcher and tea cup for a single person. Using this tea set grants you a +2 circumstance bonus on Tea Ceremony checks for one person. Multiple sets are required to participate in larger groups for Tea Ceremony checks.

Dowser, Masterwork: This master crafted dowsing rod is perfectly balanced, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to divine locations of water.

Ear Horn, Masterwork: This master crafted ear horn allows you to hear around you with perfect clarity, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on all Listen checks except through doors or walls.

Blend Cream, Masterwork: This pale gray cream dulls the color of flesh, fur, scales, and hair. It allows those affected to perfectly blend with background and shadow, making it easier to hide. Applying masterwork blend cream is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. Masterwork blend cream provides a +2 circumstance bonus on Hide checks. The effects of masterwork blend cream last for 1 hour. Masterwork blend cream gives no ability to hide in plain sight or without sufficient cover.

Fancy Hairpin: This tool appears to be a fancy hairpin, but it is in fact the perfect tool for picking locks and manacles, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks to break out of manacles and locked bindings.

Foot Pads, Masterwork: These soft pads are added to shoes and soften the footsteps of the wearer, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Move Silently checks.

Game Materials, Masterwork: These materials vary according to the game, such as a master crafted chess set. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Games checks for the appropriate game.

Hunter’s Kit: This kit helps in hunting and gathering food, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to “get along in the wild” and provide food.

Jewelry (rings and earrings): This is not a skill kit on its own, instead as long as you are wearing at least 50 gp worth of jewelry you gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Kuji-Kiri checks.

Knee and Elbow Pads, Masterwork: This master crafted set of knee and elbow pads are perfect for tumbling and acrobatics, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Tumble checks.

Law Enforcement Badge (illegal except for law enforcement): As long as this badge is clearly displayed, it indicates that you work for law enforcement, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Intimidate checks. It is illegal to purchase or own one of these badges unless you actually work for a law enforcement group.

Leather Bullhorn, Masterwork: This cone is held to your mouth and projects your speech clearly to a wider audience, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Truespeak checks.

Leather Gloves, Masterwork: These finely crafted leather gloves are perfect for handling ropes, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Use Rope checks.

Local City Map, Masterwork: This map is of the utmost quality and accuracy, showing the latest in local establishments. Each city has its own map, so a map for one city will not help you if used in another city. This map grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Gather Information checks.

Lucid Dreams Aroma Candle: This candle burns for 8 hours, during which anyone sleeping within 20-ft of the lit candle benefits from a +2 circumstance bonus on Lucid Dreaming checks.

Magician’s Kit: This is the perfect kit for the would-be magician or “illusionist.” It grants you a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hands checks.

Manual of Common Martial Maneuvers: This finely crafted book has sketches, diagrams, and descriptions of popular martial maneuvers. After studying this book for 10 minutes, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Martial Lore checks for the next 8 hours.

Manual of Common Psionic Powers: This finely crafted book has sketches, diagrams, and descriptions of popular psionic powers. After studying this book for 10 minutes, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Psicraft  checks for the next 8 hours.

Manual of Social Psychology: This finely crafted book has sketches, diagrams, and descriptions of popular social situations and common psychology. After studying this book for 10 minutes, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Sense Motive checks for the next 8 hours.

Manual of Common Spell Effects: This finely crafted book has sketches, diagrams, and descriptions of popular spell effects. After studying this book for 10 minutes, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Spellcraft checks for the next 8 hours.

Manual of Universal Item Triggers: This finely crafted book has sketches, diagrams, and descriptions of popular magic items and their triggers. After studying this book for 10 minutes, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on all Use Magic Device and Use Psionic Device checks, as well as Knowledge (arcana) checks to identify magic items for the next 8 hours.

Meditation and Relaxation Techniques: This is not a tool or kit that you can buy, instead it is a two hour training session, after which you gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Autohypnosis and Concentration checks for 1 day. After learning the techniques the first time, you must simply perform the techniques for 10 minutes to grant the bonus for 1 day again.

Pocket Watch, Masterwork: This finely crafted pocket watch can be used in hypnosis, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Hypnosis checks, if you interact with the target for at least 1 quiet minute.

Predator Calls, Masterwork: These specialized animal and bird calls are perfect for mimicking animal sounds, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Mimic checks to imitate creature sounds of the Animal or Vermin types.

Professional Tool, Masterwork: These are the perfect tools for the job, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on a Profession check. Each Profession skill has its own particular tool, which varies according to the profession.

Ranger’s Kit: This kit is perfect for the outdoors ranger type, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks.

Saw-Bladed Knife, Masterwork: This knife is small enough to fit into the palm of the hand. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks to break out of rope bindings.

Silver Necklace: This pure sterling silver necklace holds the lycanthrope in you at bay, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Control Shape checks.

Skytale (approximately rhymes with Italy): This wooden rod is wrapped in a leather strap that holds the key to a cipher. Any skytale less than a month old grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Decipher Script checks. Since skytales are constantly changing, the age of the skytale is very important for its use, and becomes of virtually no value after only a month.

Spring Soles: This shoe add-on gives you a literal spring in your step, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Jump checks.

Spring-Loaded Sheath: This sheath add-on attaches an internal spring, which when activated launches your weapon into your grasp, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on Iaijutsu Focus checks.

Sundark Glasses: These glasses are not used for reading, instead they are used to block out the glare of the sun, and to hide your eyes from those around you. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff checks while wearing these glasses, but only in environments where such glasses would be reasonably expected, such as outdoors on a sunny day.

The Statesman Brand Cologne: This high class cologne grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks. The spray lasts 8 hours and each bottle has 10 doses.