Appraise

Use this skill to tell a fancy show sword from an elf heirloom, high-quality jewelry from costume junk, and a fine work of art from a common one.

APPRAISE (INT)

By taking 1 minute you can appraise the value of an object, predict what a performer might expect to receive as compensation, and even estimate the quality of craftsmanship before work is complete. You can try to appraise quickly in just 1 round, increasing the DC by 5. To evaluate a work, such as an entire poem, you must take whatever time is required to read or otherwise observe that work—this can’t be done quickly.

Failure on a normal Appraise check for common items or works means a misjudgment of 2d6+3 × 10% of actual value. Failure for more valuable items or when using Appraise quickly means you can’t estimate the item’s value.

You can’t try a normal Appraise check again on the same object, regardless of success. If you tried to appraise an item quickly and failed, you can then try to appraise that item normally, but you can’t try to appraise the item quickly again. You can try to appraise an item normally whether or not you
successfully appraise that item quickly.

The skill modifiers mentioned in the text following the table assume the skill’s user was taking 10 on the relevant skill check.

Task DC
Tell which race made an item 10
Appraise common item or work 12
Appraise good item or work 15
Appraise rare item or work 20
Appraise exotic item or work 25
Appraise unique item or work 30
Conditions DC Modifier
Appraise in 1 round +5

Common Items and Works

Items in this category include trade goods, spices, foodstuffs, raw materials, mundane items, livestock, and so on. Items and works of this sort are usually made or performed by those who have a relevant skill modifier lower than +5.

Good Items and Works

Items in this category include good cloth, rare spices, folk art, and valuable materials such as pure gold bars. Items and works of this sort are usually made or performed by those who have a relevant skill modifier of +5 to +9.

Rare Items and Works

Items in this category include fine clothing, raw ore of precious metals, gems, and fine artwork. Items and works of this sort are usually made or performed by those who have a relevant skill modifier of +10 to +14.

Exotic Items and Works

Items in this category include unusual gems (strange colorings, unusual to the region, unusually large or pure), spell components, jewelry, jewels, exotic fine art, and obscure religious items. Items and works of this sort are usually made or performed by those who have a relevant skill modifier of +15 to +19.

Unique Items and Works

Items in this category include masterpiece artwork, extremely rare jewels, and lavish and complex religious items or jewelry. Items and works of this sort are usually made or performed by those who have a relevant skill modifier of +20 or higher.