[RPG] Are there any Handbooks for the “Expert” NPC Class

classdnd-3.5enpconline-resourcesoptimization

Question is in the title: Are there any Handbooks for the "Expert" NPC Class?

I'm only looking at the Core NPC class, not any homemade or other "Experts" floating around.

I have checked all the usual places and the closest I've found is a "Commoner's Handbook"

A big part of Experts is that they're skill monkeys (as answers have pointed out), but a true handbook would have more than just skills. It'd have suggestions for race, feats, armor, magic items and more. Hopefully some type of handbook exists that covers these options as well & may even differentiate between which options are better for each focus (crafter vs knowledge keeper vs general skills).

Best Answer

For the Expert class itself? I have not seen such a thing.

However, you could look for handbooks for individual skills. Unrestricted skill selection is the only noteworthy feature the class has, and these can be optimized more or less individually.

Some noteworthy skills and fewer handbooks:

  • Handle Animal (handbook)
  • Use Magic Device (handbook)
  • Iaijutsu Focus (handbook)
  • And then there is Lucid Dreaming from Manual of the Planes. I could not find a handbook, but its uses are... interesting.

Also note that the skill access is similar to that of the Factotum (from Dungeonscape). The skill section of any Factotum Handbook should be useful.