[RPG] the effect of the Circlet of Persuasion

magic-itemspathfinder-1eskills

I am unsure of how the Circlet of Persuasion is supposed to work, specifically what checks it applies to.

It says:

This delicately engraved silver headband grants its wearer a +3 competence bonus on Charisma-based checks.

Does this apply to Charisma based skill checks or just Charisma ability checks, just like breaking something is a Strength check?

Best Answer

Rolls basically come in three flavors: “rolls” (e.g. attack, damage), “checks” (e.g. ability score checks, skill checks), and “throws” (i.e. saving throws). A circlet of persuasion only applies to the “checks,” and not to “rolls” or “throws.” And it certainly does not apply to anything based on Charisma that doesn’t involve rolling a die, like for example a sorcerer’s bonus spells or save DCs. Basically, you need to see the word “check” somewhere if you want it to apply.

But it does apply to all checks involving Charisma, rather than only ability score checks. The wording for that would be a “bonus to Charisma checks” rather than a “bonus to Charisma-based checks.” So yes, it does apply to skills and some other things.

Major examples:

  • Ability score checks, e.g. the Charisma check made during planar binding

  • Skill checks, e.g. Perform or Use Magic Device

  • Concentration checks, e.g. for a sorcerer

Major examples that are not checks:

  • Non-dice-based things, like bonus spells for a sorcerer or AC for an oracle with the nature’s whisper revelation

  • Attack rolls, e.g. with smite

    • Note that performing a combat maneuver involves rolling “an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus,” so it also does not count.

    • Completely tangential, but while we’re here: Whether or not a situation like smite, where you add both Strength and Charisma, would count as a “Charisma-based roll” is very unclear. There are very few situations where this comes up, but if it ever does I would almost-certainly count it, myself. As far as circlet of persuasion is concerned, the question is moot because whether it’s “Charisma-based” or not, it certainly isn’t a “check.”

  • Damage rolls, e.g. with Desna’s Divine Fighting Technique and a starknife

  • Saving throws, e.g. with divine grace

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