Trade Traditions
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Spheres of Guile
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Like your character’s class or race, you choose their trade tradition at character creation. A trade tradition represents the character’s background, practice, and training at a variety of tasks. Trade traditions allow you to exchange the usual class skills of a class for a more limited and specialized set of class skills and one or two other skill talents.

As normal, if a trade tradition would grant you a talent you already have, you can instead gain a different talent from the same sphere of your choice (which must be a [utility] talent if the granted talent was one).

Using Trade Traditions: If you choose a trade tradition, you do not gain any of the class skills listed for your class (although you still get additional class skills granted by abilities, traits, feats, and other sources beyond your class’s skill list). Each trade tradition grants three automatic talents to all characters, and offers three additional talents to especially skilled characters. Most of these are trade talents from the Vocation sphere, which grant new class skills and generally also have some other minor additional benefit. For ease of reference, each trade tradition lists all the skills granted by its trade talents; see the talent descriptions for their additional effects. As described in the Vocation sphere, when you gain the same class skill multiple times from different trade talents, you either increase the class skill bonus with that skill from +3 to +4 or you replace the duplicate with a different skill. The tradition marks such redundant skills with either an asterisk (*) for an increased bonus or a superscript R (R) for a replacement class skill.

Trade Rank: The benefits of a trade tradition depend upon the character’s trade rank: competent or adroit. Each operative class lists its trade rank.

Trade Rank Trade Tradition Talents
Competent Automatic trade talents and a skill sphere from their tradition
Adroit Automatic trade talents and skill sphere plus the bonus talents listed for the tradition.

Automatic Class Skills: A character with any trade tradition gains Craft (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), and Profession (Wis) as class skills. If your game uses background skills, you also gain Artistry (Int) and Lore (Int).

Trade Tradition Restrictions

You can gain only one trade tradition, and only as a 1st-level character. If you multiclass, you gain a single trade talent instead of that class’s class skills (described in full below).

Multiclassing Trade Talent

You ignore the class skills of new classes you gain levels in. When you gain your first level in a class other than your first, you gain a single trade talent from the Vocation sphere (instead of gaining the class’s class skills).

Increasing Trade Rank

If you gain a level in a new class that has a higher number of skill ranks per level than the class you gained your trade tradition from or that had a higher trade rank than your previous classes, you gain the bonus talents from your tradition that you did not gain before. Any bonus talent you gain in this way is in addition to the single trade talent you gain from beginning any new class.

Trade Traditions for non-Guile Classes

When you take your first character level in a class which does not normally select a trade tradition, you may give up your class’s usual class skills and in exchange gain a trade tradition. The class’s usual number of skill ranks per level determines your trade rank.

Class Skill Ranks Trade Rank
4 + Int modifier or fewer Competent
5 + Int modifier or more Adroit

Creating New Trade Traditions

GMs may choose to have characters select from certain preset trade traditions or allow them to build their own to suit their characters.

A base trade tradition will typically contain 3 skill talents: two (trade) talents and a base sphere. Certain skill-oriented feats may substitute for this base sphere.

All of the bonus talents granted by a trade tradition to characters of adroit rank should be either base spheres or [utility] talents from spheres automatically granted by that trade tradition. Two of them are generally (trade) talents.

Sample Trade Traditions

Aerialist

Automatic Trade Talents: Duelist, Falconer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, ClimbR, Fly, Handle Animal*, Intimidate, Knowledge (nature), Linguistics, and Sense Motive.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Body Control sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Roughrider, Sky Pilot

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, Knowledge (geography), Ride, Survival, and Swim;
R Heal in place of redundant Climb, * increased class skill bonus to Handle Animal checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Bluster sphere or the Body Control (Breath Control) talent.

Artist

Automatic Trade Talents: Artisan, Storyteller

Trade Talent Class Skills: Diplomacy*, Disable DeviceR, Disguise, Knowledge (engineering)R, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local)*, Knowledge (nobility), and Sleight of Hand.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Artifice sphere (artwork package)

Adroit Trade Talents: Builder, Merchant

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Climb, Escape Artist, Knowledge (engineering);
R Sense Motive and Knowledge (geography) in place of redundant Disable Device and Knowledge (engineering), * increased class skill bonus to Diplomacy and Knowledge (local) checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Faction sphere or the Artifice sphere (Inspiring Composition) talent.

Buccaneer

Automatic Trade Talents: Duelist, Sailor

Trade Talent Class Skills: AcrobaticsR, Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (geography), Linguistics, Sense Motive, Survival, and Swim*.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Navigation sphere (nautical) package

Adroit Trade Talents: Cutpurse, Sea Cultist.

Trade Talent Class Skills: Escape Artist, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Knowledge (religion), Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Use Magic Device;
R Climb in place of redundant Acrobatics skill, * increased class skill bonus to Swim checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Bluster sphere or the Navigation sphere (Fleet Movement) talent.

Charming Actor

Automatic Trade Talents: Courtier, Diplomat

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy*, Knowledge (history)R, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility), Linguistics, Sense MotiveR;
R Knowledge (history) in place of redundant Sense Motive, * increased class skill bonus to Diplomacy checks.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Performance sphere (act) or (lyric) package.

Adroit Trade Talents: Entertainer, Virtuoso

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, Disguise*, Escape Artist, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth;
R Stealth in place of redundant Knowledge (history), * increased class skill bonus to Disguise checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Communication sphere or the Performance sphere (Pleasant Serenade (lyric) or A Gilded Tower (act)) talent.

Detective

Automatic Trade Talents: Burglar, Philosopher

Trade Talent Class Skills: Climb, Disable Device, Knowledge (history)R, Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (religion), Sense Motive*, Sleight of Hand, Stealth*.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Investigation sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Orator, Spy

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, and Intimidate;
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Knowledge (history), * increased class skill bonus to Sense Motive and Stealth checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Infiltration sphere or the Investigation sphere (Ascertain Activities) talent.

Keeper

Automatic Trade Talents: Farmer, Handler

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Handle AnimalR, Knowledge (nature)R/*, Ride*, and Survival*;
R Diplomacy in place of redundant Handle Animal, * increased class skill bonus to Knowledge (nature) and Ride checks.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Herbalism sphere (Rancher alternate start)

Adroit Trade Talents: Guide, Racer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Fly, Knowledge (geography), Swim;
R Sleight of Hand in place of redundant Knowledge (nature), * increased class skill bonus to Survival checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Communication sphere (Animal Whisperer alternate start) or the Herbalism sphere (Expanded Herbalist or Pleasant Fragrance (aroma)) talent.

Green Witch

Automatic Trade Talents: Apothecary, Faith Healer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, HealR/*, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (nature)R, Knowledge (religion), Use Magic Device.
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Heal.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Survivalism sphere (harvest package)

Adroit Trade Talents: Greenskeeper, Fey Friend

Trade Talent Class Skills: Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nobility), Linguistics, Spellcraft, and Survival;
R Knowledge (history) in place of redundant Knowledge (nature), * increased class skill bonus to Heal checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Herbalism sphere (herbal package) or Survivalism sphere (any one (harvest) talent).

Guild Artist

Automatic Trade Talents: Merchant, Translator

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Diplomacy, Bluff*, Knowledge (local)R, Knowledge (nobility), Sense Motive, Linguistics;
R Knowledge (engineering) in place of redundant Knowledge (local).

Automatic Skill Sphere: Faction sphere (supply) package

Adroit Trade Talents: Smuggler, Entertainer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, DisguiseR, Escape Artist, Sleight of Hand*, Stealth;
R Knowledge (geography) in place of redundant Disguise, * increased class skill bonus to Bluff and Sleight of Hand checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Performance sphere or the Faction sphere (Social Clout) talent.

Luminary

Automatic Trade Talents: Explorer, Historian

Trade Talent Class Skills: Climb, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history)R, Knowledge (religion), Linguistics, Survival, and Swim.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Study sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Dilettante, Orator

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (planes);
R Knowledge (engineering) in place of redundant Knowledge (history)

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Any Vocation sphere talent or the Study (Tangential Recollection) talent.

Magical Scholar

Automatic Trade Talents: Artificer, Occultist

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (dungeoneering), Knowledge (engineering)R, Knowledge (planes), Linguistics, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device*.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Spellhacking sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Experimenter, Philosopher

Trade Talent Class Skills: Fly, Intimidate, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (religion), and Sense Motive;
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Knowledge (engineering), * increased class skill bonus to Use Magic Device checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Study sphere or the Spellhacking sphere (Hacker’s Analysis) talent.

Mercenary

Automatic Trade Talents: Gambler, Soldier Of Fortune

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise*, Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (local)*, Sense MotiveR, and Sleight of HandR;
R Escape Artist in place of redundant Sense Motive, * increased class skill bonus to Appraise checks

Automatic Skill Sphere: Faction sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Knight, Scrounger

Trade Talent Class Skills: Handle Animal, Knowledge (nobility), Ride, Survival, Swim;
R Stealth in place of redundant Sleight of Hand, * increased class skill bonus to Knowledge (local) checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Body Control sphere or the Faction sphere (Review Intelligence) talent.

Outlander

Automatic Trade Talents: Guide, Roughrider

Trade Talent Class Skills: Climb, Handle Animal, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), RideR, Swim, Survival*;
R Swim in place of redundant Ride

Automatic Skill Sphere: Survivalism sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Aberration Hunter, Scout

Trade Talent Class Skills: Heal, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Spellcraft, Acrobatics, Knowledge (geography), and StealthR;
R either Disable Device or Fly instead of redundant Stealth; * increased class skill bonus to Survival checks

Adroit Skill Talent: Navigation sphere or the Survivalism sphere (Hunter’s Eye) talent.

Philosopher

Automatic Trade Talents: Archaeologist, False Mage

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Knowledge (arcana)R, Knowledge (history), Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft*, Use Magic DeviceR;
R Sense Motive in place of redundant Use Magic Device.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Investigation sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Mage Hunter, Occultist

Trade Talent Class Skills: Disable Device, Disguise, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Knowledge (planes), Linguistics;
R Knowledge (religion) in place of redundant Knowledge (arcana), * increased class skill bonus to Spellcraft checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Spellhacking sphere or the Investigation sphere (Discern Esoterics) talent.

Physician

Automatic Trade Talents: Doctor, Rescuer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Climb, Escape Artist, HealR/*, Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (religion)*, Spellcraft*, Swim;
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Heal skill.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Herbalism sphere (remedy package)

Adroit Trade Talents: Mystic, Servant

Trade Talent Class Skills: Handle Animal, Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (planes), Stealth;
*: increased class skill bonus Heal, Knowledge (religion), and Spellcraft checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Investigation sphere (Unorthodox Methods alternate start, choosing the Assess Physicality or Examine Damage talent), or the Herbalism sphere (any one (remedy) talent).

Schemer

Automatic Trade Talents: Con Artist, Spy

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff*, DisguiseR, Escape Artist, Knowledge (local), Linguistics, Sense Motive, Stealth;
R Diplomacy in place of redundant Disguise skill.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Subterfuge sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Esoteric Scholar, False Mage

Trade Talent Class Skills: Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, nature, planes, religion), Sleight of Hand, Use Magic Device;
*: increased class skill bonus to Bluff checks.

Adroit Skill Talent: Communication sphere or the Subterfuge sphere (Community Contacts) talent.

Scholar

Automatic Trade Talents: Anthropologist, Archaeologist

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history)R, Knowledge (local)*, Knowledge (nobility)R, Knowledge (religion)R, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device;
R Knowledge (engineering) in place of redundant Knowledge (history).

Automatic Skill Sphere: Study sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Medium, Storyteller

Trade Talent Class Skills: Diplomacy, Fly, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes);
R Knowledge (dungeoneering) and Knowledge (nature) in place of redundant Knowledge (nobility) and Knowledge (religion), * increased class skill bonus to Knowledge (history) and Knowledge (local) checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Investigation sphere or the Study sphere (Efficient Researcher) talent.

Shadow

Automatic Trade Talents: Counterfeiter, Cutpurse

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, Appraise, Bluff, Escape Artist, Linguistics, Sleight of HandR, Stealth;
R Disguise in place of redundant Sleight of Hand.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Subterfuge sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Trapper, Thug

Trade Talent Class Skills: Disable Device, Intimidate, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), Survival;
*: increased class skill bonus on Disguise and Stealth checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Infiltration sphere or the Subterfuge sphere (Clever Charlatan) talent.

Slayer Of The Arcane

Automatic Trade Talents: Mage Hunter, Monster Hunter

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Disable Device, Disguise, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana)R, Spellcraft, and Survival;
R Knowledge (local) in place of Knowledge (arcana).

Automatic Skill Sphere: Spellhacking sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Dragon Envoy, Undead Slayer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Diplomacy, Fly, Intimidate*, Knowledge (arcana)R, and Knowledge (planes)*, Knowledge (religion), Survival*;
R Sense Motive in place of Knowledge (arcana), * increased class skill bonus to Intimidate, Knowledge (planes), and Survival checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Body Control sphere or the Spellhacking sphere (Track Caster) talent.

Smithy

Automatic Trade Talents: Builder, Miner

Trade Talent Class Skills: ClimbR, Disable Device*, Escape Artist*, Knowledge (dungeoneering)R, Knowledge (engineering)R/*;
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Climb skill, * increased class skill bonus to Escape Artist and Knowledge (engineering) checks.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Artifice sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Engineer, Technician

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise and Heal;
R Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (history) in place of redundant Knowledge (dungeoneering) and Knowledge (engineering), * increased class skill bonus to Disable Device checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Survivalism sphere (dredge) package or the Artifice sphere (Favorite Tools) talent.

Socialite

Automatic Trade Talents: Courtier, Gossip

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy*, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility)R/*, Sense Motive*;
R Linguistics in place of redundant Knowledge (nobility), * increased class skill bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Communication sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Diplomat, Storyteller

Trade Talent Class Skills: Knowledge (history);
R Sleight of Hand and Intimidate in place of redundant Diplomacy, and Sense Motive skills, * increased class skill bonus to Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility), and Linguistics checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Communication sphere (Wordmonger) talent or the Subterfuge sphere.

Thief

Automatic Trade Talents: Burglar, Con Artist

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Knowledge (local), Linguistics, Sleight of Hand, Stealth.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Infiltration sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Dungeon Delver, Pirate

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, Disable DeviceR, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Use Magic Device, Appraise, Climb, Intimidate, Swim;
R Diplomacy in place of redundant Disable Device skill

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Subterfuge sphere or the Infiltration sphere (Light Touch) talent.

Tracer

Automatic Trade Talents: Athlete, Scout

Trade Talent Class Skills: AcrobaticsR, Climb, Fly, Knowledge (geography), StealthR, Survival, and Swim.
R Disable Device in place of redundant Acrobatics.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Infiltration sphere (Ghost alternate start)

Adroit Trade Talents: Escapologist, Smuggler

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, Disguise, Escape Artist, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (engineering), and Sleight of Hand.
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Stealth.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Body Control sphere or the Infiltration sphere (Frantic Escape) talent.

Wanderer

Automatic Trade Talents: Plane-walker, Sky Pilot

Trade Talent Class Skills: Acrobatics, FlyR/*, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (planes), Linguistics, Survival, and Use Magic Device; R Diplomacy in place of redundant Fly.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Navigation sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Falconer, Farmer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Appraise, Climb, Handle AnimalR, Knowledge (nature)*, Ride
R Sense Motive in place of redundant Handle Animal, * increased class skill bonus to Fly and Knowledge (nature) checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Performance sphere or the Navigation sphere (Lay Of The Land) talent.

Zealot

Automatic Trade Talents: Interlocutor, Priest

Trade Talent Class Skills: Bluff, DiplomacyR, Knowledge (planes)R, Knowledge (religion)*, Linguistics, Sense MotiveR, and Spellcraft
R Knowledge (local) in place of redundant Sense Motive.

Automatic Skill Sphere: Bluster sphere

Adroit Trade Talents: Commander, Undead Slayer

Trade Talent Class Skills: Intimidate, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility), Ride, and Survival
R Heal in place of redundant Diplomacy and Knowledge (planes) skills, * increased class skill bonus to Knowledge (religion) checks.

Adroit Bonus Skill Talent: Faction sphere (retainer) package (Knowledge (religion) as associated skill) or the Bluster sphere (Embarrassing Critique) talent.

Optional Rule: Monsters, Skill Talents, and Trade Traditions

When creating or modifying a monster which uses combat or magic talents, you may exchange any such talents the monster possesses for skill talents. A monster may exchange one talent it possesses for 2 utility talents, and may exchange an additional talent for 2 utility talents for every 3 points of CR it possesses.

Monsters may select trade traditions which replace the class skills normally given to them by their Hit Dice. As with characters, the monster’s usual number of skill ranks per Hit Die determines their trade rank.

Hit Dice Skill Ranks Trade Rank
4 + Int modifier or fewer Competent
5 + Int modifier or more Adroit

Optional Rule: Gestalt and Trade Traditions

When using the Gestalt rules from the High Magic Handbook, a character selects a trade tradition for only one of their classes, but gains an additional (trade) talent. Any new classes the character takes in place of either of their original classes grant a (trade) talent as normal.

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