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each skill point. If you buy other classes’ skills (cross-class skills), you get a half rank per skill point. The
class and cross-class skills available to each character class are listed in the table after this section. Your
maximum rank in a class skill is your level plus 3. Your maximum rank in a cross-class skill is half of this
number (do not round up or down).
Using Skills
Some skills in Icewind Dale II are active all of the time, other skills require you to activate them for a specific
situation, and still others will come up for use in dialog. For skills that need to be activated, you will need to
press your character’s Special Abilities icon to get to them. Once pressed, all of your characters skills, feats,
class, racial and special abilities will be available to choose. See the section on game Interfaces for more
detail on page 9.
Skill Descriptions
Alchemy (Int; Trained Only)
Alchemists combine strange ingredients in secret ways to make marvelous substances. Your character’s ability
in Alchemy allows them to identify strange potions. Rogue characters also find the Alchemy skill helpful since
it allows them to learn the Envenom Weapon Feat.
Animal Empathy (Cha; Trained Only; Druid, Ranger Only)
Use this skill to keep a guard dog from barking at you, to get a wild bird to land on your outstretched hand,
or to keep an owlbear calm while you back off.
Bluff (Cha)
You can make the outrageous or the untrue seem plausible. The skill encompasses acting, conning, fast-talk-
ing, misdirection, prevarication, and misleading body language. Use a bluff to sow temporary confusion, get
someone to turn his head to look where you point, or simply look innocuous.
Concentration (Con)
You are particularly good at focusing your mind. Those with high Concentration skill can cast spells despite
distractions such as taking damage, getting hit by unfriendly spells, and so on.
Diplomacy (Cha)
Use this skill to persuade the enemy to let you see the head guy, to negotiate peace between two feuding par-
ties, or convince the evil goblins that captured you that they should ransom you back to your friends instead of
killing you. Diplomacy includes etiquette, social grace, tact, subtlety, and a way with words. A skilled character
knows the formal and informal rules of conduct, social expectations, proper forms of address, and so on.
Disable Device (Int; Trained Only)
Use this skill to disarm a trap, jam a lock, or rig a wagon wheel to fall off. You can examine a fairly simple or
fairly small mechanical device and disable it. Each trap will have a Difficulty Class (DC) that your rogue will
need to overcome. The DCs of traps steadily increase as you make your way through Icewind Dale II.
Hide (Dex; Armor Check Penalty)
Use this skill to sink back into the shadows and proceed unseen, to approach a wizard’s tower under cover of
brush, or to tail someone through a busy street without being noticed.
Intimidate (Cha)
Use this skill to get a bully to back down or to make a character give you the information you want.
Intimidation includes verbal threats and body language.
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