Forgery (Proficiency)

==Player's Handbook==
This proficiency enables the character to create duplicates of documents and handwriting and to detect such forgeries created by others. To forge a document (military orders, local decrees, etc.) where the handwriting is not specific to a person, the character needs only to have seen a similar document before. To forge a name, an autograph of that person is needed, and a proficiency check with a -2 penalty must be successfully rolled. To forge a longer document written in the hand of some particular person, a large sample of his handwriting is needed, with a -3 penalty to the check.
It is important to note that the forger always thinks he has been successful; the DM rolls the character's proficiency check in secret and the forger does not learn of a failure until it is too late.
If the check succeeds, the work will pass examination by all except those intimately familiar with that handwriting or by those with the forgery proficiency who examine the document carefully. If the check is failed, the forgery is detectable to anyone familiar with the type of document or handwriting—if he examines the document closely. If the die roll is a 20, the forgery is immediately detectable to anyone who normally handles such documents without close examination. The forger will not realize this until too late.
Furthermore, those with forgery proficiency may examine a document to learn if it is a forgery. On a successful proficiency roll, the authenticity of any document can be ascertained. If the die roll is failed but a 20 is not rolled, the answer is unknown. If a 20 is rolled, the character reaches the incorrect conclusion.
==Player's Option: Skills & Powers==
This proficiency indicates a skill at creating false documents, mimicking the handwriting of others, and detecting forgeries. No check is required if the character is simply trying to duplicate a style of writing—the issuing of an anonymous military decree, for example. Characters trying to duplicate the signatures of specific individuals must see those signatures; the DM rolls the proficiency checks secretly to see if the forgeries are successful. If a character writes a longer message in a specific hand, the DM rolls the check with a –2 modifier. The DM should also roll the check if a character seeks to determine if another document is a forgery. On a 20, the character makes the wrong assumption, whereas a failure with less than 20 means that the character is not sure of the truth or falsehood of the sample.
Category:Player's Handbook Proficiencies