Planology (Proficiency)

: Ah, um... the etheroscope says... it's going to snow. — Biologist Gorand Drummerhaven who hasn't a clue about planology.
==The Planewalker's Handbook==
This proficiency allows a basher to examine planar events and predict the future, using a device called a celestial etheroscope (see page 134). It is similar to the astrology proficiency, although its results are more general.
By observing various planar events through an etheroscope, a character can predict the tides of fortune on a plane. A blood can obtain five different types of results.
(1) 	Catastrophe. Something horrible is going to happen on the plane in question.
(2—5) 	Bad luck. All signs point to negative karma on the plane in question. Minor bad things happen in the lives of the natives, and visitors are at -1 on all die rolls until the phase passes.
(6—15) 	Status quo. Things aren't going to change drastically for a while.
(16—19)	Good fortune. The plane is blessed with positive energy. Good things happen for the natives, and nonnatives receive a + 1 bonus to all die rolls for the duration of the phase.
(20) 	Providence. Something extremely wonderful happens on the plane (for the inhabitants).
Numbers in parentheses allow the DM to determine random occurrences (roll 1d20), although most often a DM should choose an appropriate result based on his foreknowledge of upcoming adventures. Random rolls, however, may provide adventure hooks. Regardless, good or bad luck has nothing to do with alignment; some wonderful development for the yugoloths on Gehenna may mean something terrible for the forces of good everywhere else. Similarly, a person of evil alignment who visits Elysium during a phase of good fortune still receives the benefit, since providence transcends alignment. Phases of fortune can last as long as the DM wishes, but no more than a week is suggested, and sometimes they might last no more than a few minutes.
Determining the current tides of fortune on a plane requires a regular proficiency check. The check modifier has a cumulative -1 penalty for each day into the future the priest or wizard attempts to look. Failed checks at any time reveal inaccurate results, or no results at all. Failure also denies any further attempts for that time period.
Category:The Planewalker's Handbook Proficiencies