Item Identification
Magic equipment on this pre-AOS shard drops unidentified: a magic sword from a monster's loot just reads "Unidentified longsword" until someone appraises it. Item Identification is the skill that reveals what you actually found.
How It Works
Use the skill and target an item (up to 8 tiles, ~1 second between uses). On a successful check the item is permanently identified and shows its real magic tiers — for example "an accurate longsword of might" — covering:
- Weapons (including wands): accuracy, damage and durability levels, e.g. Vanquishing, Power, Force
- Armor and shields: protection and durability levels, e.g. Invulnerability, Fortification
- Musical instruments: their skill-bonus enchantment
- The Grimoire
On a failure you are "not certain" — just try again. Targeting anything non-magical simply shows its normal name, so failed attempts cost nothing but time.
An unidentified item still works, but its magic bonuses are hidden and it is worth far less in trade — serious loot hunters keep a mule or friend with this skill.
Skill Cap and Training
Item Identification caps at 100.0 (no skill scroll exists for it). Training is trivial: repeatedly use the skill on any items — unidentified magic loot gives the checks, and a bag of saved unidentified drops trains you while producing appraised gear to sell. Gains run 0–100 from plain use.
Related
- Dungeon Chests and Treasure Maps — sources of unidentified magic items
- Weapons — what the magic tiers mean in numbers