The Complete Ranger's Handbook[]
By using this proficiency, a character can search a wilderness area to locate a small amount of a desired material, such as a branch suitable for carving into a bow, enough kindling to start a fire, a medicinal herb, or a component required for a spell. The character must spend 2-8 (2d4) hours searching, and the material must theoretically be available in the area being searched (for instance an icicle isn't available in the desert, nor dry kindling on the ocean floor). The DM doesn't confirm if the material sought is actually available until after the character has searched for the designated period. If the DM decides the material isn't in the area, no proficiency check is necessary; he merely reveals that the search was in vain.
If the DM decides the material is indeed available, a successful proficiency check means the character has found what he's been looking for. As a rule of thumb, the character locates no more than a handful of the desired material, though the DM may make exceptions (if searching for a few leaves of a particular herb, the character may instead find an entire field).
If the check fails, the material isn't found. The character may search a different area, requiring another 2–8 hours and a new proficiency check.
Crossover Groups: Warrior, Rogue.
The Complete Barbarian's Handbook[]
By using this proficiency, a character can search a wilderness area in an attempt to locate a desired substance, such as a medicinal herb, a wren‘s egg, or wild rose.
The character must search for 2d4 hours in an area where the material is theoretically available (rose petals aren't available in the desert, wren's eggs aren't available in the arctic). The DM decides if the material is actually available; he doesn't reveal this information until the character completes his search. If the DM decides the material isn't in the area, he reveals that the character's search was in vain; no proficiency check is needed.
If the DM decides the material is available, a successful proficiency check means the character found what he was looking for. Generally, the character locates no more than a handful of the material, though the DM may make exceptions (if searching for rose petals, the character may stumble upon an acre of rose bushes). If the check fails, the material isn't found. The character may search a different area, requiring another 2d4 hours and a new proficiency check.
Crossover Group:: General.
Shaman[]
By using this proficiency, characters can search wilderness areas in an attempt to locate a desired substance, such as edible plants, a medicinal herb, or a wren's egg.
The character must search for 2d4 hours in an area where the material is theoretically available (wren's eggs aren't available in the arctic, for example).
The DM decides if the material is actually available; if he decides the material isn't available, he reveals that the character's search was in vain; no proficiency check is needed. If the DM decides the material is available, a successful proficiency check means the character found what he was looking for. Generally, the character locates no more than a handful of the material, though the DM may make exceptions. If the check is failed, the material isn't found. The character may search a different area, requiring another 2d4 hours and a new proficiency check.
This proficiency also helps shamans to survive in wilderness environments. When paired with the Survival, proficiency the character can locate an abundance of edible or potable substances. While every character with survival has an equal chance of locating food in the wilderness, the shaman who also has foraging can locate enough food and water to sustain two people on a successful foraging check in the terrain he is knowledgeable about. (This proficiency has been expanded from its form in The Complete Barbarian's Handbook.)