Knowledge Skills

Glim · Post by **Glim** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:40 pm

Hello,

If I remember correctly, the different knowledge skills were brought in for prestige classes. Since there are not going to be prestige classes anymore, is there any point to these skills anymore?

Would like to start a discussion on these skills and any other possible ways to use them.

Feedback is always welcome,

Larethiel · Post by **Larethiel** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:13 pm

I can only comment about knowledge geography, because it's my favorite knowledge-skill so far

It's been put into use in some places very nicely.

PCs can, for example, look at something in a room like a tree or bush and depending on how good their knowledge geography is, they will see another description, like "Your geographical knowledge enables you to realize that these kind of bushes grow there and there in Faerun, but are rare there and there. Their fruits are edible" or something less or more exact.

Alvirin · Post by **Alvirin** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:27 pm

Knowledge Arcana and Religion could be used to offer specific quests to the characters, if your skill level is above X the mob would offer the quest to the character.

Also in D&D there is something called skill synergy, if your knowledge skill is above a fixed value you get a small bonus to a skill related to the knowledge.

For example if your knowledge Arcana is above X, you get a small bonus to spellcraft, and if your knowledge religion is above X, you get a small bonus to turn undead.

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:47 pm

Couldn't synergy also enable to work towards a group leaders skill like everyone in the gruop has X in this knowledge skill and so it modifies the leader's by X depending on the parties so in a way they combine their knowledge to figure things out?

Alvirin · Post by **Alvirin** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:13 pm

Nope.

Skill synergy, is particular knowledge applied to skills, you must understand it (not just knowing it) in order to be effective, if you could somehow instruct someone (something that would take quite time dedicated to that particular effort) and truly increase someone's knowledge, that person could apply that knowledge in his own way and have the bonus.

What is is possible is helping something in a skill check in a particular skill if you have that skill as well giving him a small bonus in that skill check

Anyway it is far from being overpowered, since the way which works in D&D is the following:

If you get 5 skill points in A, you get 2 extra skills points in B, later no matter how skill points you sink it you will never get more benefit of it,
since there is a limit of theoretical knowledge that you can use when facing practical problems.

Rhiel · Post by **Rhiel** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:23 pm

As an anecdote, synergy can be applied when you HELP another person with a skill check. Very cool as well. If, for example, two people are rolling Heal checks on an individual, the "principal" roller gets a small bonus to their check due to the other person's aid. The actual numbers, however, elude me. Alvirin? Help me out here? You seem to know your stuff...

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:32 pm

hehe I wasn't looking for your approval of it Alvirin. I was making my own suggestion to go alongside yours my friend -chuckle-

Alvirin · Post by **Alvirin** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:33 pm

I'm really sorry Tobias you are free to blame my sometimes oblivious domain of the English language

Rhiel; Yes, The helpers must do a skill check with a DC of 10, for each helper that makes the roll the primary character gets a +2 to his skill check.