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Knowledge (INT)
You are educated in a field of study and can answer both simple and complex questions. Like the Craft, Perform, and Profession skills, Knowledge actually encompasses a number of different specialties.
Common Uses
Below are listed typical fields of study.
- Arcana (ancient mysteries, magic traditions, arcane symbols, constructs, dragons, magical beasts)
- Dungeoneering (aberrations, caverns, oozes, spelunking)
- Engineering (buildings, aqueducts, bridges, fortifications)
- Esoteric (ancient secrets, elder gods, cult movements, the name of Lovecraft's cat)
- Geography (lands, terrain, climate, people); Used for astronomy.
- History (wars, colonies, migrations, founding of cities)
- Local (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids)
- Nature (animals, fey, monstrous humanoids, plants, seasons and cycles, weather, vermin)
- Nobility (lineages, heraldry, personalities, royalty)
- Planes (the Inner Planes, the Outer Planes, the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, outsiders, planar magic)
- Religion (gods and goddesses, mythic history, ecclesiastic tradition, holy symbols, undead)
Specializations
When acquiring a Knowledge skill for the first time you may select a free specialization. Additionally you may spend 3 EXP to unlock another Specialization. Specializations provide you a bonus +5 to Knowledge checks made within that specific field. Below are some examples:
Table: Knowledge Specialization Examples
| Appropriate Knowledge Specializations | Inappropriate Choices |
|---|---|
| A particular small city | Settlements (or smaller settlement) |
| One district of a large city or metropolis | An entire large city or metropolis |
| A particular monastery | Monasteries |
| Taverns in a region | Taverns |
| Bandits in a region | Banditry |
| Famous battles in a region | Famous battles |
| The spice trade | Commerce |
| Cats | Animals |
| Drow matriarchs | Drow |
| Dwarven history | Dwarves |
| Frost giants | Giants |
| A particular deity | Gods |
| Dagon | Demon lords |
| Phlegethon | Hell |
| Military commanders | Warfare |
| Famous singers | Music |
| Infernal contracts | Devils |
| Evocations | Spells |
| Silver and mithral | Metals |
| Tea | Beverages |
| Trees | Plants |
| Tattoos | Art |
Table: Example Knowledge DCs
| Task | Knowledge Skill | DC |
|---|---|---|
| Identify auras while using detect magic | Arcana | 15 + spell level |
| Identify a spell effect that is in place | Arcana | 20 + spell level |
| Identify materials manufactured by magic | Arcana | 20 + spell level |
| Identify a spell that just targeted you | Arcana | 25 + spell level |
| Identify underground hazard | Dungeoneering | 15 + hazard’s CR |
| Identify mineral, stone, or metal | Dungeoneering | 10 |
| Determine slope | Dungeoneering | 15 |
| Determine depth underground | Dungeoneering | 20 |
| Identify dangerous construction | Engineering | 10 |
| Determine a structure’s style or age | Engineering | 15 |
| Determine a structure’s weakness | Engineering | 20 |
| Identify a creature’s ethnicity or accent | Geography | 10 |
| Recognize regional terrain features | Geography | 15 |
| Know location of nearest community or noteworthy site | Geography | 20 |
| Know recent or historically significant event | History | 10 |
| Determine approximate date of a specific event | History | 15 |
| Know obscure or ancient historical event | History | 20 |
| Know local laws, rulers, and popular locations | Local | 10 |
| Know a common rumor or local tradition | Local | 15 |
| Know hidden organizations, rulers, and locations | Local | 20 |
| Identify natural hazard | Nature | 15 + hazard’s CR |
| Identify a common plant or animal | Nature | 10 |
| Identify unnatural weather phenomenon | Nature | 15 |
| Determine artificial nature of feature | Nature | 20 |
| Know current rulers and their symbols | Nobility | 10 |
| Know proper etiquette | Nobility | 15 |
| Know line of succession | Nobility | 20 |
| Know the names of the planes | Planes | 10 |
| Recognize current plane | Planes | 15 |
| Identify a creature’s planar origin | Planes | 20 |
| Recognize a common deity’s symbol or clergy | Religion | 10 |
| Know common mythology and tenets | Religion | 15 |
| Recognize an obscure deity’s symbol or clergy | Religion | 20 |
| Identify a monster’s abilities and weaknesses | Varies | 10 + monster’s CR |