Maxperson
Morkus from Orkus
However, it's worth nothing that a sufficient GM answer to a Bardic Knowledge check is "nothing special."
Sure, but only if the Bard picks up a rock or something off the ground, or uses it on some other mundane object. The vast majority of the time, the bard is going to use it on important/unusual things, which means that "nothing special" is not going to be sufficient. It's really easy to figure out what the important or unusual things are when you encounter them.
This is never a proper response to Spout Lore. If the player asks and succeeds, then the location is important by default.
This is a difference. Yes.
Further, the different in fail states is massive, and that was the crux of my point.
I'm not sure I would call it massive, but it's definitely a significant difference. In D&D if you fail the roll, you don't know anything about the thing in question.
Well, Legend Lore is a spell, If it was the Bardic Knowledge class ability, then my answer is even more apt because the spell has no failure state if the target is actually legendary.
[MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION] confused things by calling it the Legend Lore Bard ability. Legend Lore is the spell. Bardic Knowledge is the Bard ability. I figured that since he tacked on the "Bard ability," that he was talking about Bardic Knowledge.
Dude. I'm running a 5e game right now. I'm on record saying 5e fights against a non-GM centered play, so I'm running a GM centered game. I like running 5e, it scratches certain itches very well, and my players enjoy it.
If you'd bother to read my posts, I've specifically called out MMI as degenerate play -- ie, what happens if you use the tools poorly. GM centered play requires saying no, and telling players what's in your notes, and the other things -- in moderation. Take any of those to extremes and you end up with MMI, or Railroading (which requires MMI). Do them in moderation and with principled play and you don't.
Fair enough, though I don't think Railroading requires "Mother May I." All it really requires is a lack of options or forcing things behind the screen so that player choice is removed. Removing player choice doesn't equate to players having to ask to do things.
For example, if the DM has a forked path and down the right path is the hermit with the adventure hook, and down the left is nothing, it's railroading if when the players take the left path the DM moves the hermit there. He gave the illusion of choice, but there really wasn't any. Nor does that involve any players questioning the DM about something and being told no.
Neither style is better, they're just different. One can be better for you, though, and that's good for each person.
Agreed.