[4E] Knowledge checks and monster powers

[Matrix Sorcica]

It says in the PHB that a DC20 knowledge check reveals a monster's powers.

How much information do you give on that basis? The names of the powers only? The complete write-up? Something in between?

Thanks.

 

[Jack99]

If it is a hill giant I would say: the hill giant usually uses a weapon to hit hard, and sometimes he can hit several targets at once, pushing them back and knocking them off their feet.

If it is a storm titan I would say: a storm titan hits hard and often doing both normal and thunder damage. He can hurl lightning at people far away and cause everyone nearby to be thrown back by quite powerful storms at his control.

 

[Nikosandros]

What about defenses? Do you give an idea about which defenses are lowest and highest?

 

[wedgeski]

I've started to get very cagey with these checks, couching them inside in-game terms as much as possible. Keywords, resistances, and vulnerabilities can all be handled quite easily this way, but I tend to stop short of powers. As far as I'm concerned, they're the ace up my sleeve and no-one is gonna roll a d20 and tell me I have to effectively hand the stat block over! I like monster knowledge checks, I always have, but some things are best kept to the DM.

 

[Bloosquig]

I'd go with Jack99's idea. In game description of what the powers, stats, etc. do.

Not anything specific but give them a good idea what to expect.

 

[Jack99]

What about defenses? Do you give an idea about which defenses are lowest and highest?

Nope

I've started to get very cagey with these checks, couching them inside in-game terms as much as possible. Keywords, resistances, and vulnerabilities can all be handled quite easily this way, but I tend to stop short of powers. As far as I'm concerned, they're the ace up my sleeve and no-one is gonna roll a d20 and tell me I have to effectively hand the stat block over! I like monster knowledge checks, I always have, but some things are best kept to the DM.

I agree to a certain degree. While I didn't include it in my example, I always omit (usually) special powers, and give the most common ones.

 

[nightwyrm]

I agree to a certain degree. While I didn't include it in my example, I always omit (usually) special powers, and give the most common ones.

I usually does this, but sometimes I tell the PCs about scary powers that won't come up often or only activated on someone dying, like wraith's ability to make more of itself by killing enemies. It scares the players without the DM having to kill a PC to show the power to them.

Of course, if it's stuff that everyone knows like blue dragon breathes lightning or medusa turns people to stone, there's no point in not telling them.

 

[Nikosandros]

Nope

Is that the general consensus? No way for the PCs to learn about defenses?

I'm not criticizing this, that's also the way I'm handling things at the moment, but I'm curios about what others do.

 

[Nikosandros]

Spam reported.

 

[Jack99]

Is that the general consensus? No way for the PCs to learn about defenses?

I'm not criticizing this, that's also the way I'm handling things at the moment, but I'm curios about what others do.

They just never ask - I guess they can tell from my descriptions and from what the monster does what type of monster it is, and thus know what on average will be its best defense and what will be it's worst. Or maybe they don't care. /shrug