D&D 5E 5e Do How Often Do You Use Skill Checks for ‘Monster Knowledge’

[Fire Brand]

[...] The Cleric from the big city or halfling fresh out of his farming community...maybe not. A giant is "a giant?!"
Player 1: "Was it a red giant or a blue giant?"
Player 2: "OR grey or purple? What was it wearing?"
Farmer who just crapped his pants when the giant took his cow: "It was BIG!"
All players look annoyed.
Farmer continues: "Kinda dirty. Mangy lookin' like. N' hooooWEE! I smelled it from across the field...was wearing, ya know, normal clothes. Patchy. Leathers...bit o' fur, I think."
Players 1 & 2: "Hill giant."
[...]

I won't quote your entire post. For anyone who wants to read it it's at the bottom of page 1. Worth checking out! Outstanding real game play examples!

 

[Fire Brand]

Monster knowledge checks are essential in my games because I do not tell what a monster's weaknesses are. These checks simulate the idea that players could know a tidbit of information, or they may not, or they may not remember it at the moment but could remember it another time. Tons of RP options with knowledge checks.

Yeah that approach makes sense. I think that's essentially what I was getting at in the first post. But I'm liking both sides of the fence I've read in this thread.

 

[trentonjoe]

We use it all the time.

I generally give the type for free if you're trained. The religion guys know undead when they see it.

I reskin monsters all the time so my guess frequently make checks. In 5E I usually give some important info if the pass.

Recently, I reskined a vampire spawn into a generic undead guardian. When our cleric made his knowledge check, I told him he had tough skin, probably was going to need magic weapons, and was going to dislike sunlight.

Works pretty well for us....

 

[Fire Brand]

We use it all the time.

I generally give the type for free if you're trained. The religion guys know undead when they see it.

I reskin monsters all the time so my guess frequently make checks. In 5E I usually give some important info if the pass.

Recently, I reskined a vampire spawn into a generic undead guardian. When our cleric made his knowledge check, I told him he had tough skin, probably was going to need magic weapons, and was going to dislike sunlight.

Works pretty well for us....

That's something I never considered. That's awesome. I keep saying I like all these ideas. But it's true. This is more of a variety even within both camps than I would've guessed. New players or DM's can learn a lot from this. (no matter what the edition).

P.S. your signature line "I've been through four editions now, I don't think I really knew the rules for any of them." pretty much sums it up

 

[Hand of Evil]

I use them but also use how common the creature is in the rolls, if it is a very common creature, it will be common knowledge. The less common, the harder it is for them. If the players have fought it prior, then they may know it. Now, if it is a "vast family" of monsters, like a spider or snake or undead, they may know that but it would take a little be more to know it was a phase spider or a corn snake or a gast.

 

[edhel]

I don't like locking knowledge behind random rolls so I use knowledge as a resource. Basically it works like skills in GUMSHOE games - you get a number of points which the players can use to know (or sometimes narrate) things they have studied (in 5e the areas you are proficient in).

One thing I especially like about knowledge as a resource is that reading books and studying in general gives you abstract points which can be very specific. Studying Underdark mushrooms, Acheron the ancient empire, or beholder physiology gives studious characters a chance to shine and rewards downtime spent in the library.

How many points you wish to give your players is up to you and your group. Usually the number of points PCs start a session with is a function of their Int and the number their knowledge skills. Specific obscure knowledge points are not limited. I haven't yet started my 5e campaign but I think this mechanic fits together very well with the downtime studying rules.

 

[Fire Brand]

I use them but also use how common the creature is in the rolls, if it is a very common creature, it will be common knowledge. The less common, the harder it is for them. If the players have fought it prior, then they may know it. Now, if it is a "vast family" of monsters, like a spider or snake or undead, they may know that but it would take a little be more to know it was a phase spider or a corn snake or a gast.

Yeah that’s a long the lines trentonjoe and some others. That’s a good example of identifying ‘sub-classes’ (if you will) of monsters. I've had limited playing opportunities lately so it's great to hear how experienced D&D gamers play a malleable RPG.

P.S. I’ll give people more XP later. The pop-up I get is: “You have given out too much Experience Points in the last 24 hours, try again later.” It’s probably not necessary but since I’m new I’d like people to know I appreciate the responses and great ideas I wouldn’t have thought of. And ones that verify what I was thinking.

 

[trentonjoe]

It should be 5 but I haven't changed it yet!

 

[Fire Brand]

I don't like locking knowledge behind random rolls so I use knowledge as a resource. Basically it works like skills in GUMSHOE games - you get a number of points which the players can use to know (or sometimes narrate) things they have studied (in 5e the areas you are proficient in).

One thing I especially like about knowledge as a resource is that reading books and studying in general gives you abstract points which can be very specific. Studying Underdark mushrooms, Acheron the ancient empire, or beholder physiology gives studious characters a chance to shine and rewards downtime spent in the library.

How many points you wish to give your players is up to you and your group. Usually the number of points PCs start a session with is a function of their Int and the number their knowledge skills. Specific obscure knowledge points are not limited. I haven't yet started my 5e campaign but I think this mechanic fits together very well with the downtime studying rules.

Very nice! Yes I forgot about the downtime rules. Perfect use. We'll have to see how creative players get with their PC's backgrounds during downtime and how it affects the game when the role playing and combat resume. If half the people play like you guys it's going to be very interesting.

There's some very valid points for doing checks, or not doing them, or situational, or what type of monsters the DM home brews, and with in which environment or situation and NPC they're interacting with for info etc. I'm taking notes For 5e PHB Appendix E: Inspriational Reading they should list enworld.org

 

[Fire Brand]

It should be 5 but I haven't changed it yet!

From scanning the PHB it's not as easy as they make it out to be, imho. I haven't played AD&D in a long time, skipped 2-3.5e. 5e definitely feels more old school regardless.

I have 4e's power system so engrained in me (even though I haven't played as much as most here I've read a lot of the books). It doesn't help that I'm looking at a Warlock class that is different than 4e and I never played an old school spell casting class. That's why I've personally missed some rules glossing over things. I think once everyone has it and plays it it'll make sense. The 'old school' gamers should have little problems. I do think some wording will cause traditional problems.

But back to Monster Knowledge and applying Skill checks when and why. That's why I had to reference 4e's way of handling it or at least suggesting it for starters.

5e right now is like driving somebody else's car. You have to get used to it. That'll be be my signature : Right now it's literally rental car. I borrowed a PHB from someone and scanned a couple pages to copy & paste.

It'll be interesting how things like Skill Checks wil lbe applied the same or differently when people get into 5e.