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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Al" data-source="post: 1128473" data-attributes="member: 2486">My take as a DM is a sort of 'passive' approach to Knowledge skills, much like Sense Motive ('you aren't sure he's being entirely honest') and Listen ('you hear something behind you').Essentially, when a PC comes across something where his knowledge might be useful and relevant, I might slip in a few extra details, depending on his Knowledge check.  There are no hard and fast DCs, for all the reasons outlined by FrankTrollman, but it can help the PC no end just to know a few extra tidibits.For example, when meeting a local mage, Knowledge (arcana) might give you some of his hobbies, prejudices and idiosyncracies, which, if brought up in conversation, might get a synergy bonus to Diplomacy; alternately, he might have a vicious dislike of dwarves, so the PCs would know not to take the dwarven fighter to their meeting.  Knowledge (local) might know something of a crime gang that the PCs are up against: a rough guess at their membership composition, common tactics, enemies and even (with a high DC) some of their safehouses.  Particularly at high levels, Knowledge can come to the fore.  If the PCs are told to retrieve the Staff of Dalsturn the Red, Knowledge (history) could come into play with legends that the Staff was sealed beneath seven layers of dungeon, trapped with magical spells capable of summoning great elementals and finally guarded by the lich of Dalsturn himself.  The PCs could then prepare appropriately.  In an intrigue-based campaign, if the PCs are working against Lord Fontaine, Knowledge (nobility) might be able to work out his key allies and enemies, so the PCs know who to and who not to trust.The extent of the use of the Knowledge skills are based primarily on the DM- a good DM can make the use of Knowledge skill a valuable tool in the PCs' arsenal.</blockquote>

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