Knowledge: How do you use it

[Voadam]

Wasn't 3.5 supposed to get rid of cross-classes? Or did they?

Unfortunately, only exclusive class skills, not the class/cross-class distinctions.

So unless berserker barbarians now get profession, they still make worse viking sailors than wizards can.

 

[KnowTheToe]

No, but they did get rid of exclusive skills. There are no skills on the list that you can't at least put ranks in cross-class.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Knowledge skills myself, actually. I also think they are far too specific. I am looking for some sort of "The more you know, the more you know..." solution...

Wulf

My thoughts exactly. Or they could also come up with a more defined list of knowledge and have each on be a little less specific in nature. With such diverse and undefinable knowledge skills, why use them at all when you know the DM will call for it. Skill points are too precious in most classes to use for any type education and that bothers me. All fighters are dumb because knowledge skills are unatainable. Maybe knowledge should exist outside of skill points, but that creates a whole new cumbersome mess.

 

[Olive]

My biggy is knowledge (aracarna). My main player with ti always wants to use it as monster lore. I don't like that as a conept, but it does make knowledge (arcarna) a fairly useless skill.

What do you guys use it for?

 

[jgsugden]

My biggy is knowledge (aracarna). My main player with ti always wants to use it as monster lore. I don't like that as a conept, but it does make knowledge (arcarna) a fairly useless skill.

What do you guys use it for?

3.5 Specifies which feats provide information on which types of monsters. Arcana covers a few, but they are spread out over a large number of knowledge skills.

 

[darkbard]

3.5 Specifies which feats provide information on which types of monsters. Arcana covers a few, but they are spread out over a large number of knowledge skills.

and this is the best change to the function of the knowledge skill in the revision IMO.

 

[med stud]

I think Runequest has four or five knowledge skills that cover all relevant knowledge; I think they go like Human lore, Animal lore, World lore and Plant lore. Im not entirely sure, but I will use something like that in my next campaign.

 

[Umbran]

My current front-runner: Any knowledge skill with 5 or more ranks gives a +2 synergy to any other knowledge skill. Synergy bonuses stack (I believe)...

Yes, but that leads to inane things like, "I know geography, so I also know more about arcane matters". Being too specific is a problem, but so is being too broad.

Perhaps better would be improved guidelines on exactly what one needs a Knowledge skill to do,and what is more simply covered by "common knowledge".

For example - Do you really need Knowledge(Geography) to know the basic shape of the United States, that it's got mountain ranges in the east and west, plains in the middle, and so on? Probably not. Probably dont' even need the skill to know the states and their capitols. The knowledge skill is there for more detailed information - exactly how far is it from one mountain to another, and such.

 

[Spatula]

OK so an aristocrat who uses all of his skill points for knowledge could become a well educated person, but has no other skills including diplomacy, Bluff, Sense Motive etc.

That was the extreme case (maxing out 5 knowledge skills at 1st level). Most nobles would probably spread their skill points out some. Take note that you don't need any ranks at all to know elementary stuff (DC 10 and you can make checks untrained), and you don't need a big bonus to have a good chance of answering most questions.

What about a fighter who is also a general? All the knowledge skills would be cross class. How many knowledge skills would it take to know how to organize, feed, finance, drill and lead an army into battle? Would warfare and tactics fall under the same knowledge skill? A general may not need to know all of these, but he had better know most of them.

IIRC there are no knowledge categories that cover any of those subjects in the 3.0 PHB. So, the fighter/general doesn't have to worry about spending skill points on those things.

That said, army logisitics might fit more comfortably as a new Profession skill than a new Knowledge skill. Profession (soldier) or (campaigner), to represent training picked up on the job, instead of from reading books. Tactics, I don't think makes a good choice for a skill. What would be the use for it, in-game?