Knowledge (Local) for humanoids

[Paul Grogan]

Who actually takes ranks in Knowledge (Local) - nobody that I know. Yet, it is the skill used for knowledge of humanoids. Anyone use anything else?

My group came across a Zombie Bugbear recently. I allowed Knowledge Religion checks to identify it being a zombie, but then I wanted to give them a chance to identify what the base creature was, which would have been knowledge local.

 

[newgrace]

I get the complaints of the plethora of knowledge skills, but I like the variety, and the fact that you could have a character with a large amount of the skills, and a fighter with one knowledge skill, and they know very different things.

But as for your question, ive seen knowledge nature used for all "natural" type of creatures, and arcane used for all "magical" type. Ive even seen survival used to identify the kind of creature, but not the qualities or attacks.

As for me, I take knowledge local if my character is from the area. And currently in our party of 6, i think 3 of us have knowledge local. The majority of knowledge skills are within our party, spread out so everyone has something they know.

 

[Nail]

Who actually takes ranks in Knowledge (Local) - nobody that I know. Yet, it is the skill used for knowledge of humanoids. Anyone use anything else?

Most humaniods are common enough -- and their racial abilities are weak enough - that I don't bother with a knowledge check for them. I just tell the players "It's a Bugbear", and assume they can fill in the rest themselves.

 

[moritheil]

Who actually takes ranks in Knowledge (Local) - nobody that I know. Yet, it is the skill used for knowledge of humanoids. Anyone use anything else?

My group came across a Zombie Bugbear recently. I allowed Knowledge Religion checks to identify it being a zombie, but then I wanted to give them a chance to identify what the base creature was, which would have been knowledge local.

I would run the entire thing off Know (religion) - per RAW, it's what should be used, though you would be right in saying that that doesn't really make sense.

FWIW, Know (local) is usually used to pick up plot hooks and shorten the amount of time it takes for the PCs to figure things out. I believe it also forms the basis for a PrC and some obscure feats.

 

[SteelDraco]

I have had a couple of characters with maxed-out Kn (Local) checks, but that's because we use it as Streetwise, and therefore it's always good for criminal-type characters. Want to know what that graffiti REALLY means, or where to find a good fence in this neighborhood? Kn (Local) check. It's a very useful skill, in that kind of game.

 

[Mistwell]

Who actually takes ranks in Knowledge (Local) - nobody that I know.

My Urban Ranger maxes it out. It's a top five knowledge skill for sure. We use it every game (though we are in a Ptolus city game).

Yet, it is the skill used for knowledge of humanoids. Anyone use anything else?

Where is X location in the city? Who is in charge of Y (non-noble)? What is the accepted procedure for doing Z?

My group came across a Zombie Bugbear recently. I allowed Knowledge Religion checks to identify it being a zombie, but then I wanted to give them a chance to identify what the base creature was, which would have been knowledge local.

Yes, and your players should have ranks in it.

 

[seans23]

As for me, I take knowledge local if my character is from the area.

Knowledge (local) isn't keyed to a particular locality. If your character is from Bissel, he can still try a knowledge (local) check to see if he knows anything about the Mayor of Verbobonc, or the particulars of a Bakluni holiday, or the laws that apply while visiting the Theocracy of the Pale, etc.

 

[Mistwell]

Knowledge (local) isn't keyed to a particular locality. If your character is from Bissel, he can still try a knowledge (local) check to see if he knows anything about the Mayor of Verbobonc, or the particulars of a Bakluni holiday, or the laws that apply while visiting the Theocracy of the Pale, etc.

I think the confusion comes from sometimes seeing things like "Knowledge: Local (Underground)"

 

[irdeggman]

Extremely useful in Eberron (specifically for adventuring in Sharn), also useful in Birthright - since it is a domain level game.

 

[Mistwell]

Just so we all see the rule we are talking about:

Local: legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids.

So pretty much anywhere your party goes, Knowledge: Local will tell you about the legends of that area, the prominent personalities that inhabit it, the laws that cover it, the customs of that place, the traditions of that place and the people in it, and the humanoids that inhabit it.

Why wouldn't you want that skill?