Knowledge[Local] : How Local?

[BigRedRod]

This skill is causing me a few headaches.

Clearly it should only give knowledge on a single "locality", and yet I've never seen anyone specify where the knowledge is based. Am I missing something? Is this knowedge really supposed to be usuable to give local knowledge in any part of the world? Even if the character has never been there?

I know it is a fairly minor issue but I Think I'm making the wrong call or getting confused somehow

Any elaborate stories / insight would be most welcome

 

[Arc]

"local" is the generic term, when you take ranks in the skill, it applies to a specific place.

So, you could take ranks in Knowledge(local: Waterdeep) or Knowledge(local: Sharn) or Knowledge(local: wherever), but not ranks in Knowledge(local)

 

[BigRedRod]

"local" is the generic term, when you take ranks in the skill, it applies to a specific place.

So, you could take ranks in Knowledge(local: Waterdeep) or Knowledge(local: Sharn) or Knowledge(local: wherever), but not ranks in Knowledge(local)

That was my assumption it just didn't seem spelt out and I've never actually seen it done (I'm not even sure it is done in WotC products)

 

[nameless]

I always just took it as Knowledge (local) and assumed it was knowing the odds and ends of various cultures and areas, kind of like having a farmer's almanac in your head.

 

[Sithobi1]

Yes, just like knowledge: history is not history of one place- local knowledge is like history, but current- or you could say what happened 2 minutes ago is history and make a history check...

 

[Liquidsabre]

Yup, when we use the Knowledge (Local) skill in our games we use it for specific regions and locations only. Not a generic local knowledge skill which is silly; it's easy to understand an individual having knowledge of a few specific places such as Knowledge (Silverymoon) or Knowledge (Great Plains) but to know specific details about places *everywhere* in the world? Seems a bit of a stretch to me.

 

[BigRedRod]

It looks like evrybody else has just instinctivly chosen a side and I'm the one left confused

Is there anything official about this?

 

[Starglim]

Knowledge (local), by default, would be local to the initial area where the campaign is set.

The skill involves "legends, personalities .. laws, customs, traditions" so its usefulness would end when you travelled far enough that none of your knowledge in those categories was relevant any more.

I'd probably allow it to cover one significant nation, apply to any nations that spoke the same language or shared a border at a -2 penalty, and allow untrained checks (just to figure out likely equivalents or snippets of tales that you heard) elsewhere in the world.

 

[Errant]

IMC I use it to reflect knowledge on the current affairs, day to day happenings & who's who around whatever town the PCs are in.

If they're away from home the DC for skill checks is just increased compared to what it would be if they're in their home town. ie (Un)Familiarity with the "local" area imposes Circumstance modifiers.

 

[dcollins]

My instinct is also to have it really Local to the starting location of the character. Admittedly no one records a specific location when recording the skill.