D&D 5E knowledge rolls and monsters N Stuff

[DaveDash]

I used to do it, I see a lot of DMs doing it, but I don't do it any more; at most I'll tell them the name of the monster.

I prefer the characters to figure things out for themselves.

New edition, new experiences.

 

[Riley37]

PHB RAW: Nature skill helps one remember lore about beasts, and Arcana skill helps one remember lore about creatures from other planes. "remember lore" is subject to the scope and accuracy of that lore.

If the player wants an "encyclopedic knowledge of monsters" ability, then there should be a trade-off with other abilities. Create a Feat, or a new skill, or sacrifice the Research ability of the Sage background; all that time spent reading one person's library of monster books, was time NOT spent learning how to navigate other libraries.

 

[aramis erak]

I haven't written it down before now, just kind of did it in my head but basicly I just use the standard DC chart.

DC 10 = Easy (common monsters) so things that harass the common people, trade routes, and animals hunted
DC 15 = Medium (the default) stuff that would come up in tales or might be studied by bards and scribes
DC 20 = Hard (rarer monsters) things from foreign lands, stuff only epic heroes face
DC 25 = Very Hard (very rare monsters) odd things from other planes, ancient deep dark places, things unseen for ages
DC 30 = Nearly Impossible (unique monsters) things that are one of a kind

I don't announce everyone should roll at the start of a fight, I let them ask for it. When it treated as a group check like perception it is undoubtable that one of them will make the DC. This way the the players that want to be know it all usually ask for it and get to shine.

I agree with the approach, but not the details. I start with 5 for common monsters local to the character's home region.
I add 5 for neighboring regions, 10 for further.

I up by 5 for unusual monsters, 10 for truly odd stuff, 15 for uniques (unless the unique is native to an area less than 60 miles from the character's home town, in which case, I only add 5)...

One hint per 5 over the DC. Making the DC itself gets the name and general type (EG: Troll - Large Hominid).