Monster Knowledge Check Question

[Delak]

When a player makes a Monster Knowledge Check and they beat DC 20 or higher how much of the power do you tell them?

Do they know everything about the power? Including the Attack and damage information?

Any help on this would be great.

Thank you
Delak

 

[Prism]

I might pretty much give the general details of some of the creatures powers - usually the at wills and powers that might define it such as a dragons breath weapon and fear or the fact that some creatures change when bloodied. Generally things that seem racial.

I don't give information on powers that I rate to be unique to that creature such as the various powers of an eladrin arcane archer or orc chieftan. The main reason is in my compaign many creatures are unique and I swap powers around. If someone was to see what looked like an orc chieftan there would be no way of knowing what powers he had until after he had used them

The rules are open enough to allow you to fully explain all powers or just give basic info about one power. I play it by ear

 

[DracoSuave]

I might pretty much give the general details of some of the creatures powers - usually the at wills and powers that might define it such as a dragons breath weapon and fear or the fact that some creatures change when bloodied. Generally things that seem racial.

I don't give information on powers that I rate to be unique to that creature such as the various powers of an eladrin arcane archer or orc chieftan. The main reason is in my compaign many creatures are unique and I swap powers around. If someone was to see what looked like an orc chieftan there would be no way of knowing what powers he had until after he had used them

The rules are open enough to allow you to fully explain all powers or just give basic info about one power. I play it by ear

I give a summary of all the powers, tho not anything like stats.

I describe non-racial powers as the player's knowledge of the monster's culture, and of individual fighting styles. It's a monster -knowledge- check, not a monster -ignorance- check. If you can find out about the history and general habits of the monster, you know of them in detail enough to recognize 'That orc holds its club a bit different, you surmise he's used to charging and swinging his club in a deadly circle' as opposed to 'That orc is shouting commands at the other orcs... it seems they are invigorated by his presence' as opposed to 'That orc seems a bit distracted by otherworldly things, you've heard the orcs have primal magic... by the bluish frostbitten pallor of his skin, and the steaming breath, you suspect he has some form of winter-spirit at his command.'

 

[Jhaelen]

When a player makes a Monster Knowledge Check and they beat DC 20 or higher how much of the power do you tell them?

Do they know everything about the power? Including the Attack and damage information?

Nah. I never tell them anything about game mechanics. I just describe powers in the character's terms and let them figure out the likely effects.