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<blockquote data-quote="The Sigil" data-source="post: 219077" data-attributes="member: 2013">Labwork vs. Theory...I tend to think of the two as being the difference between &quot;labwork&quot; versus &quot;theory/bookwork.&quot;Spellcraft is the check when you're actively working with magic - when you're counterspelling something, trying to research a new spell, and so forth.&nbsp; Basically, if you're &quot;getting down and dirty&quot; with magic itself, spellcraft is the check to use.Knowledge (Arcana) is the book-work/theoretical side of magic.&nbsp; Probably adds a synergy bonus to spellcraft checks when researching spells, but focused more on - well, theory.&nbsp; I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to recall that Bob the Necromancer was said to have excellent skill with animation of plants.&nbsp; I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to recall how a lightning bolt works on the elemental plane of water (or possibly Knowlege-planes).&nbsp; I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to remember that the person who developed the various &quot;Hand&quot; spells was Bigby.&nbsp; I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to remember what spells are needed to bring down a prismatic wall.&nbsp; In other words - use it for everything haveing to do with magic where you're not actually having to step in and &quot;get your hands dirty.&quot;Not hard and fast, I know, but hopefully that gives some guidelines for how to make them two separate skills.&nbsp; Some brilliant scientists in the lab couldn't do theoretical work for crap and some brilliant theorists didn't like the tedium of labwork.&nbsp; Spellcraft vs. Knowledge (Arcana) allows spellcasters to have the same sort of differentiation.--The Sigil</blockquote>

[QUOTE="The Sigil, post: 219077, member: 2013"] [b]Labwork vs. Theory...[/b] I tend to think of the two as being the difference between "labwork" versus "theory/bookwork." Spellcraft is the check when you're actively working with magic - when you're counterspelling something, trying to research a new spell, and so forth. Basically, if you're "getting down and dirty" with magic itself, spellcraft is the check to use. Knowledge (Arcana) is the book-work/theoretical side of magic. Probably adds a synergy bonus to spellcraft checks when researching spells, but focused more on - well, theory. I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to recall that Bob the Necromancer was said to have excellent skill with animation of plants. I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to recall how a lightning bolt works on the elemental plane of water (or possibly Knowlege-planes). I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to remember that the person who developed the various "Hand" spells was Bigby. I use a Knowledge (Arcana) check to remember what spells are needed to bring down a prismatic wall. In other words - use it for everything haveing to do with magic where you're not actually having to step in and "get your hands dirty." Not hard and fast, I know, but hopefully that gives some guidelines for how to make them two separate skills. Some brilliant scientists in the lab couldn't do theoretical work for crap and some brilliant theorists didn't like the tedium of labwork. Spellcraft vs. Knowledge (Arcana) allows spellcasters to have the same sort of differentiation. --The Sigil [/QUOTE]

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