What Knowledge Skill do you use/allow?

[Nyaricus]

Ironically, I have just been recently trying to re-do the skill list for D&D and Knowledge was on it. Here's my list, which I think I've finalized.

Arcana (Dragons and Magical Beasts, also takes over the Spellcraft skill)
Astronomy (Aberrations, Outsiders not covered by Know: Religion, pretty much takes over Know: the Planes)
Cultures & Peoples (Humanoids and Monstrous Humanoids, tok over Know: local skill)
Engineering and Mathematics (Constructs)
Geography (oozes, also takes over the Know: Dungeoneering skill)
History
Nature (Animals, Giants, Fey, Plants, Vermin)
Medicine & the Sciences (takes over the Heal skill)
Military & Tactics (takes over bluff to feint in combat, takes over Intimidate to intimidate in combat and takes over Tumble for it's combat uses)
Politics and the Law (Nobility, Royalty, the law, how to act at the Princes Ball, etc)
Religion (Outsiders [Angels, Celestials, Devils and Demons], Undead)
Trade (takes over Appraise Skill)

I re-arranged all the skills into groups which cover all of the bases nicely (IMO), got rid of 6 skills (Appraise, Bluff [which was taken over by Knowledge: Military and Tactics and Diplomacy, respectively], Intimidate [which was taken over by Coerce and Know: Military and Tactics), Heal, Spellcraft and Tumble [which was taken over by Balance and Know: Military and Tactics]) and I think it works out rather nicely

cheers,
--N

 

[Xath]

Knowledge skills my PCs actually have ranks in right now:

Arcana
History
Nature
Nobility & Royalty
The Planes
Religion

For my campaigns, I run knowledge a bit differently. I find that my players rarely invest in any knowledges at all, so I've tried to add a bit of an incentive. For each main knowledge skill (out of the PHB) that you have 5 or more ranks in, you get a +1 bonus to other knowledge skills in which you have at least 1 rank.

Also, you may choose to buy specialized knowledges. (I took a page from White Wolf here) You may buy specialty knowledges (for example Knowledge: Arcana: Dragons) at the rate of 2:1. One skill point gets you two ranks in a specialty knowledge. You may add your ranks & synergy bonuses for the Main knowledge and sub-knowledge together when making a check, but you can only add your intelligence score once. Having 5 or more ranks in a specialized knowledge only gives you a +1 bonus to other specialties in the same main knowledge branch.