Pathfinder 1E Which skill for performing an autopsy?

[koesherbacon]

My Wizard wants to perform an autopsy on a creature the group just defeated which everyone failed their Knowledge skill to determine what it was. Out of character, I do know it was an aberration.

Would I use Heal for this? Or would a Knowledge (Dungeoneering) suffice?

Thanks!

 

[ImperatorK]

There's no rules for it, as far as I know. The closest you can get is the Heal skill.
By RAW you can't retry a Knowledge check, but personally I would allow it, maybe with "take 10" or even "take 20", if the character is skilled enough to perform an autopsy.

 

[koesherbacon]

Thanks, I'll ask my DM what his opinion on this idea is.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Speaking literally, an autopsy tell you how the creature died, and would likely fall under Heal. Finding out what it is would likely still be a Knowledge check. Technically, it can't be tried, but I think allowing a retry with a detailed examination is reasonable.

 

[Zireael]

I would pick Heal.

 

[Wicht]

Yeah, Heal is the primary skill, though I would allow the relevant Knowledge Skill, or even Survival, to be used, but would increase the DC by +4 and +8 respectively for the latter two skills as a quick ruling.

 

[radja]

Yeah, Heal is the primary skill, though I would allow the relevant Knowledge Skill, or even Survival, to be used, but would increase the DC by +4 and +8 respectively for the latter two skills as a quick ruling.

I wouldnt give a penalty of 8 to survival checks. Knowing which organ is which is quite handy to know which ones you can eat, and although not very fashionable at the moment, eating organ meat is quite normal.

 

[Wicht]

I wouldnt give a penalty of 8 to survival checks. Knowing which organ is which is quite handy to know which ones you can eat, and although not very fashionable at the moment, eating organ meat is quite normal.

Well, normally with an autopsy you are going for what killed it. Dressing an animal is most certainly Survival related.

Incidentally, rereading the original post, as a DM, I would not allow autopsy to tell you what the creature was, other than type. If you couldn't identify it while it was whole, cutting it into small pieces is not going to help. I'm not sure how I missed that, thinking about other things I guess.

 

[Kinak]

Basically what @Ahnenois said. I've used Heal on a number of occasions for autopsies. For actual dissections (for knowledge other than cause of death), I'd go for the appropriate Knowledge skill.

Also, if the player failed their Knowledge check on first seeing the creature, I wouldn't object to them getting another chance at a bonus for dissection. It probably wouldn't even occur to me to not allow it.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Systole]

Unless it's got truly alien physiology, I think the Heal skill should also tell you what organ is what and give you some idea of its capabilities and diet.