Ok, I see this not only in a lot of WotC books, but also in Pathfinder's.
The Knowledge skill basically lets you know answers to questions based on the topic you're skilled in. The more esoteric the knowledge, the higher the DC.
Now, in some instances, I've seen a number of situations where the PC needs access to a library and then making the appropriate Knowledge check to find out an answer to something. For thorough/large libraries, you can get circumstantial bonuses to the check, usually from +2 to +6.
Now, what constitutes an answer that requires the need of a library? Which ones require a simple Knowledge check (because it's assumed PCs with higher Knowledge ranks means they definitely would know the answer to a lot of questions, without a library, mainly because the ranks are supposed to represent their time spent in the libraries!)
Or is it really a DM's call? As in, if something is really secretive and requires piecing info together, then only a library access AND a Knowledge check can answer the question. If something is more accessible, then just a simple Knowledge check?
I dunno what to do, but I've devises a few methods, one of which I need to decide on sticking with:
A) DM's call; very esoteric knowledge requires a DC check + library research
B) Libraries can be used to make untrained Knowledge checks
C) Libraries can be used to make Knowledge checks, in addition to the skill roll (thus, you have TWICE the chance of getting a question answered, if your personal check fails, you can go to a library and make one extra check)
D) Only one Knowledge check is allowed, but you can go to a library to gain a circumstantial bonus to the check
Now, in some instances, I've seen a number of situations where the PC needs access to a library and then making the appropriate Knowledge check to find out an answer to something.
Why is this occurring? The information should have a DC, and the characters should be able to know or now know the information based on their roll.
If a library is being required, they've stepped outside of raw except for characters untrained in the skill.
[i]You cannot make an untrained Knowledge check with a DC higher than 10. If you have access to an extensive library that covers a specific skill, this limit is removed. The time to make checks using a library, however, increases to 1d4 hours. Particularly complete libraries might even grant a bonus on Knowledge checks in the fields that they cover.[/it]
Now, what constitutes an answer that requires the need of a library?
-Anything the DM says it would
-By raw, 1) only a knowledge skill that a character is not trained in or 2) an answer with a DC so high that the character can't possibly make the check without the circumstance bonus.
Or is it really a DM's call? As in, if something is really secretive and requires piecing info together, then only a library access AND a Knowledge check can answer the question. If something is more accessible, then just a simple Knowledge check?
The only reason a DM really should be requiring a library is if travel to the library and getting the info is a plot hook, or if no one took ranks in a particular skill.
A) DM's call; very esoteric knowledge requires a DC check + library research
B) Libraries can be used to make untrained Knowledge checks
this is per raw
C) Libraries can be used to make Knowledge checks, in addition to the skill roll (thus, you have TWICE the chance of getting a question answered, if your personal check fails, you can go to a library and make one extra check)
a reasonable use/interpretation. Otherwise if the fighter asks the wizard "What kind of Metal do we need to bypass this creatures damage reduction?" the wizard has to plug his fingers in his ears and go "LA LA LA I"M NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT TILL WE GET TO THE LIBRARY LA LA LA!
D) Only one Knowledge check is allowed, but you can go to a library to gain a circumstantial bonus to the check
a cautious wizard might not know anything while in the field then.