Profession (engineer) and Knowledge (Engineering)

[wombatkidd]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I played 3.5 for years, and I'm starting a new game on Sunday. I've decided to take points in Profession (engineer) and knowledge (engineering). The thing is, I've never taken these skills or had anyone take these skills when I DMed.

What is the functional difference between the two skills (ie in what situations would you use one over the other)?

And what exactly is in the purview of engineering? I can't fined any rules that define what engineering actually is, in game terms.

If there's a 3.5 book with this in it you can point me to that would be great. I have an extensive 3.5 collection just haven't been able to find anything on my own in my 55 book collection.

[Rezdave]

Really, it's a judgement-call. There has been great debate about how to differentiate Craft, Knowledge and Profession, since they tend to overlap.

The way I distinguish them is that someone with "Craft" is able to make things with their hands but generally works from the designs of others, someone with "Knowledge" is able to design things for others to make, and someone with "Profession" has the contacts/connections and is familiar with the practical aspects of running a business based upon either a Craft or Knowledge.

"Engineering" is a catch-all for architecture as well as what we today would consider civil, mechanical and structural engineering. It's the ability to design and oversee the construction of buildings, bridges, aqueducts, siege engines and so forth.

In my game, someone with sufficient Knowledge, Engineering would know how to design any of the items listed above. However, without Profession in something like Engineer or Builder/Contractor then they wouldn't know how to hire a construction crew, who the local suppliers and vendors are, where to find the best materials, who has a good or bad reputation in the local industry, etc.

Anyway, that's how I run it.

What little there is for Rules is in the Player's Handbook.

HTH,

Rez

[wombatkidd]

thats actually very informative. Thanks.