Monster knowledge - what to ask?

[nosig]

When a PC with a pertinent knowledge skill sees a creature they may make a knowledge check (aprox. DC = 10 + monster's CR) to identify it. For common monsters, such as goblins, the DC of this check equals 5 + the monster’s CR. For particularly rare monsters, such as the tarrasque, the DC of this check equals 15 + the monster’s CR, or more. A successful check allows you to remember a bit of useful information about that monster. For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information.

Some GMs allow the players direct questions about the monsters abilities/vulnerabilities, etc.

What would you recogmend asking? I would like to provide a myself (and my wife) with a template to build on. When the (insert X) jumps out at the PCs - what's the most important thing to know?

[HangarFlying]

I guess there are two questions that I can think of when confronted by something wanting to kill my character:

1) what methods is it going to use to try to kill me (so I can better plan my defenses)
2) what methods can I use to kill it.

I think any other question would essentially build off of those and the degree of success would give you more detailed information to those two questions.

[MacFetus]

1/2) Can we communicate with it?

3/4) Is it open to a parley?

[nosig]

basicly what I am seeing from Judges is they ask for a roll and the PC says "I've got a 26 for Knowledge (religion)"
so the DM will say something like - "The DC is 12. It's a ghoul and you have 2 questions you can ask."

OK - I'm an old player - I can run thru the ghoul stats by memory and give you differences in the stats for different RPGs. But my wife does not have all this. So the Judge could just as easily have said "it's a Blithering Bladder Beast, you have 2 questions."

I need to give her a template to start from, realizing most judges I have encounters are expecting something like "What's it's special attacks?" or "What's it's special defenses?" or something like that.

So I'm looking for what you'd ask the DM. He's just told you - "it's a Blithering Bladder Beast, you have 2 questions." What's your questions?

[nategar05]

"How can I stop it from killing me?"

That sums it up. That's all you need to ask.

As far as specifics go:

"What are its weaknesses?"
"Energy vulnerability/resistance types?"

[nosig]

nategar05 wrote:

"How can I stop it from killing me?"

That sums it up. That's all you need to ask.

As far as specifics go:

"What are its weaknesses?"
"Energy vulnerability/resistance types?"

Your first response will get most judges to laugh (which is normally a good thing), but wont get answers my wife can deal with.

the last two might get answers - but most Judges will ask for more spacific questions.
I was thinking something like...

Suggested questions:
1. Does this creature have any Special Ability (Defenses): such as Mindless or Immunities or SR?

2. Does this creature have any Special Ability (Attacks): such as Poison or a Gaze attack?

something like these maybe. I can picture the Judge answering #1 by saying "Undead Traits, and Turn resistance." and answering #2 by saying "Paralyzing touch on it's attacks and dease on it's bite.... oh and Elves are immune to the Paralying touch".