Many times I have had a player ask things like "does it have reach", "does he look like he knows how to handle that spear" "How badly hurt does he look"
These seem like things a fighter character would know. Making it a knowledge skill does not help all that much b/c fighters get boned in the skills/skill points/low int
Has anyone ever used something similar to a caster level check?
Or some other way to have "Combat Knowledge"?
Thanks
I've always gone by the following rule:
If you have proficiency in it, you know the basic, for example a reach weapon, trip weapon, anything special about using it like a whip and damage vs armored opponents. You can determine if the weilder is less proficient than you (BAB 3 or more less than you or non proficient), about as proficient as you (BAB +/- 2 of yours) or more proficient (BAB 3 or more than you). That doesn't cover feats and all, as I consider that a little beyond the scope of what you can tell without seeing the target in combat or engaging the target.
We used a "size-up opponent" mechanic as part of a martial lore, heal, or perception check ages ago, but ultimately dropped it. It slowed things down by quite a bit and it didn't prove very useful. We still use terms to refer to how someone looks, however, from damage or conditions. It's all descriptive, and we only require a perception check if there are multiple opponents and someone's trying to see which one looks the worst off.
With the weapons bit, if a character is proficient in the weapon, he knows if it has the ability of reach, etc. That's pretty much how my group handles it.
Hope that helps.