Dotting since I've never gotten a good answer on this either
You can review the Skill listing for Knowledge checks and values for the rolls rolled-- but, it can depend on the DM, obviously. All rules are sometimes just guidelines.
If you look at some Bestiary or campaign write ups, sometimes they break down the various ranges and information provided.
I believe 15 to 20 is one range, and it gets more secretive and detailed per 5 points on the roll.
YMMV.
If they succeed, I give anything that I think is pertinent to the party, plus anything specific they ask for.
You can use this skill to identify monsters and their special powers or vulnerabilities. In general, the DC of such a check equals 10 + the monster's CR. 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. Many of the Knowledge skills have specific uses as noted on Table: Knowledge Skill DCs.
It is up to the GM to decide what information to give, but this possible list should include things like
DRSpell Like Abilities
Vulnerabilities, Resistances, and Immunities
Supernatural Powers
Fast Healing/Regeneration
etc.
The pertinent text:
You can use this skill to identify monsters and their special powers or vulnerabilities. In general, the DC of such a check equals 10 + the monster's CR. 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.
I offer up information based on the separation in the stat block, with one exception: The Type\Subtype traits for the creature are a section to themselves.
To offer an example using the gray ooze and assuming characters of an equal level:
Player: Okay, what's the creature's offensive capability?
GM: The creature is very slow, so you can probably outrun it easily. It attempts to slam its prey, and its acidic body will burn you further. And don't let it surround you, because it will attempt to squeeze the life out of you!
Player: What sorts of defenses does the creature have?
GM: Hitting this creature is quite easy; it's slow and has no real resistance to your weapons. It is fairly robust - healthier than you are, in fact. It also is not harmed by frost or flame.
Player: Wnat type of monster is this?
GM: From the looks of it, this is an ooze. It's a mindless blob of acidic goo; although it's blind, it can sense creatures in its vicinity quite well. Its lack of organs means that it has no real weak spots, and poisons do not harm it. Anything that affects the mind will bounce of this blob.
The OP's question is why this project got started. :)
Niiiiiiice.
As a matter of personal preference, if they beat the Knowledge check by 15 or more, I just hand them the Bestiary book and let them read the page as a no-action.
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For me I have a table.. tables for everything. even tables for the tables. o.O
10 - Name of creature if I feel it would be commonly known.
15 - Name if uncommon. 1 Defensive or Offensive ability it has.
20 - Name if Rare. 1 Choice all defensive or all offensive abilities a creature has.
25 - Name, 1 of whatever they didn't choose to learn above.
30 - Can read the page, but not any modifications I have done to base beastery info.
Encounter new creature: Party as a whole picks one person. They roll a knowledge check +1 per 3 people in the party or fraction there of.
Party can only roll once per encounter, even if there is multiple unknown creatures they encounter.
All the above governed by rule of cool over rule of drool.
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@Klokk: How do you handle abilities like Know Thy Enemy? Especially if the PC with it is no the primary Knowledge monkey?
There are two or three classes or abilities like that, where you kmake a Knowledge check, frequently as something besides a free/no action roll, and get a bonus for success.
Lore Warden Fighter archetype, for instance.
IIRC, there is a spell (Divine, I think) which does something similar, as well.
And don't forget about familiars. If the one person making the knowledge check has an animal or imp or whatever w/all the same skills sitting on their shoulder, they might be able to have it make the same roll right over again.
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i've often thought of making cards for monsters,
base DC : name / type. some common knowledge about the monster
base DC + 5: some uncommon knowledge about the monster
base DC + 10: some more obscure knowledge.
base DC + 15: the monster's mother's name and who she's dating.
and then put a sleeve on the card. just pull the sleeve down to what DC they beat.
and you've got the picture, and what information to reveal.
but i'm lazy.
Paizo. Get on it =D