I recently received this boon, and I'm starting to regret picking it now. :P
The text is as follows:
Even if your formal education in creature lore is limited, you have a good memory and can quickly recall experimental trivia about common creatures when you encounter them a second time. Whenever you encounter one of the creature types listed below, and either you or an ally identifies the creature, you may check the box next to that creature's name below. When you do so, record the name of one of the creature's special abilities (breath weapon, damage reduction, resistances, etc.) next to the name. Whenever you encounter and positively identify this creature type in the future, you automatically recall this piece of information; remembering this fact is in addition to any other facts you may remember with a successful Knowledge check.
Following is a list of monsters ranging from the common (zombies, skeletons, elementals) to the rather less common (dark naga, otyugh, grey ooze).
As far as I can tell, this boon does... nothing. If you have already faced a monster in a scenario, and either you or another player has identified it, wouldn't that mean you would subsequently know that information about the monster?
I certainly wouldn't think that a seasoned adventurer would be required to make a Knowledge (religion) check every time they face a zombie to know to use their swords, not their arrows; or that they wouldn't know basic facts about basilisks (don't look them in the eye!) or ghosts (they're incorporeal!) that are basically common knowledge. I also certainly wouldn't think that a character somehow forgets things about the monsters they've already fought. "Hey guys, those are harpies; I fought some back in Osirion a year ago, be careful for their song!"
So... What does this boon do, actually? Are the expectations I listed just now actually wrong, and my characters shouldn't know to attack demons with cold iron unless they make a Knowledge (planes) check every time?
Venture-Lieutenant, Washington—Pullman
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Consider that most humans all share the same basic anatomy; 2 arms 2 legs a body and a head. Now we throw in races(I'm not going to list them), then ethnicity(again not listing) among those races.
Suppose if you will that each ethnicity had its very own specialization and abilities like Eastern European people had eyes that could shoot out red hot laser beams and Western European people had eyes that could shoot out ice cold frost beams. Now you are trekking along in Germany and encounter a human being. What kind of beam do they shoot out of their eyes? Because this determines if you put on sun tan lotion or a jacket.
The skinny is just because you've seen one harpy doesn't mean that is the only type of harpy on the planet... Osirian Harpies are probably less clothed and have less hair on their body than Irrisan harpies.
*To the Boon*
The boon allows you to remember a special ability in addition to the other information you recall about certain enemies from your studies. Instead of having to spend a question on a dragon's breath weapon you just get to know it, meaning you can ask perceptions so you know going invisible doesn't help as much as one might think.
But that's the thing.
Let's say I make a check to successfully identify the naked, vulture-esque harpies. Last week I successfully identified the white-feathered eagle-esque harpies from Irrisen, and learned about their song at that point (particularly after seeing the barbarian get enchanted).
Without this boon, I'm already going to know that this harpy (which I just identified, remember) is going to have an enchanting song. I'm not going to ask about it. I've fought harpies before and already know that.
Why do I need a boon to do that?
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Look at it another way: you now have a certificate that deflects accusations of metagaming. It's all recorded and signed for. You also have a thing you can wave at the GM to recall information that you (the player) have forgotten. God knows, I'd like one.
I mean, you could make the argument that we all need one, something like an inventory tracking sheet for character knowledge... but that might open an accountability can-of-worms that I don't want on my conscience.