So, the assumption of knowledge checks for like monsters, or seeing a symbol is that you have to see said monster or symbol.
But by raw... can you hear a monster growl or have a symbol described to you and make a knowledge check on it?
Just hearing a monster growl? Doubtful, unless you've personally heard them before.
Having a monster or symbol described to you might work, although the GM might assign a penalty for not seeing the actual symbol or monster.
'.. and then a huge monster lands in front of us. it was like a dragon without front feet and with a poisonous sting on his tail.'
'Sound like a wyvern..'
This situation is perfectly legal by RAW. Identifying a monster only by sound is also possible but i would apply a penalty to the roll. Exceptions are monsters with a unique sound that make the identification easier.
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The Knowledge skill doesn't specify how exactly you identify a monster and its characteristics. I'd increase the DC for identifying it only from a sense other than vision, or from a description.
I agree with Starglim.
Let's say your party hears a Wendigo. Identifying it by sound alone would not be easy, but it -does- have a very characteristic sound, so it would definitely be possible.
-Nearyn
By raw it would depend on if the growl is distinctive enough or how well the symbol is described.
If you only want RAW and no interpretation, just read the rule. The RAW doesn't change on this board. The only thing you get from this forum is a lot of interpretations of RAW. Many are correct. Many are not.
Sorry i should have stated, I want raw because I want to use it in PFS
Expect Table Variation
It's totally possible to identify a creature by sound alone or by someone else describing it to you if you cannot see it, but I would definitely apply a penalty. Depending on how distinctive any of the features might be I would likely apply anywhere from a -5 to a -10 penalty for not being able to see it.
Strict RAW is silent on the matter; doing knowledge checks blind falls under the same rules as doing knowledge checks while wearing green pants.
In the real world, identifying something by sound alone is a routine task -- for example, bird watching (birding) has a special notation for birds that are heard but not seen. But this doesn't mean much at the table.
It's totally possible to identify a creature by sound alone or by someone else describing it to you if you cannot see it, but I would definitely apply a penalty. Depending on how distinctive any of the features might be I would likely apply anywhere from a -5 to a -10 penalty for not being able to see it.
Or a -0. I mean, if you can't tell the sound of a cow mooing or a rooster crowing, you're not much of a farmer.
It's totally possible to identify a creature by sound alone or by someone else describing it to you if you cannot see it, but I would definitely apply a penalty. Depending on how distinctive any of the features might be I would likely apply anywhere from a -5 to a -10 penalty for not being able to see it.Or a -0. I mean, if you can't tell the sound of a cow mooing or a rooster crowing, you're not much of a farmer.
Actually I would still apply a -5, but the DC would start at 5 (for common creatures) + CR (which is going to be less than 1 for barnyard creatures).
RAW there are no penalties for using any of the five sense to identify a creature using Knowledge checks. We tend to focus on sight as our primary means on sensory input so we may think a penalty is in order if sight is taken away. However, creatures with Scent should be given a chance to identify others as well as others using hearing and possibly touch and taste (I will give you 1,000gp if you go and taste the Otyugh).
I would apply the same penalty i do for perception checks when someone is blind and trying to find his allies on the battlefield (-10 perception).
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There in nothing in RAW that says you can only make the check if you see it. For the most part, you would use mutiple senses anyway to determine what exactly the creature is. Hearing just the growl and observing the habitat that is surrounding you, the check is possilble.
As for PFS, the player can make the check and unless the DC is explicit in the scenerio, the GM can assign approprate situation modifiers.
I would also add, that in most PFS scenerios, it most likely won't much differnce. If you are hearing the creature you are about one or two rounds from combat.