So I can make Knowledge checks to determine all kind of things about monsters. Is there a way to determine how deadly another PC or NPC is? I'm just trying to get general idea here. Knowing if my combat skills are in the same ballpark or not. What NPCs would it be suicide to mess with.
This would also apply to Monsters with class levels.
Kind of.
Or any skill really. I wouldn't mind being able to use Sense motive and/or perception to try and size someone up. There should be some method of this.
Knowledge Local is the skill to identify a human for info, just like Knowledge Nature for an animal would.
Nope. If you run across two human fighters and one is level 4 and the other is level 6 you have no way to know the difference. A GM might tell you one has better gear, but that does not mean you know how hard the fight will be.
My group houseruled it as a function of Perception. It allows you to get an idea of whether or not the enemy fighter is about your level, weaker, or stronger by how they carry themselves and handle their equipment.
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I houseruled it as the Appraise skill. Cause no one was using Appraise anyway. Ever.
New use for Appraise skill (if used in this way, class skill for Barbarian, Fighter, Cavalier, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Samurai, Ninja, Paladin, Gunslinger): Size up opponent – if no relevant knowledge skill, can possibly estimate approximate CR of creature or individual. DM roll only – closer to DC, more accurate information.
We houseruled an all-new skill for that: Knowledge (combat), which gives you all the lore about anything that has to do with combat (combat styles, weapons used, likely tacticts, combat feats and so on). It adds depth to martial classes, and we make it work exactly as a normal skill check (1 additional info per 5 point by which the DC is exceeded). As an alternative, I suppose that Knowledge (local) is also there for this, even though not alla GMs would allow to gain an insight on humanoid foes feats and power level. Personally, I would allow a PC to know what class levels one humanoid has (if any), but not how many.
As a GM I only tend to have important NPC's that far above a PC that they meet so knowledge local check could be used to recall info about them. I won't give stats, but I might say he is known for taking on a Fire Giant and winning. That means if you are only level 3, that NPC is not someone to start a fight with. I may also ask for knowledge check on the giant so you can at least get a basic idea of how strong they are also.
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Maybe I'm wrong, but as far as I know even the appropriate Knowledge checks do not reveal the effective power level of a monster: it gives you insight on his abilities and maybe attacks and defenses (such ad DR, SR, etc.) but I usually don't give my players a specific definition of how much powerful is the monster. I only tend to tell if the monster is considered a fair match for the PCs, or if it's over their potential, never specific statements about CR or something like that.
Sense Motive seems appropriate do determine a general 'dangerous' rating. Knowledge Local or Knowledge Nobility might be able to reveal some famous exploits, which could give clues. Appraise might reveal if the NPC has a lot of valuable and magical gear, which doesn't necessarily relate to level but often correlates.
Sounds like you want some kind of "power level" scanner, in the form of a skill check.
"That Wizard's Power Level is over 9000!"
...or something like that.
^THIS
is what I want