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how do you do it?
I want to have a clearer system, and am contemplating:
1) Calling for checks (standard DCs)
2) On simple success, tell them Type and any special weakness (Vulnerability, typed DR, etc)
3) One of the following for each 'raise' (+5) the player chooses:
*Special Attacks
*Special Defenses
*Ecology
*Answer a single question regarding the creature
4) PC may attempt a Sense Motive check against the same DC to get a HD reading, similar to Detect Evil
5) PC may attempt a Heal check against the same DC to get a status update; i will tell them when the creature is 'bloodied' (at half HP or less) and at 'last call' (HP equal to or less than HD).
what do you do?
We very, very rarely rely on knowledge checks in combat situations.
And things like what you call a "status update" should just be visible to PCs in the combat, no special checks required.
Remember, every time you call for a check, you're slowing down combat - and it's already one of the most time-intensive aspects of RPGs in general, and pathfinder in particular.
I could see knowledge checks being important for exotic monsters, or cases where the players ooc knowledge is beyond what the PC could reliably be expected to know, especially for critters with specific weaknesses or abilities. Guess I'd better try uisng that more. <g>
1) I describe monster based on the way it looks and acts.
2) Player asks if they can use Knowledge to identify it
3) If player beats standard DC, I describe how they knew of the creature, what that article identified it as, and the general premise of the creature.
4) For every 5 above the DC, I allow the player to gain one additional piece of information. This can be the answer to a single question.
ME: "The large creature flies overhead with its leathery wings, a deadly spiked tail behind it."
WIZARD: "Do I know what it is? Can I roll to identify it?"
ME: "Sure. Gimme Knowledge (Dungeoneering)."
WIZARD: "Hm...21"
ME (Sees that the monster's CR is 5, thus DC 15): "You remember reading about this creature during your academic studies. The text book called it a 'cloaker,' an intelligent aberrant creature that flies around underground like a bat."
WIZARD: "Like a bat? Does it have any special attacks?"
ME: "Yes, among other abilities, it can emit a powerful shrieking sound that can disable its prey through fear or nausa."
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New Topic:
I can think of 3 "primary" questions that a Knowledge-user might immediately want to know when succeeding at their check against a creature:
1) Does the creature have a weakness?
2) Does the creature have special attacks?
3) Does the creature have special defenses?
What other questions belong on this list?
Context: After using a variant of Background Skills (Unchained) to saddle each PC with free ranks in at least one Knowledge skill, I want to create a little "cheat-sheet" for them as a baseline for using that skill.
New Topic:
I can think of 3 "primary" questions that a Knowledge-user might immediately want to know when succeeding at their check against a creature:1) Does the creature have a weakness?
2) Does the creature have special attacks?
3) Does the creature have special defenses?What other questions belong on this list?
Context: After using a variant of Background Skills (Unchained) to saddle each PC with free ranks in at least one Knowledge skill, I want to create a little "cheat-sheet" for them as a baseline for using that skill.
Hope some of this help to feed your final list.
4) Is it intelligent?
5) Is it common to find it alone or is it usual to find a pair (or more) of it?
6) Is it extraordinarily strong/dexter/wiser/etc... ?
7) Is it slow or quick?
8) Is it territorial (with a burrow/nest/wahtever close) or nomad/migratory?