Question about indentifying DR

[DanEvans]

If we're in combat with an enemy, how do I go about identifying if it has any DR, energy resistance, or energy immunities, and if so, what material/element to bypass DR of the kind of energy it has resistance or immunity to? I have a Geopyrokineticist and I'll be needing to know if creatures are immune to fire, or if they have DR if it can be overcome. If a knowledge check is required to identify, would the same type of knowledge check apply to all enemies encountered or would there possibly be different knowledge types required depending on type of enemy?

[Lady-J]

knowledge checks

[Nightfiend]

As Lady-J stated, generally it is the knowledge skill that allows a character to know more about a creature. That being said, I have seen a large gambit of ways that a GM can choose to handle knowledge checks, so I would consult with your GM and see how they intend to run it.

[Jeraa]

DanEvans wrote:

If a knowledge check is required to identify, would the same type of knowledge check apply to all enemies encountered or would there possibly be different knowledge types required depending on type of enemy?

Different Knowledge skills cover different creature types.

Knowledge (Arcana) covers dragons, constructs (but not robots), and magical beasts.
Dungeoneering - Aberrations and oozes
Engineering - robots (A subset of constructs)
Local - Humanoids
Nature - Animals, fey, plants, vermin, monstrous humanoids
Planes - Outsiders
Religion - Undead

Edited to include the changes from the Technology Guide regarding robots.

[Lady-J]

Jeraa wrote:

DanEvans wrote:

If a knowledge check is required to identify, would the same type of knowledge check apply to all enemies encountered or would there possibly be different knowledge types required depending on type of enemy?

Different Knowledge skills cover different creature types.

Knowledge (Arcana) covers dragons, constructs, and magical beasts.
Dungeoneering - Aberrations and oozes
Local - Humanoids
Nature - Animals, fey, plants, vermin, monstrous humanoids
Planes - Outsiders
Religion - Undead

your forgot engineering for constructs and what not

[Jeraa]

Lady-J wrote:

your forgot engineering for constructs and what not

Unless it was expanded somewhere(and it may have been), Engineering doesn't cover any creature types.

Quote:

Engineering (buildings, aqueducts, bridges, fortifications)

Constructs are covered by Knowledge (Arcana).

Quote:

Arcana (ancient mysteries, magic traditions, arcane symbols, constructs, dragons, magical beasts)

Edit: And Knowledge (Engineering) was expanded in the Technology Guide but only covers robots, not all constructs. All other constructs are still covered by Knowledge (Arcana).

[Lady-J]

Jeraa wrote:

Lady-J wrote:

your forgot engineering for constructs and what not

Unless it was expanded somewhere(and it may have been), Engineering doesn't cover any creature types.

Quote:

Engineering (buildings, aqueducts, bridges, fortifications)

Constructs are covered by Knowledge (Arcana).

Quote:

Arcana (ancient mysteries, magic traditions, arcane symbols, constructs, dragons, magical beasts)

Edit: And Knowledge (Engineering) was expanded in the Technology Guide but only covers robots, not all constructs. All other constructs are still covered by Knowledge (Arcana).

weird

[Azten]

Well they are created through magical means.

[Lady-J]

Azten wrote:

Well they are created through magical means.

not all constructs are and even then only robots are covered by engineering for some reason despite some non robot constructs being made by science and not magic

[Java Man]

What non robot, non magic constructs are there?

[Lorewalker]

Lady-J wrote:

Azten wrote:

Well they are created through magical means.

not all constructs are and even then only robots are covered by engineering for some reason despite some non robot constructs being made by science and not magic

Constructs are, almost all, made by magic. With robots being fairly unique in that they are not. Even clockwork constructs are created, at least in part, by magic.

Clockwork wrote:

"Clockwork constructs are the technological cousins of golems, constructed with a combination of magic and precise technologies dependent upon the internal churning and turning of thousands of intricate springs, screws, and gears. "

Basically, any construct that isn't a clockwork, robot or android is purely animated by magic. Clockwork is animated in part by magic. And robots are magic-free. Android are a step above robots.