So, I will soon be starting a new campaign (Abomination Vaults) and one player is playing a thaumaturge. I am trying to wrap my head around this class and all the unusual abilities is seems to get. One thing I see as becoming a question is Exploit Vulnerability, which reads as follows.
'Select a creature you can see and attempt an Esoteric Lore check against a standard DC for its level,'
My question is, does this Esoteric Lore check count as a Recall Knowledge check? The Esoteric Lore can be used to make Recall Knowledge checks, but unless I am missing something this specific use would not count as Recall Knowledge. This means it would not trigger things based on a Recall Knowkedge check, such as Dubious Knowledge, nor would it apply bonuses that apply to Recall Knowledge checks.
Am I reading this ability correctly? Or am I being too restrictive in my application of this ability? Thanks for the advice and knowledge.
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Exploit Vulnerability is its own thing, not Recall Knowledge. This means that:
- Unlike RK, you can try EV again if you failed before.
- EV does not get harder when you use it again.
- EV does not get harder if the monster is uncommon/rare/unique.
During the playtest these were really problematic for thaumaturges. Back then they used RK. Hunting really obscure monsters is exactly their theme, but that doesn't work well with RK. So they were likely to perform worst against the things they thematically should be best against.
So EV isn't RK anymore.
Ascalaphus has the balance reasons for this. I'll see if I can explicitly list out the mechanics of how it works.
Esoteric Lore is a special Lore skill (that also uses CHA for its ability modifier). It could probably be used for normal things that Lore skills are used for, such as Recall Knowledge or Earn Income.
Esoteric Lore is specifically allowed to be used for Recall Knowledge actions for Haunts, Curses, and any type of creature.
But an Esoteric Lore check is not necessarily a Recall Knowledge check. Most notably, Exploit Vulnerability asks for an Esoteric Lore check (and sets the DC to not have any Rarity modifiers) - it does not ask for a Recall Knowledge check using Esoteric Lore.
There is a feat (Diverse Lore) that allows it to be used for Recall Knowledge checks of any type, though with a penalty. It also allows you to get the benefits of a Recall Knowledge action when you use Exploit Vulnerability, but even that does not make every Esoteric Lore check a Recall Knowledge check.
Thanks folks. That confirms what I was thinking. Just wanted to be sure.