Some questions of Lore.


Advice


So, for those of you that run games…

What sort of questions as examples might be appropriate topics for Boneyard Lore?
For undead Lore?
For Necromancy Lore?

Could necromancy lore be used in any way for identifying undead? Likewise boneyard lore? Just trying to figure out some things.


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Lores are in an interesting space in that they are as powerful as the GM allows them to be. The general guidance given is that Lores tend to use an easy DC for Recall Knowledge (which is a DC based on the level of the creature - 2). Very specific Lore (such as Vampire Lore when identifying vampires) would be a very easy DC for Recall Knowledge (level-based DC - 5).

Now, the question here becomes "Is Necromancy Lore the study of undead or is it the study of necromantic magic?" Likewise for Boneyard Lore. As a GM, I think I would allow it in place of a Religion check to Recall Knowledge on certain undead, but not with any easy or very easy modifiers. But that's entirely my call and other GMs may not rule the same way.

Now as to "What sort of questions as examples might be appropriate topics for _____ Lore?" I'm not sure that we approach Lores in the same way. Typically, in my games, Lores are ways to uncover more information, though the prompt typically comes from the GM and less so the player. For instance, when running a game, a PC may discover some unearthed graves and make a hard Perception check or an on-level Nature check to notice claw marks come from within the hole. However, a PC with Necromancy Lore might be able to go against an easy or even very easy DC to deduce that necromantic magic was used to animate the dead. With lower DCs comes a higher chance to get a critical success and allow me, as a GM, to give out more information to someone using their Lores.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your question, it is less "I'd like to use Undead Lore to discover what monster is rampaging through the countryside," from the player and more "You notice something familiar about the attack. You can roll a Medicine check on the wound or an Undead Lore check."

When writing games for my players, I tend to look at their Lores and throw in a few situations to make them stand out. Someone with Boneyard Lore might notice that a psychopomp following their tracks or understand the proper rites to for a fallen ally. PCs with Undead Lore might pick up on the fact that a well-armed fortress lacks any food to feed its soldiers, or that the dead creature before them will rise as a wight soon enough. Finally, for Necromancy Lore, they may notice that the reagents used in the bandit's hideout match those used in a ritual to animate the dead, or perhaps they would know that an unholy desecration has taken place over a site, empowering the undead.

EDIT: I should stress that the way I see it, Lores are not a secret knowledge that only that character knows. Any other PC could know the answers or notice these things, it's just that someone with the appropriate Lore would have an easier time of doing so.


Wel), was mainly in the vein of " examples ofuse" which you sort of did.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I would allow Boneyard Lore to identify undead IF the Boneyard was the origin of those types of undead.

I would allow Necromany Lore only if the type of undead could be created via spells or rituals. Undead that are not created by deliberate magic, but are created spontaneously in the world, would not be permitted.

The former would be more for answering questions regarding that Plane, where the latter would be more for sinister magic relating to life and death.


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Ravingdork wrote:

I would allow Boneyard Lore to identify undead IF the Boneyard was the origin of those types of undead.

I would allow Necromany Lore only if the type of undead could be created via spells or rituals. Undead that are not created by deliberate magic, but are created spontaneously in the world, would not be permitted.

The former would be more for answering questions regarding that Plane, where the latter would be more for sinister magic relating to life and death.

Are there even undead that originate in the Boneyard? There are phantoms which are spirits that escaped the boneyard but they are very specifically not undead. I'd be shocked if undead can grow in Phantasma's personal backyard. Seems like she'd de-weed them with extreme prejudice. As such, I can't imagine allowing boneyard lore ever for undead.

I would allow necromancy lore for most if not all undead, but I night not apply a DC adjustment. So the only advantage over religion would be for high intelligence, low wisdom characters... Which to be fair is an important necromancer niche.

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