Bardic Knowledge, when to use it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bardic Knowledge, when to use it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Arravis
08-31-05, 04:28 PM One of my players believes that Bardic Knowledge should be rolled anytime a Knowledge skill check called for, essentially replacing it or giving the player two rolls for it.

If the party party meets a Balor, he wishes to make a Bardic Knowledge check to see if he knows of the creature (as per Knowledge Planes). If he comes across some drow, he wishes to use the Bardic Knowledge check to see if he can know of them, etc.

I interpert Bardic Knowledge as being about specific people, places or things, not more generalized concepts. If he meets a random drow, you can’t use Bardic Knowledge. If he meets Nathiria Lord Empress of the Drow Conclave, a Bardic Knowledge check would be in order (though I'd raise the DC, surface-race bard would have little access to stories and such of the drow.)

Additionally, this is not an issue of bard "power" balance (many think the class is too weak). The character in question is not a bard, but has a prestige class which bestows the Bardic Knowledge ability.

Anyway, when should Bardic Knowledge be used? When is appropriate, when is it not?

Here is the SRD quote for it:
"Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.)
A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random."
kupek
08-31-05, 04:41 PM Here is the SRD quote for it:
"Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.)
A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random."

Emphasis mine.

It seems pretty clear cut, the ability description agrees with your interpertation of it. Bardic knowledge does not impart knowledge about general subjects, but rather knowledge about specific subjects.
Maryk_Keiros
08-31-05, 08:01 PM I interpert Bardic Knowledge as being about specific people, places or things, not more generalized concepts. If he meets a random drow, you can’t use Bardic Knowledge. If he meets Nathiria Lord Empress of the Drow Conclave, a Bardic Knowledge check would be in order (though I'd raise the DC, surface-race bard would have little access to stories and such of the drow.)

I've found that bardic knowledge should be used in synergy with gather information checks, sense motive checks or certain knowledge checks which you have noted.
Yak of Darkness
08-31-05, 08:14 PM It fits the flavor, too. Bardic Knowledge doesn't so much represent an in-depth study of a specific subject (which is better represented by the Knowledge skills, all of which are on the bard's skill list), but more the random facts, names, images, and trivia a bard hears about in songs and local conversation from his travels.

"Drow? No, don't really know much about them. But what did you say her name was again? Ellin Blackstar? Oh, yeah, this group of musicians in Hammbert were talking about the Blackstars last winter. What was it they were saying . . ."
Arravis
09-01-05, 09:43 AM Sounds like everyone here is in agreement, if anyone has any diverging opinions on this or any other suggestions, post them. Thanks for all the help!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arravis 08-31-05, 04:28 PM	One of my players believes that Bardic Knowledge should be rolled anytime a Knowledge skill check called for, essentially replacing it or giving the player two rolls for it. If the party party meets a Balor, he wishes to make a Bardic Knowledge check to see if he knows of the creature (as per Knowledge Planes). If he comes across some drow, he wishes to use the Bardic Knowledge check to see if he can know of them, etc. I interpert Bardic Knowledge as being about specific people, places or things, not more generalized concepts. If he meets a random drow, you can’t use Bardic Knowledge. If he meets Nathiria Lord Empress of the Drow Conclave, a Bardic Knowledge check would be in order (though I'd raise the DC, surface-race bard would have little access to stories and such of the drow.) Additionally, this is not an issue of bard "power" balance (many think the class is too weak). The character in question is not a bard, but has a prestige class which bestows the Bardic Knowledge ability. Anyway, when should Bardic Knowledge be used? When is appropriate, when is it not? Here is the SRD quote for it: "Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.) A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random."
kupek 08-31-05, 04:41 PM	Here is the SRD quote for it: "Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.) A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random." Emphasis mine. It seems pretty clear cut, the ability description agrees with your interpertation of it. Bardic knowledge does not impart knowledge about general subjects, but rather knowledge about specific subjects.
Maryk_Keiros 08-31-05, 08:01 PM	I interpert Bardic Knowledge as being about specific people, places or things, not more generalized concepts. If he meets a random drow, you can’t use Bardic Knowledge. If he meets Nathiria Lord Empress of the Drow Conclave, a Bardic Knowledge check would be in order (though I'd raise the DC, surface-race bard would have little access to stories and such of the drow.) I've found that bardic knowledge should be used in synergy with gather information checks, sense motive checks or certain knowledge checks which you have noted.
Yak of Darkness 08-31-05, 08:14 PM	It fits the flavor, too. Bardic Knowledge doesn't so much represent an in-depth study of a specific subject (which is better represented by the Knowledge skills, all of which are on the bard's skill list), but more the random facts, names, images, and trivia a bard hears about in songs and local conversation from his travels. "Drow? No, don't really know much about them. But what did you say her name was again? Ellin Blackstar? Oh, yeah, this group of musicians in Hammbert were talking about the Blackstars last winter. What was it they were saying . . ."
Arravis 09-01-05, 09:43 AM	Sounds like everyone here is in agreement, if anyone has any diverging opinions on this or any other suggestions, post them. Thanks for all the help!