Knowledge Check DC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Knowledge Check DC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Carnage56
09-12-07, 10:57 PM Hey guys...I'm curious about fair knowledge check DC's for a couple of things. First allow me to explain the campaign setting. The campaign is set in a flat world (or it's in fact a floating island high above the world)...popular belief is that the world is round and there is no solid factual proof that is is flat. The characters are on an extremely small island (like that of Rhode Island, USA or Maui, Hawaii) There is very low information about the rest of the world and it's continents...and there is no information that the world is flat or that the world is floating above another world. So now I want to know some good DC checks.

Know that there is other continents other than the island you're on
(This should be self explanatory, although other continents are rarely talked about, if ever)

Have reason to believe that the world is flat
(This would be like Gallelio(sp?) and Columbus)

Know that all deities (pelor, nerul, ect.) are fictional

Know of an epic battle took place above you 10 thousand years ago which destroyed a giant metropolis that ALL intelligent life came from before it was destroyed.
(This was taboo after it happened and rarely talked about...you might find it in a diary of someone...if you could read it and it was still intact...but you'd never hear it from anyone)

Know that the people that moved here to this island came from another continent and didn't always live here...they moved here 10 thousand years ago.
(same as the one above)

All of these DC's checks should be close to impossible I figure because of the extreme lack of knowledge base that you have on the island...however I'd like to know fair DC's for them...they should be high, and nearly impossible...but you never know if a character came upon something to give them knowledge...these checks are made prior to the campaign once characters were completely developed. Thank you
heffroncm
09-12-07, 11:04 PM For the record, making sweeping generalizations about religion and believes (I.E. evolution and jesus) on the internet is a good way to get flamed. Whatever your belief in the matter, you should not state it as fact. I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm not saying you are right, and I have no interest in debating either subject with you or anyone else at this time. Just a word of caution.

As for the check DCs, set them at 28 for this particular time. A character with a Natural 20, 4 ranks in the skill, and an 18 Intelligence will make the check.
Carnage56
09-12-07, 11:15 PM I apologize, I did not mean that I believed (or knew) in evolution or in jesus...I was just giving an example of what a character would think of it as...not saying that with evolution or religion (or both at the same time) were right or wrong.

Thank you for the advice :).
perdera
09-13-07, 10:18 AM Yeah, that religious thing was just an example, it's all good. I, at least, understand you were providing an example and not proclaiming absolute theological truth about the universe.

That being said, yes, some things just aren't known, and you'll have to judge that for yourself within the context of your world. Although you may houserule otherwise, there is no critical success or failure on skill checks...so a natural 20 should not 'do wonders', it should just result in a 20 + Knowledge Skill knowledge check.

Starting with the SRD:

Answering a question within your field of study has a DC of 10 (for really easy questions), 15 (for basic questions), or 20 to 30 (for really tough questions).

Suspect there are other continents? DC 25

Suspect the world is flat? DC 30

Deities? Impossible.

Battle? Impossible.

People? Impossible.

Basically, these are questions that no first level novice initiate apprentice mook is going to have figured out yet.

The Knowledge skills encompass you learning and absorbing currently known information from obtainable sources. There really is no skill that encompasses actual study and experimentation, such roles are usually left to NPCs. Unless a characters background really revolves around his fascination with trying to learn more about the world, or the past, or the gods, the questions you have posed go way beyond what would be obtainable in a practical way.

Also, the way you've presented your world, this is special and awesome information. Don't just give it away to a Knowledge check (which they can make again every level they raise the corresponding Knowledge skill), have it unfold throughout their adventures.
Puca
09-13-07, 11:14 AM Knowledge (in D&D) is facts that you know.
It represents things your characters have learned based on education and experience that did not take place in-game.

If there is no way to verify that something is true, it is unknowable and cannot be "known" from any check regardless of the individuals Int of ranks.

Take the existence of the gods, or rather the non-existence of them. It is logically impossible to prove a universal negative. No one in your campaign can "know" this to be 100% true.

The can know a lot of things related to this issue. They could know that the clerics who claim to speak to Pelor are liars. Based on that they could believe with every fiber of their being that there is no Pelor. But the skill is Knowledge (religion) not Beliefs (religion.)
Carnage56
09-13-07, 08:07 PM Thank you all for your advice...and also thank you Perdera and Puca for your knowledge on skill check rolls and the facts about Knowledge as a skill check. It is good to know that information...for some reason, I believe an old DM of mine must've had a house rule..but I was under the understanding that n20's "exploded" and got bigger...thank you for allowing me to know that is false.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Carnage56 09-12-07, 10:57 PM	Hey guys...I'm curious about fair knowledge check DC's for a couple of things. First allow me to explain the campaign setting. The campaign is set in a flat world (or it's in fact a floating island high above the world)...popular belief is that the world is round and there is no solid factual proof that is is flat. The characters are on an extremely small island (like that of Rhode Island, USA or Maui, Hawaii) There is very low information about the rest of the world and it's continents...and there is no information that the world is flat or that the world is floating above another world. So now I want to know some good DC checks. Know that there is other continents other than the island you're on (This should be self explanatory, although other continents are rarely talked about, if ever) Have reason to believe that the world is flat (This would be like Gallelio(sp?) and Columbus) Know that all deities (pelor, nerul, ect.) are fictional Know of an epic battle took place above you 10 thousand years ago which destroyed a giant metropolis that ALL intelligent life came from before it was destroyed. (This was taboo after it happened and rarely talked about...you might find it in a diary of someone...if you could read it and it was still intact...but you'd never hear it from anyone) Know that the people that moved here to this island came from another continent and didn't always live here...they moved here 10 thousand years ago. (same as the one above) All of these DC's checks should be close to impossible I figure because of the extreme lack of knowledge base that you have on the island...however I'd like to know fair DC's for them...they should be high, and nearly impossible...but you never know if a character came upon something to give them knowledge...these checks are made prior to the campaign once characters were completely developed. Thank you
heffroncm 09-12-07, 11:04 PM	For the record, making sweeping generalizations about religion and believes (I.E. evolution and jesus) on the internet is a good way to get flamed. Whatever your belief in the matter, you should not state it as fact. I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm not saying you are right, and I have no interest in debating either subject with you or anyone else at this time. Just a word of caution. As for the check DCs, set them at 28 for this particular time. A character with a Natural 20, 4 ranks in the skill, and an 18 Intelligence will make the check.
Carnage56 09-12-07, 11:15 PM	I apologize, I did not mean that I believed (or knew) in evolution or in jesus...I was just giving an example of what a character would think of it as...not saying that with evolution or religion (or both at the same time) were right or wrong. Thank you for the advice :).
perdera 09-13-07, 10:18 AM	Yeah, that religious thing was just an example, it's all good. I, at least, understand you were providing an example and not proclaiming absolute theological truth about the universe. That being said, yes, some things just aren't known, and you'll have to judge that for yourself within the context of your world. Although you may houserule otherwise, there is no critical success or failure on skill checks...so a natural 20 should not 'do wonders', it should just result in a 20 + Knowledge Skill knowledge check. Starting with the SRD: Answering a question within your field of study has a DC of 10 (for really easy questions), 15 (for basic questions), or 20 to 30 (for really tough questions). Suspect there are other continents? DC 25 Suspect the world is flat? DC 30 Deities? Impossible. Battle? Impossible. People? Impossible. Basically, these are questions that no first level novice initiate apprentice mook is going to have figured out yet. The Knowledge skills encompass you learning and absorbing currently known information from obtainable sources. There really is no skill that encompasses actual study and experimentation, such roles are usually left to NPCs. Unless a characters background really revolves around his fascination with trying to learn more about the world, or the past, or the gods, the questions you have posed go way beyond what would be obtainable in a practical way. Also, the way you've presented your world, this is special and awesome information. Don't just give it away to a Knowledge check (which they can make again every level they raise the corresponding Knowledge skill), have it unfold throughout their adventures.
Puca 09-13-07, 11:14 AM	Knowledge (in D&D) is facts that you know. It represents things your characters have learned based on education and experience that did not take place in-game. If there is no way to verify that something is true, it is unknowable and cannot be "known" from any check regardless of the individuals Int of ranks. Take the existence of the gods, or rather the non-existence of them. It is logically impossible to prove a universal negative. No one in your campaign can "know" this to be 100% true. The can know a lot of things related to this issue. They could know that the clerics who claim to speak to Pelor are liars. Based on that they could believe with every fiber of their being that there is no Pelor. But the skill is Knowledge (religion) not Beliefs (religion.)
Carnage56 09-13-07, 08:07 PM	Thank you all for your advice...and also thank you Perdera and Puca for your knowledge on skill check rolls and the facts about Knowledge as a skill check. It is good to know that information...for some reason, I believe an old DM of mine must've had a house rule..but I was under the understanding that n20's "exploded" and got bigger...thank you for allowing me to know that is false.