A way around metagaming with the MM [Archive] - Wizards Community

A way around metagaming with the MM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cog_and_taz
09-30-06, 11:06 PM Alright, we all know those guys who look through the MM, they know everything about all monsters and theior characters do too, so here's a way around it: knowledge checks.

Basically, you make an appropriate knowledge check depending on the type of the monster, and get some information, ranging from nothing to false information or full MM stat block access.

How it works: there are one to several different knowledge skills you can use on different monsters. At the start of the encounter(or rather, as soon as you can see it properly), you make a knowledge check with the highest applicable skill(you could use an appropriate one with a lower mod if you want to for some bizarre reason), or not at all if you don't have the right ones. Well, without further ado, here's the list

Alright, here's the list of skills required to know far too much about
different kinds of monsters.

Aberrations, humanoids, giants and monstrous humanoids: case by case.

Animal:nature

Construct: architecture and engineering, arcana is also usually allowed.

Dragon: arcana, dungeoneering.

Elemental: The planes, as well as religion if the element of the
elemental is an available domain for our deity, cleric or not( Obad-hai
just got a whole lot more popular, didn't he?)

Fey: nature

Magical beast: arcana/nature

ooze: dungeoneering, arcana is doable(well, I say they were made with
magic, so there!), but with a -4 penalty.

Outsider: the planes, in the cases of inevitables, slaadi, celestials,
demons and devils, religion is also allowed. Anything from the astral
plane is subject to psionics knowledge.

Plant: nature.

Undead: religion, the planes in some very special cases, like devourers.

Vermin: nature.

Anything: local knowledge of the appropriate area(assuming it actually
belongs there) or bardic knowledge.

Special: you can use psionics knowledge on psionic casters, nature on
druids, arcana on arcane spellcasters and religion for divine casters.

Any feedback will be very much appreciated, as well as questions(even "what do I use for this abberation/humanoid?").

Well, I hope this helped, happy gaming!
Araciel
09-30-06, 11:10 PM in the dragon magazine "ecology of the _____" articles, they start out with what different knowledge check results will let a person know, it's really useful
MorandirNailo
09-30-06, 11:12 PM Check the Knowledge skill in the 3.5PHB, it lists what skill you need to make for each monster type. The DC is 10 + the monster's HD, IIRC.

Mor
cog_and_taz
09-30-06, 11:15 PM ...And to think that I don't have 3.5 and spent five hours coming up with that...:weep:
Braids
09-30-06, 11:19 PM I have a special skill Knowledge (Monster). If you give out knowledge about any non-comon monsters without making a check it will lower the ammount of treasure and xp the encounter grants. Rangers don't need to make the check if the creature is a favored enemy.

There are two types of DC. If the player knows what he wants to tell the group, then the DC is really low and only required so that it takes place in game. If a player wants a hint on what they need to do to hurt a monster the DC is higher.
cog_and_taz
09-30-06, 11:23 PM Nice idea, this is just expanding on existing skills, and I thought it didn't exist before, I guess I'll delete this thread?
DwarvinJedi
09-30-06, 11:23 PM I hate to say this, but this is suggested in the PHB, and more so in the recent monster books and Design and Development columns
cog_and_taz
09-30-06, 11:27 PM I know and heard, that being why I went off to cry:weep: thanks anyway.

So... should I close tis down or will a wizo do it for me?
stargate525
09-30-06, 11:58 PM bah. In addition to the knowledge checks and if you have time to do it, go here (http://www.theothergamecompany.com/stuff-cards.htm), print out a couple dozen sheets of these bad boys, write up a couple of variants of the ones in the MM, and have fun watching your player's puzzled faces.
cog_and_taz
10-01-06, 12:04 AM Thanks. Sorry I wasted your time on this garbage, won't happen again.
Araciel
10-01-06, 02:21 AM i think it's you who has wasted your time...no harm no foul

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cog_and_taz 09-30-06, 11:06 PM	Alright, we all know those guys who look through the MM, they know everything about all monsters and theior characters do too, so here's a way around it: knowledge checks. Basically, you make an appropriate knowledge check depending on the type of the monster, and get some information, ranging from nothing to false information or full MM stat block access. How it works: there are one to several different knowledge skills you can use on different monsters. At the start of the encounter(or rather, as soon as you can see it properly), you make a knowledge check with the highest applicable skill(you could use an appropriate one with a lower mod if you want to for some bizarre reason), or not at all if you don't have the right ones. Well, without further ado, here's the list Alright, here's the list of skills required to know far too much about different kinds of monsters. Aberrations, humanoids, giants and monstrous humanoids: case by case. Animal:nature Construct: architecture and engineering, arcana is also usually allowed. Dragon: arcana, dungeoneering. Elemental: The planes, as well as religion if the element of the elemental is an available domain for our deity, cleric or not( Obad-hai just got a whole lot more popular, didn't he?) Fey: nature Magical beast: arcana/nature ooze: dungeoneering, arcana is doable(well, I say they were made with magic, so there!), but with a -4 penalty. Outsider: the planes, in the cases of inevitables, slaadi, celestials, demons and devils, religion is also allowed. Anything from the astral plane is subject to psionics knowledge. Plant: nature. Undead: religion, the planes in some very special cases, like devourers. Vermin: nature. Anything: local knowledge of the appropriate area(assuming it actually belongs there) or bardic knowledge. Special: you can use psionics knowledge on psionic casters, nature on druids, arcana on arcane spellcasters and religion for divine casters. Any feedback will be very much appreciated, as well as questions(even "what do I use for this abberation/humanoid?"). Well, I hope this helped, happy gaming!
Araciel 09-30-06, 11:10 PM	in the dragon magazine "ecology of the _____" articles, they start out with what different knowledge check results will let a person know, it's really useful
MorandirNailo 09-30-06, 11:12 PM	Check the Knowledge skill in the 3.5PHB, it lists what skill you need to make for each monster type. The DC is 10 + the monster's HD, IIRC. Mor
cog_and_taz 09-30-06, 11:15 PM	...And to think that I don't have 3.5 and spent five hours coming up with that...:weep:
Braids 09-30-06, 11:19 PM	I have a special skill Knowledge (Monster). If you give out knowledge about any non-comon monsters without making a check it will lower the ammount of treasure and xp the encounter grants. Rangers don't need to make the check if the creature is a favored enemy. There are two types of DC. If the player knows what he wants to tell the group, then the DC is really low and only required so that it takes place in game. If a player wants a hint on what they need to do to hurt a monster the DC is higher.
cog_and_taz 09-30-06, 11:23 PM	Nice idea, this is just expanding on existing skills, and I thought it didn't exist before, I guess I'll delete this thread?
DwarvinJedi 09-30-06, 11:23 PM	I hate to say this, but this is suggested in the PHB, and more so in the recent monster books and Design and Development columns
cog_and_taz 09-30-06, 11:27 PM	I know and heard, that being why I went off to cry:weep: thanks anyway. So... should I close tis down or will a wizo do it for me?
stargate525 09-30-06, 11:58 PM	bah. In addition to the knowledge checks and if you have time to do it, go here (http://www.theothergamecompany.com/stuff-cards.htm), print out a couple dozen sheets of these bad boys, write up a couple of variants of the ones in the MM, and have fun watching your player's puzzled faces.
cog_and_taz 10-01-06, 12:04 AM	Thanks. Sorry I wasted your time on this garbage, won't happen again.
Araciel 10-01-06, 02:21 AM	i think it's you who has wasted your time...no harm no foul