Knowledge: Local [Archive] - Wizards Community

Knowledge: Local [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Taddilius
09-05-07, 08:38 PM Do any books have a more indepth description of the knowledge local skill? I was looking for a table that might give some examples. Like a with a Knowledge Local of 10 you know your way around a city. A knowledge local of 15 you know where to find a fence etc? I was looking for the information from a rouge point of view.
Puca
09-06-07, 09:43 AM First of all, there are two separate ways to interpret the scope of Knowledge (local). Some people, and this is backed up in some supplements, think it is limited to an area, like Knowledge (local: Waterdeep) or something. I do not think this. I think this is silly. But, only if it is limited like this could it be assumed to do what you are asking. (If it is limited to a specific area, Im inclined to let it do more for that area.)
(legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids) Thats the scope of the skill. It doesnt give directions. It doesnt tell you who the local fence is. It might tell you the best quarter of town in which to start looking though.

The things you are trying to make (local) do here are, I believe, better covered with a Gather Information check.
Taddilius
09-06-07, 10:59 AM Some people, and this is backed up in some supplements, think it is limited to an area, like Knowledge (local: Waterdeep) or something. I do not think this.

I am with you. If you add a knowledge local: <place> skill suddenly you suck up all of your skill points, it just doesn't make sense. I am going to try and sell an idea that I have my main city which allows a base knowledge local and then define other cities I have been to with a modifier to the base role. I like the contacts idea in Cityscape which I'd like to incorporate into the Knowledge local.

As for gather information, I don't care for the skill. If I want to find a new fence then I'd say gather inforamation may be appropriate but to guide my familiarity with a location I'd use knowledge local.
goawayugh
09-06-07, 11:21 AM Rogue.

Yeah, K(local): (specific place) is a waste of skill points. It should be renamed K(urban life).
Someone
09-06-07, 12:43 PM I had figured that Know (local) included stuff like a city's sports teams, local foods, right to marry your cousin, and so forth.

And I agree that sub-specializations by region is a really dumb idea. Maybe one could focus on a region for a +1 or 2 in one place at the cost of -1 or 2 everywhere else (such as a tour guide), but turning it into a near-infinte number of skill point sinks (especially since its trained only) is just silly.
imakuni67
09-06-07, 06:53 PM Obviously, you should impose that you have to been in the city for awhile before you can start using checks with it. You could impose that you know indepth 1 city for each rank you have in the skill and if you make a check for a city you aren't familiar with you take a penalty.
Schmendrick
09-06-07, 07:58 PM I had figured that Know (local) included stuff like a city's sports teams, local foods, right to marry your cousin, and so forth.

And I agree that sub-specializations by region is a really dumb idea. Maybe one could focus on a region for a +1 or 2 in one place at the cost of -1 or 2 everywhere else (such as a tour guide), but turning it into a near-infinte number of skill point sinks (especially since its trained only) is just silly.

I interpret Knowlege (local) as something similar to Knowledge (social studies) -- which is why it gives a bonus to Gather Information.

Sub-specialization knowledge is semi-metagame (since regions are rather subjective), and regionalizing a knowledge skill of course begs the question, "Why don't you start the game with any ranks in your birthplace?"
sijigs
09-06-07, 09:32 PM Our DM imposes... as an example:

Knowledge: Local - Waterdeep
Knowledge: History - Waterdeep
Knowledge: Heraldry - Waterdeep
Knowledge: Geography - Waterdeep

You know the how the rest of that story goes. Gets pretty tiring trying to convince him otherwise.

So, I've resorted to bumping my Spellcraft. Which ID's *any* spell that you can see if you make your check. Regardless of source. Go figure. :mad:

Or Knowledge: Psionics. Where I can wrangle anything psionic related with a check. LOL.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Taddilius 09-05-07, 08:38 PM	Do any books have a more indepth description of the knowledge local skill? I was looking for a table that might give some examples. Like a with a Knowledge Local of 10 you know your way around a city. A knowledge local of 15 you know where to find a fence etc? I was looking for the information from a rouge point of view.
Puca 09-06-07, 09:43 AM	First of all, there are two separate ways to interpret the scope of Knowledge (local). Some people, and this is backed up in some supplements, think it is limited to an area, like Knowledge (local: Waterdeep) or something. I do not think this. I think this is silly. But, only if it is limited like this could it be assumed to do what you are asking. (If it is limited to a specific area, Im inclined to let it do more for that area.) (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions, humanoids) Thats the scope of the skill. It doesnt give directions. It doesnt tell you who the local fence is. It might tell you the best quarter of town in which to start looking though. The things you are trying to make (local) do here are, I believe, better covered with a Gather Information check.
Taddilius 09-06-07, 10:59 AM	Some people, and this is backed up in some supplements, think it is limited to an area, like Knowledge (local: Waterdeep) or something. I do not think this. I am with you. If you add a knowledge local: <place> skill suddenly you suck up all of your skill points, it just doesn't make sense. I am going to try and sell an idea that I have my main city which allows a base knowledge local and then define other cities I have been to with a modifier to the base role. I like the contacts idea in Cityscape which I'd like to incorporate into the Knowledge local. As for gather information, I don't care for the skill. If I want to find a new fence then I'd say gather inforamation may be appropriate but to guide my familiarity with a location I'd use knowledge local.
goawayugh 09-06-07, 11:21 AM	Rogue. Yeah, K(local): (specific place) is a waste of skill points. It should be renamed K(urban life).
Someone 09-06-07, 12:43 PM	I had figured that Know (local) included stuff like a city's sports teams, local foods, right to marry your cousin, and so forth. And I agree that sub-specializations by region is a really dumb idea. Maybe one could focus on a region for a +1 or 2 in one place at the cost of -1 or 2 everywhere else (such as a tour guide), but turning it into a near-infinte number of skill point sinks (especially since its trained only) is just silly.
imakuni67 09-06-07, 06:53 PM	Obviously, you should impose that you have to been in the city for awhile before you can start using checks with it. You could impose that you know indepth 1 city for each rank you have in the skill and if you make a check for a city you aren't familiar with you take a penalty.
Schmendrick 09-06-07, 07:58 PM	I had figured that Know (local) included stuff like a city's sports teams, local foods, right to marry your cousin, and so forth. And I agree that sub-specializations by region is a really dumb idea. Maybe one could focus on a region for a +1 or 2 in one place at the cost of -1 or 2 everywhere else (such as a tour guide), but turning it into a near-infinte number of skill point sinks (especially since its trained only) is just silly. I interpret Knowlege (local) as something similar to Knowledge (social studies) -- which is why it gives a bonus to Gather Information. Sub-specialization knowledge is semi-metagame (since regions are rather subjective), and regionalizing a knowledge skill of course begs the question, "Why don't you start the game with any ranks in your birthplace?"
sijigs 09-06-07, 09:32 PM	Our DM imposes... as an example: Knowledge: Local - Waterdeep Knowledge: History - Waterdeep Knowledge: Heraldry - Waterdeep Knowledge: Geography - Waterdeep You know the how the rest of that story goes. Gets pretty tiring trying to convince him otherwise. So, I've resorted to bumping my Spellcraft. Which ID's any spell that you can see if you make your check. Regardless of source. Go figure. :mad: Or Knowledge: Psionics. Where I can wrangle anything psionic related with a check. LOL.