Knowledge

From Cf

Like the Craft and Profession skills, Knowledge actually encompasses a number of unrelated skills. Knowledge represents a study of some body of lore, possibly an academic or even scientific discipline.

Contents 1 Fields 2 Check 3 Action 4 Try Again 5 Synergy 6 Untrained

Fields

• Arcane Lore (the occult, magic and the supernatural, astrology, numerology)
• Architecture and Engineering (buildings, aqueducts, bridges, fortifications)
• Art (fine arts, art history, techniques, antiques, performance art such as music and dance)
• Behavioral Sciences (psychology, sociology, and criminology)
• Business (business procedures, investment strategies, corporate structures, bureaucratic procedures)
• Civics (law, legislation, litigation, legal rights and obligations, political and governmental institutions and processes)
• Current Events (recent happenings in the news, sports, politics, entertainment, and foreign affairs)
• Earth and Life Sciences (biology, botany, genetics, geology, paleontology)
• Geography (lands, terrain, climate, people)
• History (archeology, antiquities, rulers and personalities, wars, colonies, migrations, civiliazations)
• Local (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs, traditions)
• Medicine (neurology, psychiatry, pathology and all other medical and surgical specialties)
• Physical Sciences (astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics)
• Streetwise (street and urban culture, local underworld personalities, events)
• Tactics (techniques and strategies for disposing and maneuvering forces in combat)
• Technology (current developments in cutting-edge devices, as well as the background necessary to identify various technological devices)
• Theology and Philosophy (mythic history, liberal arts, ethics, philosophical concepts, the study of religious faith, practice, and experience)

Check

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). For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information.

Action

Usually none. In most cases, making a Knowledge check doesn’t take an action—you simply know the answer or you don’t.

Try Again

No. The check represents what you know, and thinking about a topic a second time doesn’t let you know something that you never learned in the first place.

Synergy

• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (architecture and engineering), you get a +2 bonus on Search checks made to find secret doors or hidden compartments.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (art), you get a +2 bonus on Perform checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (behavorial sciences), you get a +2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (civics), you get a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (earth and life sciences), you get a +2 bonus on Survival checks made in aboveground natural environments.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (geography), you get a +2 bonus on Survival checks made to keep from getting lost or to avoid natural hazards.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (local), you get a +2 bonus on Gather Information checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (medicine), you get a +2 bonus on Treat Injury checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (streetwise), you get a +2 bonus on Gather Information checks.
• If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (technology), you get a +2 bonus on Computer Use checks.

Untrained

An untrained Knowledge check is simply an Intelligence check. Without actual training, you know only common knowledge (DC 10 or lower).