Knowledge (Religion)

Description

Ability Score Used:	Intelligence
Usable Untrained?	No
Armor Check Penalty Applies?	No

You are educated in theology and religion, which allows you to answer both simple and complex questions on that topic. Specifically, Knowledge (Religion) allows you to make checks to reveal information on gods and goddesses, mythic history, ecclesiastic traditions, holy symbols and the undead.

You cannot make an untrained Knowledge check with a DC higher than 10. If you have access to a library that covers a specific skill, this limit is removed. The time to make checks using a library, however, increases to 1d4 hours. Particularly complete libraries might even grant a research bonus on Knowledge checks pertaining to topics that they cover.

Characters who have the bailiwick skill Divinity from their character class (or some other source) gain ranks in Knowledge (Religion) automatically, at a rate of one rank per rank placed in Divinity. A character can never have more ranks in a skill than his character level.

As with all skills, the uses below are merely suggestions, and by no means the full gamut of possible ways a skill can be used. Players and GM's are encouraged to find additional ways to use each skill.

General Knowledge

You know the answers to questions pertaining to religion, such as gods, goddesses, mythic history, ecclesiastic traditions, holy symbols, the Celestial Cascade, and divine domains. If you adhere to a particular faith, your knowledge of that faith is particularly strong, but is not limited to that one religion. Instead, you have a broad understanding of all religions which is, perhaps, biased a bit towards your own spiritual predilections.
Action Required:	Free action
DC of Check:	Answering a question on a religious topic has an Easy DC for the CR of the topic for really easy questions, an Average DC against the CR of the topic for basic questions, a Challenging DC against the CR of the topic for really tough questions, or a Hard DC against the CR of the topic for really tough questions on narrow or specific topics. Some examples of basic tasks include: Recognize a common deity's symbol or clergy 10 Recognize an obscure deity's symbol or clergy 20 Know common mythology and tenets 15 Know obscure mythology or tenets 25 Know ecclesiastical traditions of a religion 30
Modifiers to Check	Your own religion: -10 to the DC Religion found in your homeland: -5 to the DC Widespread or popular religion with many adherents: -5 to the DC Religion of a distant or unusual culture: a matriarchy, perfect pacifists, within the Unterwelt, etc.: +10 to the DC Very unusual or unique religion: personality cults, non-humanoid society, magical post-scarcity society (wishes): +20 to the DC Worship of an utterly alien culture: hive mind, fractal thinkers, churches of chaotic change: +30 to the DC Religion based in a different plane of existence: the elemental planes, the plane of shadow, The First World, etc.: +25 to the DC Religion based in a different, hostile, and alien plane of existence: the Hells, the Abyss, the Deep Dark, Elysium, etc.: +40 to the DC
Take 10? / Take 20?	No
Allows Assists?	Yes (up to 5 allies)
Results of Success	You are familiar with the topic, and have useful information relating to it. The GM will tell you what you know. If you exceed the target DC by a significant amount (typically, reaching a higher difficulty threshold than what was required for the check), the GM may provide additional information to you than would be revealed by a merely successful roll.
Consequences of Failure	You don't know enough about the topic to provide any useful insight.
Retry Allowed?	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.
Provokes AOO?	No.

Monster Lore: Undead

You can use this skill to identify the undead, and potentially even recall detailed information regarding their special powers or vulnerabilities. Creatures of other types than these require different knowledge skills to identify.
Action Required:	Free action
DC of Check:	Basic Lore: double the monster's CR Complete Lore: 15 + double the monster's CR
Modifiers to Check	Some monsters have different target DC's. Refer to the monster's bestiary entry for details. These altered DC's are typically because the monster in question is so well known that the check is easier, or so rare that few have ever heard of them.
Take 10? / Take 20?	If you are not in combat (or in immediate danger of combat), you can take 10, but you cannot take 20.
Allows Assists?	Yes (up to 5 allies)
Results of Success	Basic Lore: You remember a little bit of useful information about that monster. GM's should either read, or allow the character to read, the introductory text of the monster's bestiary entry. Complete Lore: You know quite a lot about the monster in question, and GM's should allow that player to look over the monster's bestiary entry in its entirety.
Consequences of Failure	You don't know enough about the creature to provide any useful information.
Retry Allowed?	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.
Provokes AOO?	No

Contemplate Answers (Epic)

You can take some time to reflect on what you do know in order to draw conclusions about what you don't know. You can contemplate the foundational knowledge of religion that you possess, and apply it to a particular question or puzzle you were previously unable to answer. By exerting your will and taking a moment to really think things through, you might discover an answer you never knew you had. Contemplate answers allows you to make a second attempt at a general knowledge check, at the cost of taking a bit longer to consider the problem. This is an epic skill use, and requires at least 21 ranks in the skill before it may be attempted.
Action Required:	Full-round action
DC of Check:	Unchanged from general knowledge: an Easy DC for the CR of the topic for really easy questions, an Average DC against the CR of the topic for basic questions, a Challenging DC against the CR of the topic for really tough questions, or a Hard DC against the CR of the topic for really tough questions on narrow or specific topics.
Modifiers to Check	Hasty Conclusions: You can attempt to contemplate answers as a standard action, instead of a full-round action, but the DC is increased by +5. You can attempt to contemplate answers as a move action, but the DC is increased by +10. Your own religion: -10 to the DC Religion found in your homeland: -5 to the DC Widespread or popular religion with many adherents: -5 to the DC Religion of a distant or unusual culture: a matriarchy, perfect pacifists, within the Unterwelt, etc.: +10 to the DC Very unusual or unique religion: personality cults, non-humanoid society, magical post-scarcity society (wishes): +20 to the DC Worship of an utterly alien culture: hive mind, fractal thinkers, churches of chaotic change: +30 to the DC Religion based in a different plane of existence: the elemental planes, the plane of shadow, The First World, etc.: +25 to the DC Religion based in a different, hostile, and alien plane of existence: the Hells, the Abyss, the Deep Dark, Elysium, etc.: +40 to the DC
Take 10? / Take 20?	No
Allows Assists?	Yes (up to 5 allies)
Results of Success	You are able to piece together an answer from the scraps of knowledge you do possess.
Consequences of Failure	Despite really trying, you still just don't know.
Retry Allowed?	No
Provokes AOO?	No