Knowledge (History)

Description

Ability Score Used:	Intelligence
Armor Check Penalty Applies?	No

You are educated in the study of History, which allows you to answer both simple and complex questions on that topic. Specifically, Knowledge (History) allows you to make checks to reveal information on wars, colonies, migrations and the founding of cities within the last 5,000 years. The study of history prior to this period is covered by the skill Knowledge (Deep History).

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 historic events which occurred in the past 5,000 years, such as wars, invasions, migrations, city foundings, cultural shifts, divine interventions, etc. You can also use Knowledge (History) to recall information about a specific topic, event or individual. This is not detailed personal information, but the information surrounding that topic, event or person's impact on the world around them (i.e. their historical context).
Action Required:	Free action
DC of Check:	Answering a question on a history 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: Task Skill DC Know recent or historically significant event 10 Determine approximate date of a specific event 15 Know obscure historical event 20
Modifiers to Check	Dangerous Topic:' the historical topic is dangerous to talk about openly (e.g. "When did the vampire masters stop fearing the daylight?"). +10 to the DC of the check.
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.

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 history 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.
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