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KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Remastered – Know thy enemy – or at least what page it’s on in the Monster Manual – RPGBOT.Podcast S5E89

   July 30, 2025
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Episode Notes

Knowledge skills: because sometimes knowing what’s in the dungeon is more important than knowing how to kill it.

In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew breaks down the often-overlooked but mechanically vital Knowledge skills in tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. The gang explores how these skills function in the game, how they’ve changed over editions, and why your party’s lore nerd is secretly carrying your campaign.

They explore how Knowledge checks can enrich worldbuilding, deepen immersion, and add mechanical weight to player choices. Whether you’re identifying a creature, recalling ancient lore, or flexing your Arcana at a smug wizard, the right knowledge at the right time can mean the difference between survival and a total party kill.

The episode also dives into how different systems handle knowledge, including Pathfinder 1e’s granular Knowledge skills, D&D 5e’s streamlined Intelligence-based skills, and how GMs can reward players for investing in information-gathering instead of just smiting things with swords or spells.

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Support the Pod

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, direct access to the RPGBOT.Team on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us every week for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

Ash Ely

Randall James

Producer Dan

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, direct access to the RPGBOT.Team on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us every week for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

Ash Ely

Randall James

Producer Dan

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About The Author

T.E. "RPGBOT" Kamstra

Tyler "RPGBOT" Kamstra has been the author of RPGBOT.net since 2013. Tyler began playing tabletop RPGs with 3rd edition Dungeons and Dragons over 20 years ago. Tyler has a long-standing love for building characters and for game mechanics, and brings that enthusiasm to everything he creates.