I would like to ask your evaluation regarding some frustrating issues I have been having with my character lately. I am a lvl 4 Lore Bard and I have built her to be the support and face character of the group. She is mostly harmless in a combat but at least she has some good inteligence and charisma skill proficiencies (and of course, Jack of All Trades).
The problem is that 75% of the time, when I ask for a knowledge check regarding information my DM tells me I know nothing, even without rolling any dice. I will describe 4 situations we had so you can evaluate:
1. In one of our adventures, we have found an old religion abandoned temple with some skeletons of old cultists laying on the floor. We could also see symbols related to that old religion. I asked for the DM for a knowledge check to recall anything I could have heard or read just to add more information (I am proficient in religion). He told me I knew nothing even without rolling any test.
2. We have defeated some orcs in an old fortress and checking their bodies we have seem they all carried a tattoo. I thought it could be related to their clan or even other organization and asked for a knowledge check to again recall any information regarding the symbol. My DM told me that as I don't speak orcish, I know nothing about the symbol, again, without rolling any test.
3. We have found a carrion crawler in a cave, as it seems to be a strange creature, I asked for a knowledge check to try to recall anything I have read or heard about it. Again, my DM told me I knew nothing without rolling any test.
4. We have found a white dragon and I asked him again If I knew any information regarding the lore of this kind of creature (I am proficient in history). One more time, my DM told me I knew nothing without rolling any test.
Well... being a lore bard that knows shit is being quite frustrating to me. I would like to know if this is how it should be and I am frustrated without reason, or if there is something wrong so I can try to convince him.
This is not a rule question. This is a conversation you need to have with your DM to express that you would like to feel some value from these skills and that currently you are frustrated.
Nothing any of us have to say about any of these situations can or should overrule what your DM decides. It is absolutely and only up to the DM to decide when a skill check is required and what the result of the roll should mean. But you should both want everyone at the table to be having a good time, so hopefully you can come to a compromise that works for you all.
Sounds like a DM mismatch to me (DMs get to decide when a skill check is appropriate and there is nothing in the rules that guarantee your skills will be useful).
Languages can be a barrier to knowledge checks, but everything else sounds like you had at least a chance of knowing about it (especially dragons).
Bring it up to your DM between sessions that your expectations don't match the DM's play style and if they won't change for you, ask if you can rebuild your character to one that doesn't specialize in unused skills.
I think I will have to do that, change my character to another one. Our DM has the understanding that you can only know what he thinks you can know, without needing any roll for that.
Thanks for your answer.
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Hello guys,
I would like to ask your evaluation regarding some frustrating issues I have been having with my character lately. I am a lvl 4 Lore Bard and I have built her to be the support and face character of the group. She is mostly harmless in a combat but at least she has some good inteligence and charisma skill proficiencies (and of course, Jack of All Trades).
The problem is that 75% of the time, when I ask for a knowledge check regarding information my DM tells me I know nothing, even without rolling any dice. I will describe 4 situations we had so you can evaluate:
1. In one of our adventures, we have found an old religion abandoned temple with some skeletons of old cultists laying on the floor. We could also see symbols related to that old religion. I asked for the DM for a knowledge check to recall anything I could have heard or read just to add more information (I am proficient in religion). He told me I knew nothing even without rolling any test.
2. We have defeated some orcs in an old fortress and checking their bodies we have seem they all carried a tattoo. I thought it could be related to their clan or even other organization and asked for a knowledge check to again recall any information regarding the symbol. My DM told me that as I don't speak orcish, I know nothing about the symbol, again, without rolling any test.
3. We have found a carrion crawler in a cave, as it seems to be a strange creature, I asked for a knowledge check to try to recall anything I have read or heard about it. Again, my DM told me I knew nothing without rolling any test.
4. We have found a white dragon and I asked him again If I knew any information regarding the lore of this kind of creature (I am proficient in history). One more time, my DM told me I knew nothing without rolling any test.
Well... being a lore bard that knows shit is being quite frustrating to me. I would like to know if this is how it should be and I am frustrated without reason, or if there is something wrong so I can try to convince him.
Best Regards
Mak
This is not a rule question. This is a conversation you need to have with your DM to express that you would like to feel some value from these skills and that currently you are frustrated.
Nothing any of us have to say about any of these situations can or should overrule what your DM decides. It is absolutely and only up to the DM to decide when a skill check is required and what the result of the roll should mean. But you should both want everyone at the table to be having a good time, so hopefully you can come to a compromise that works for you all.
Sounds like a DM mismatch to me (DMs get to decide when a skill check is appropriate and there is nothing in the rules that guarantee your skills will be useful).
Languages can be a barrier to knowledge checks, but everything else sounds like you had at least a chance of knowing about it (especially dragons).
Bring it up to your DM between sessions that your expectations don't match the DM's play style and if they won't change for you, ask if you can rebuild your character to one that doesn't specialize in unused skills.
I think I will have to do that, change my character to another one. Our DM has the understanding that you can only know what he thinks you can know, without needing any roll for that.
Thanks for your answer.