By now most players know, or should know, that a monster knowledge check can make all the difference when you’re fighting a monster for the very first time. But how can we make them both fun and not break the flow? What techniques can be used to improve the monster check experience?
[RPG] How to make monster knowledge checks fun
dnd-4eknowledge-checkmonstersskills
Related Solutions
The Rules Compendium (pg 130) suggests that a successful knowledge check reveals a creature's origin, type, typical temperment and keywords. If the hard DC is met or exceeded, the creature's resistances, vunerabilities and what it's powers do are also known.
I would be wary of adding further information to these checks, as there are items and powers specifically designed to provide some of these additional pieces of information.
As an example, a Foe Stone (level 12 Wondrous item) allows the following:
(Minor Action) Choose One creature you can see. You learn all the target's vunerabilities, as well as which of it's defenses is lowest.
The Goggles of Aura Sight (Level 5 uncommon) are another example:
Power Encounter (Minor Action)Choose a target within 10 squares of you. Learn the target's current and maximum hit point values, any current disease or poison conditions on the target, and any disease or poison effect the target can deal.
The Helm of Seven Deaths (Level 5 Rare) has a similar function as one of it's powers:
Utility Power At-Will (Minor Action)Effect: Choose one bloodied creature you have hit with an attack during this turn. You learn that creature’s current hit point total.
Several powers and abilities can only be used against bloodied etc. targets, so when a creature enters this state it should be mentioned. But as OrionDarkwood said, it is generally better to use vague terms such as 'it's looking very nearly dead' etc. rather than a specific hit-point value.
EDIT: As for Fortitude/ Reflex/ Will, a certain amount can be inferred from the type of creature - eg. big, hulking, things that like to bash stuff up close tend to be low on Will, but high on Fortitude, while weedy little spellcasters hiding at the back tend to be higher on Will, but low on Fortitude. Player's can pick this up fairly quickly as a general rule of thumb if they have several types of attack between them, as they'll take note of which attacks hit on lower rolls.
No.
They are still Intelligence-based skill checks. You simply have the option to use your charisma bonus instead of your intelligence bonus.
If, for whatever reason, like being drained of your charisma, you must make a Knowledge check, you can still use your intelligence bonus.
However, if you decide to use Focused Trance, you will have to use your Intelligence modifier instead of your Charisma modifier, as that changes the ability that the skill is based on at the time of the roll. Otherwise you cannot gain the +20 bonus from it.
If you decide to use your Charisma bonus on a Knowledge check, that check is now Charisma-based. The skill remains as Intelligence-based though.
Best Answer
First of all, it's a Knowledge check
Don't lose sight of the fact that the player asked to make a Knowledge check because he or she wants information. There's no way around that. Don't worry about that information breaking the flow. If the player doesn't want to break the flow by getting that information, he or she would not be requesting the check.
Tease out the information
Take a minute and give the player some information, piece by piece. Make it into a little guessing game where the player is going to get all the information, but tease it out.
The goal is to get the player, as his character, involved in the information analysis. Simulate the training the character might have.
Obviously, if you pick some obscure monster that the player has never heard of ("a fell taint? really, that's what it's called? surely that's some kind of joke!"), then you might need to help out more than usual.
Handing them the Monster Manual probably will break the flow, so I wouldn't recommend that.
Make it personal
This is supposed to be knowledge the character has, right? So make it personal. Instead of telling the player, "It's an orc," and giving all the stats the Knowledge check provides, add in some history or back-story.
This is a golden opportunity for a Dungeon Master. Don't squander it!