Help- Difference between Knowledge (Rumors) & Gather Inf

[decker423]

Could someone explain the real difference between Knowledge (Rumors) and Gather Information? In other games (non-Conan) I've always used Gather Info to both find rumors on potential leads, clues, adventures, treasures, etc. AND to gain information on any other topic that the PCs need help/understanding with (locations of where someone is, who is the mayor, where can I find a ranger/guide/scout, where can I find historical or political information, etc.).

With knowledge (rumors), that only applies to finding out the current rumors, right? Stuff with the treasures, lost cities, monsters, bandits, potential adventure sites or major events.

With Gather Info, that's for finding evidence or facts I guess? Facts aren't rumors, evidence isn't fiction, right?

I guess the rumors deal with something that may or may not be true while gather info addresses known, quantifiable data. Is that way off or not.

Like I said, in other games, I used Gather Info for everything, now I've got players (we started this weekend) asking for the differences. If anyone could clarify between Knowledge (Rumors) and Gather Info then I would appreciate it.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Demetrio]

I've always held the assumption that Knowledge (x) represents the character's innate knowledge, and occasionally his ability to find information by research in scrolls, books, tablets etc.

Gather Information on the other hand is one's ability to seek out information from others and is verbal.

So in the specific case of Knowledge (rumours) - which I'm not keen on as a skill - I'd say it represents the chance that the character in question already knows the rumour (but obviously does not know whether it's true or false) and does not have to go to the trouble of taking the time for a Gather Info check.

Gather Info of course is not restricted to rumours but can be used to find specific information - like the name of a nobleman's wife, which Knowledge (rumours) couldn't.

So one can roll knowledge (rumours) to see what rumours a character already knows about his current locale, then Gather Info to find out any others - and perhaps also use Gather Info to try and find out in which inn the local horsetraders congregate (which a rumour wouldn't tell you).

Of course Knowledge (local) covers some of the ground that Knowledge (rumours) does and with more accuracy I'd hazard.

 

[decker423]

I agree with you. Personally, I don't know why the Knowledge (Rumors) came to be. Knowledge (Local) or Geography, History, Nobility, War, etc. would cover what you already know (or how to find out) and Gather Info was specifically for finding info you need (the name of someone, where to find someone, latest news/gossip/rumors, etc.).

To anyone checking this out, how do you handle this knowledge vs. gather info?

 

[Teriudin]

In some ways, all the variants to knowledge are becoming cumbersome and stepping on other skills.

Someday, I expect to have "Knowledge: Hiding" or "Knowledge: Tracking" or somesuch.

But, at the same time. You could have the varius NPC's roll a "Knowledge: Rumors" to determine what the PC's get with a Gather Info check.

 

[Demetrio]

The rules imply that Knowledge (rumours) is meant as a device for when the players are stuck - so the GM can say 'try looking here' - the character has heard a rumour at some point in the past that there is an old ruin/abandoned fort/village of cannibals in the vicinity and it is then supposed that the object of their quest, or some clue pertaining to that object might be found there.

I just think it's a vague and weak skill and as you say, other Knowledge skills can supply the information the character knows already - including the whereabouts of the possible aforementioned 'clues' and Gather Info can supply the current gossip.

 

[Ichabod]

As one is a social skill and the other a mental skill, I tend to see GI as requiring socializing and K:R as trivia picked up over time.

There's an obvious connection in that sitting in a bar listening to people while it's happening is GI but becomes K:R at some point as the mind stores the knowledge.

 

[treeplanter]

Well the way I see it Knowledge local will regroup a lot of knowledge (rumours; geography; nobility; nature and maybe even arcana in some circumstance) but is limited to a particular region (players home land or place he have been for some time; up to the DM).

But the other knowledge will work no matter were is the character. So if you have knowledge: nobility you will know useful information about the Nobles no matter where you are.

In a sense we could say every skill is a knowledge in some way