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  not a challenge to their ownership and is used under Fair Use.
  #02 - Monster Lore  
  for 5th Edition
  Written by: Troy Daniels  Layout and Design by: Troy Daniels and Rick Hershey
  Expanded Option No. 02 - Monster Lore for 5th Edition © 2016 Fat Goblin Games
  
  2
  The shambling figure that is coming up the road 
  toward your party should be recognizable as a ghoul 
  to just about everyone in your party. The current rules 
  for 5th Edition however don’t take into account the all-
  important knowledge skill of monster identification. 
  Peek behind the scenes and see one easy way to give 
  all of your player characters, regardless of class, a bit 
  more knowledge, and role-playing opportunities with 5e 
  Expanded Options #2 - Monster Lore!
  The Expanded Options product line brings you 
  an assortment of ideas, homebrew rules, and various 
  options from the talented pool of writers at Fat Goblin 
  Games for use with the 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons 
  roleplaying game. These short and low-priced products 
  are perfect for Game Masters and Players who want to 
  integrate unique new options to their games.  We write 
  Sidebars from the perspective of one game master 
  talking to another. Do not expect a collegiate level 
  thesis that dissects the concept. Instead, get ready for a 
  conversation with another Game Master as they explain 
  an interesting and hopefully fun way to run your game!
  Monster Lore –  
  A DeriveD skiLL
  Actually, before we even get started with Monster Lore 
  let us talk about the other term we have been throwing 
  around a bit: Derived skill. What does that mean anyway 
  and why is it so important that we keep mentioning it.
  We explain by breaking down the Intelligence attribute 
  into the skills that make it important. Those skills are 
  Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion. You will 
  note that there is no Monster Lore skill in there, yet we 
  are wrapping our whole concept here to the Intelligence 
  attribute through a new system that we are calling a 
  derived skill. This sub-skill takes a bit of each of those 
  skills, and based upon the class of the character, makes 
  it important to them. As you read through you will see 
  how Monster Lore is truly a derived skill of Intelligence 
  and understand the concept a bit better. 
  In addition we introduce a new concept called Affinity 
  which basically means that each class has an “knack” for 
  certain things that other classes do not. This ties into 
  their skills and, as you will see, allows us to expand upon 
  those skills that classes get bonuses in.
  The Fat Goblin Games 5e team is looking at ways of 
  bringing other derived skills to you by using the other 
  attributes such as Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, 
  Wisdom, or Charisma. If you have an idea you want to 
  throw our way hit us up at fatgoblingames@gmail.com! 
  We would love to hear from you!
  Monster Lore
  The core concept behind Monster Lore is that each 
  class knows a little about monsters that the class deals 
  with on a regular basis. As such, each class can use their 
  proficiency bonus when trying to identify and learn more 
  about the creatures that they encounter. In addition, as 
  the character gains power and experience, they should 
  also gain knowledge and insight regarding creatures 
  that they have faced before. We are exploring both of 
  these concepts in the Monster Lore derived skill. 
  DeriveD skiLLs
  Below is a system for using a derived skill called Monster 
  Lore. First though, let’s discuss what a derived skill is. This 
  type of skill is one that comes from existing skills, but 
  encompasses more than just one of the focuses of that 
  skill.  Monster Lore is more than just Investigation. It is 
  more than just Arcana.  Based upon the type of creature 
  that you are attempting to get information about, it 
  could be any of the five skill focuses that fall under the 
  Intelligence ability score.
   Monster Lore ruLes
  The standard DC for any Monster Lore check is 12. INT 
  is the primary ability score for Monster Lore so any bonus 
  to the characters INT score will reduce this base number.
  All creature types line up to a focus for an Intelligence 
  skill as outlined below. This becomes important as 
  certain class features allow for proficiency bonuses to be 
  doubled when working with certain aspects/focuses of 
  an ability score.
  The Difficulty Class of 12 is modified by:  
  Monster Challenge Rating– The creature’s challenge 
  rating is a measure of its power and in this case, its 
  notoriety. As such, add the challenge rating to the 
  base DC for the Monster Lore check. The eight-legged 
  basilisk has a challenge rating of 3 so the base DC to 
  know information about the creature would be 15. 
  Class Affinity – Each class has a certain affinity for a 
  monster type. This affinity is based upon how often the 
  class would normally have contact and or interact with 
  that particular creature type. For example, clerics would 
  have more contact and deal with undead than any other 
  class, therefore they have an affinity with that monster 
  type. If the character class has an affinity, then they can 
  add their proficiency bonus to their Monster Lore check. 
  In the case of our basilisk, rangers are often called out to 
  deal with unnatural monstrosities and so a ranger would 
  gain their Proficiency Bonus when trying to remember 
  information about the deadly beast.
  
  3
  Once you have a Difficulty Class, the player will 
  roll. Based upon how well that roll went they can gain 
  information about the creature. For every two points 
  above the minimum roll required, the player gains a bit 
  more information about the creature as outlined in the 
  Monster Lore Information Table.
  Monster Lore Information Table 
  Roll
  Information Given
  +0
  Name, Type, Challenge Level*
  +2
  History **
  +4
  Special Ability/Defense
  +6
  Weakness/Vulnerability
  +8
  Additional information of the Game 
  Master’s choice
  *Challenge Level – This is a gauge that weighs how 
  powerful the creature is versus how powerful the 
  character is.  The scale ranges from Poor, Weak, Balanced, 
  Dangerous, Overpowered. A 4th level cleric who correctly 
  identifies a deva would also be told that they were a 
  celestial and that the challenge would be Overpowered.
  ** History – This gives you, the Game Master, some 
  leeway in regards to what you want to tell the players. 
  You can give them a bit of interesting lore regarding the 
  creature or possibly a story that might give them a hint 
  as to how to defeat it.
  Working exAMpLe
  Let’s take a look at some examples and see how they 
  would work in your game. 
  Our ranger is 6th level and has an Intelligence score of 
  14 (+2 bonus). Her base DC for Monster Lore is 10 (base 
  A siDebAr for the siDebAr – Affinit y
  Every character class in 5th Edition has certain natural tendencies that they lean toward when working out their class 
  skills. You could say it is as simple as fighters fight, druids do forest stuff and the like. But if you look at the classes closely 
  each of them have an affinity to do certain things. When creating the Monster Lore rules, we carefully looked at each class 
  and tried to figure out how they would match up to our chart in regards to what monsters they should specialize in. Let’s 
  take a look at each of our classes and see why they have affinity for certain monster types.
  Barbarian – Encountered frequently in the wilds, beasts are the natural enemy of those that roam the steppes, plains, 
  and less travelled roads. The children of barbarian tribes are brought up listening to the stories of these creatures and how 
  their legendary heroes defeated them.
  Bard – Steeped in lore as part of their tradition, young bards are often regaled with stories regarding the strange and 
  unusual creations of arcane and divine casters. Golems, animated items and other constructs fit prominently into these 
  tales and so a fair bit of knowledge is transferred in the telling.
  Cleric – Clerics of both weal and woe know undead creatures all too well. Those of weal seek to drive them off and 
  destroy these menaces to their goodly communities while those of woe control these powerful creatures to do their 
  bidding.
  Druid – Attuned in a spiritual way to the world around them it is appropriate that druids have an affinity for Nature and 
  the natural creatures that inhabit their territories.
  Fighter – Brought out to fight the largest of humanoid monsters, fighters (especially dwarves) have an affinity for 
  taking down the biggest of bullies, the giants.
  Monk – Finding weaknesses in their enemies is one of the specialties of these fearsome hand-to-hand warriors. Despite 
  aberrations sometimes-unique physiology it is only a matter of time before the monk will find their weakness.
  Paladin – Whereas their clerical partners understand undead, paladins have a particular knowledge of the most evil of 
  creatures, fiends. Their affinity runs as deep as their hatred for these foul creatures from the nether regions.
  Ranger – Rangers are attuned to their environment and when foul monstrosities stalk the land, the rangers will no 
  doubt be stalking them. Their affinity for these creatures comes from experience just as much as folklore. 
  Rogue – When the rogue goes looking for that perfect place to strike, it helps to know that no matter the size or shape, 
  a humanoid is a humanoid and just about all of them have hearts, lungs, and other soft parts usually in the same places. 
  Sorcerer – The special link that many sorcerers share with dragons gives these mages a special affinity for the scaled 
  giants; knowing their strengths, weaknesses, and lore.
  Warlock – In tune with the primal forces that shape the universe, warlocks understand the ties that bind elementals not 
  only to this plane, but to their very existence as an almost instinctive feeling. 
  Wizard – Fey and their natural affinity for magic have always fascinated those who study the arcane arts. Many of them 
  dream of one day being able to cast spells with the ease and grace of these unusual and secretive creatures.
  
  4
  12 - 2 for Intelligence bonus). If she encounters a monster 
  with the monstrosity descriptor, then she gains a +3 
  proficiency bonus due to class affinity for that particular 
  creature type, reducing the DC to a 7.
  Farmers have been complaining about their livestock 
  turning to statues and our ranger is charged to 
  investigate. Through careful tracking, she finally finds the 
  horrible beast, a basilisk (monstrosity) roaming through 
  the woods. Wanting to know more about the creature 
  before she dives headfirst into battle the player asks for 
  a Monster Lore check and rolls a 15. Let’s see what that 
  15 gets her.
  The ranger’s DC for monstrosities is a 7 and the roll 
  is 8 above it. She would gain the following information 
  about the beast from the Game Master:
  • 
  + 0  - Basilisk, Monstrosity, Challenge 3
  • 
  + 2 – Basilisks are eight legged beasts normally 
  encountered in subterranean lairs. The beasts act 
  as guardians for treasure troves although they are 
  terribly difficult to control. 
  • 
  + 4 – Their gaze will turn you to stone. If you avert 
  your eyes you have a chance of avoiding this fate, 
  however it is not certain.
  • 
  + 6 – Fortunately basilisks are not known for their 
  intelligence and they can be tricked into attacking 
  their own reflections with their deadly gaze.
  • 
  + 8 – Their bite is poisonous and it is important not 
  to look directly into their eyes.
  CLosing
  Characters SHOULD have knowledge of the creatures 
  that they encounter based upon the monster’s notoriety 
  OR their commonality. In either case, a Derived skill 
  check like Monster Lore is an easy way to incorporate 
  that knowledge into your gaming sessions.
  Monster Lore is a skill that can be made available as an 
  optional rule in your gaming sessions. You may wish to 
  increase or decrease the base DC of Monster Lore based 
  upon your particular group or style of play.
  expAnDeD options expLAineD
  Sidebars are not rules supplements nor are they full on 
  books about a certain subject. They present a set of rules, 
  an idea, a concept for game masters and their players 
  to explore. Hopefully they expand your game, broaden 
  some horizons, and get people to think around the 
  gaming table!
  Interested in seeing what else Fat Goblin Games puts 
  out that might help your 5th Edition Dungeons and 
  Dragons Role Playing Game?  Check us out online at our 
  website or your favorite retailer!
  Website - www.fatgoblingames.com
  RPGNow - The Open Gaming Store - Paizo.com
  The Fat Goblin Games 5th Edition Team consists of 
  Ismael Alvaraez, Michael Riter, and myself with input 
  from the Fat Goblin Hoarde. 
  Do you have an idea that might make a good 5th 
  Edition Expanded Options? Hit us up at fatgoblingames@
  gmail.com and your idea might be the next one that we 
  explore in an Expanded Option!
  
  5
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