Knowledge Checks to Know Creature

Rules As Written

No specific rule.

House Rule

When observing a creature for the first time, you can make a DC 8 + 0.5*CR Knowledge check to know details of the creature. Which Knowledge check (Religion, Arcana, Nature, etc.) is at DM discretion and is based on the creature type. A success tells you what the creature is, what type of creature it is, and basic information. The more you exceed the check by, the more you know about the creature in question.

This will only tell you about an average example of the type of creature. For example, you may know a great deal about the capabilities of vampires in general, but you may not know that this particular vampire has additional abilities or weaknesses.