History
Full rules text, use cases, and edge-case handling for this skill.
Description
History represents your knowledge of past events — wars and battles, the rise and fall of civilizations, famous individuals, legendary artifacts, and the deeper patterns of how the world came to be as it is. A character with high History can often provide context that turns a mystery into a solvable puzzle.
Check
The GM calls for a History check when a character tries to recall specific historical information relevant to the situation.
| Difficulty | DC |
|---|---|
| Easy | 10 |
| Medium | 15 |
| Hard | 20 |
| Very Hard | 25 |
| Nearly Impossible | 30 |
Common Uses
- Recalling the history of a region, nation, or dynasty
- Identifying a historical figure from a description, portrait, or symbol
- Knowing the outcome and causes of a past war or conflict
- Recognizing the provenance of an artifact or architectural style
- Understanding the political history behind a current conflict
- Recalling legendary figures, heroes, and villains of the past
Passive Score
Passive History (10 + modifier) may be used when the GM wants to determine whether a character automatically recognizes something they should know from their background — a famous battle site, a well-known noble family's crest, or a commonly taught historical event — without interrupting the scene for a roll.
Proficiency
History proficiency is standard for Wizards and characters with scholarly backgrounds. It is one of the four knowledge skills (alongside Arcana, Nature, and Religion) and tends to be most useful in campaigns with deep worldbuilding and political intrigue.
Special
- Bard (Jack of All Trades): Adds half proficiency to History even without proficiency — useful for the generalist knowledge role.
- Sage background: Grants proficiency in History and Arcana, fitting for scholarly characters.
- Noble background: Often grants History proficiency, reflecting an aristocratic education.
- Bardic Lore: Bards' broad knowledge base makes History a natural fit, and many campaigns reward high History with additional campaign-specific lore.
- Commune / Legend Lore (spells): These can substitute for History checks on obscure or ancient topics — but at the cost of a spell slot, making strong History still valuable.