Spell Question

[Wise Old Man]

Can a spell or a spell like ability targeting a Will DC arouse suspicion if failed?

[Gol Zayvian]

If the will save is failed, you're in the dark, however other party members may be clued in by altered behavior. Also, the caster must be in range and have line of effect to the target, so there maybe some perception & spell craft rolls available unless he is using both still and silent spell.

[Wise Old Man]

Oh, right. Spells make noise, I forgot about that.

[Kayerloth]

Note that SLA's do not have V,S, or M components. They also have no F or DF. They are activated mentally. They can not be used to counterspell nor may they be counterspelled.

And:

CRB, Magic, Succeeding on a Saving Throw wrote:

A creature that successfully saves against a spell that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature's saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell, you sense that the spell has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area spells.

While a creature that fails a targeted save may not be aware of it even after the spells duration has lapsed I think with most GMs it is going to depend on the spell and its effect whether or not someone has a chance (and what sort of chance it might be) to realize they had been under a spells effect and what that spell may have been as well as a whole lot of other things like their knowledge of such things, experience level, input from trusted friends and other sources etc.. Generally, however, while the spell is in effect my personal feeling is the creature will tend to be oblivious to the effect and tend to discount they have been effected even if friends point out why they think the target is effected/behaving oddly etc.. That's why it's called "failing". Also if it is an Illusion there's this:

Quote:

A failed saving throw indicates that a character fails to notice something is amiss. A character faced with proof that an illusion isn't real needs no saving throw. If any viewer successfully disbelieves an illusion and communicates this fact to others, each such viewer gains a saving throw with a +4 bonus.

[Wise Old Man]

@Kayerloth
"Note that SLA's do not have V,S, or M components. They also have no F or DF. They are activated mentally. They can not be used to counterspell nor may they be counterspelled."

Does that apply to Supernatural Abilities as well?

[LazarX]

Wise Old Man wrote:

Can a spell or a spell like ability targeting a Will DC arouse suspicion if failed?

Depends on the ability. If it does damage like channel energy, you're going to feel it.

[Kayerloth]

@Kayerloth
"Note that SLA's do not have V,S, or M components. They also have no F or DF. They are activated mentally. They can not be used to counterspell nor may they be counterspelled."

Does that apply to Supernatural Abilities as well?

CRB, Magic, Special Abilities wrote:

Supernatural Abilities: These can't be disrupted in combat and generally don't provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren't subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don't function in antimagic areas.

CRB, Glossary, Special Abilities wrote:

Supernatural Abilities (Su): Supernatural abilities are magical but not spell-like. Supernatural abilities are not subject to spell resistance and do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic field). A supernatural ability's effect cannot be dispelled and is not subject to counterspells. See Table: Special Ability Types for a summary of the types of special abilities.

Supernatural abilities are magical. It can include things like Breath Weapons, Damage Reduction, Ability Drain, and Flight. Very much will depend on the nature of the supernatural ability being used but in general most of them are fairly obvious if they get used on someone else when I skimmed the list in the Bestiary's Universal Monster Rules.