Can you smell a burglar?

[Avoron]

Does the Burglar archetype's Distraction ability allow the character to evade detection by scent, tremorsense, blindsense, blindsight, or another means of non-visual detection?

Distraction (Ex) wrote:

At 8th level, whenever a burglar is detected while using Stealth, she can immediately attempt a Bluff skill check opposed by the Sense Motive skill of the creature that spotted her. If this check succeeds, the target assumes that the noise was something innocent and disregards the detection. This only functions if the creature cannot see the rogue. This ability can only be used once during a given Stealth attempt. If the same creature detects the rogue’s presence again, the ability has no effect.

This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.

[Crimeo]

Quote:

If this check succeeds, the target assumes that the noise was something innocent

I would say that no, it only is relevant to noises, since the only listed effect is to cause a perceiver to disregard a noise.

(Though that WOULD still save you from specifically sonic-based blindsense or blindsight. But note that not all blindsense/blindsight is sonic-based)

[Avoron]

Well, it does list it as an "and" effect.

Distraction (Ex) wrote:

assumes that the noise was something innocent

and
disregards the detection

The way I see it, that seems to be referring to two different effects of the ability. It says that the target "disregards the detection," which could easily be a separate result beyond simply ignoring a noise.

[Crimeo]

That's blatantly not the intended mechanism for RAI.

But sure, if you and your GM want to go by the most extraordinarily strict reading by the letter / first order logic, then you could argue that if a perceiver perceives BOTH a noise AND a smell of a burglar at the same time, then it will disregard both as a package deal.

But a smell alone in the absence of a perceived noise still wouldn't make sense here as it would leave dangling referents.

[Byakko]

Yes, you can make the check against anything that detects you, regardless of the method/type of detection. Note, they still have to qualify as not "seeing" you, which may not be true for some of the abilities listed.

However, succeeding on the check will only influence how they regard any noise based component of the detection, and will have no effect on any other aspects of the detection.

[alexd1976]

Things that bypass scent (and blindsight etc) will say so.

The Dark Stalker feat from 3.5 comes to mind.

This doesn't list those senses, so it doesn't affect them.

[Berti Blackfoot]

Stealth says wrote:

If people are observing you using any of their senses (but typically sight), you can't use Stealth

Distraction says wrote:

This only functions if the creature cannot see the rogue

Alternate senses besides sight mean they can "see" him using those senses. He would have to avoid those senses. Therefore, he couldn't use distraction because he could not even enter stealth from such a creature in the first place.

So for scent, he needs a casting/potion of negate aroma
For tremorsense, levitation or flight or something similar
For blindsight and blindsense, he needs cover or concealment similar to concealment required from darkvision (not just shadows)

[Ascalaphus]

Distraction (Ex) wrote:

At 8th level, whenever a burglar is detected while using Stealth, she can immediately attempt a Bluff skill check opposed by the Sense Motive skill of the creature that spotted her. If this check succeeds, the target assumes that the noise was something innocent and disregards the detection. This only functions if the creature cannot see the rogue. This ability can only be used once during a given Stealth attempt. If the same creature detects the rogue’s presence again, the ability has no effect.

This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.

I'm going to move the position that this ability is a bit of a trainwreck. You spot a noise?

More seriously, the clause saying the ability only works if the victim can't see the rogue looks like a clue to RAI. It distinguishes between an incident (a missed Stealth check resulting in a "noise") that you can gloss over versus an ongoing obstacle to stealth (the enemy can see you).

Smelling the rogue isn't a one-time thing, it's an ongoing hindrance. So I don't think the ability should work.