Kakail's page

Alternate Item creation feats similar to Arcana Evovled

Spell Template feats similar to arcana evolved

I would like the short specialized thematic class similar to the Transcendence (in Arcana Evolved).

I've got a question I'm wondering if any Paizo employees can make a ruling on.

With regards to using illusions and charms, the question has come up

Can a person who can't see a spell being cast, can't hear the spell being cast, can't sense any material components, and isn't being targetted by the spell, nevertheless sense that the spell is being cast?

In other words, if a caster is standing next to a person and casts a still, silent spell with eschewed materials and that spell isn't targetting the person, can the person sense that the spell is being cast?

Identifying a spell by observing its effects is a function of Knowledge(Arcana)

Identifying a spell by observing the spellcasting is a function of Spellcraft.

So if see a green ray flying at me, I dodge it, and the wall behind me dissappears, it is a Knowledge(arcana) check to recognize a disintegrate spell.

If I see a guy in robes muttering something about "pyro" while pulling out a pinch of something that looks like bat droppings, it is a spellcraft check to recognize the common components of a fireball spell.

This is important. Spellcraft is the only way to identify a spell before it is cast.

Hum... Charender got a good point. As a DM, here what i would do...

While the spell is being cast, I would make the caster make a bluff opposed bluff check to the perception of the target. If he succeed, no spellcraft. If he fail, i would give a spellcraft check (with a penalty like -10 [-3 eschewed material, -3 silent spell and -4 still spell]). Success mean the caster is identified as the caster of a that spell. At -5, he would sense that this caster is casting and at +0, he would sense that a spell is being cast without knowing which one or by who.

After the spell is cast, i would give a arcana knowledge check if the see the result as a spell. In other word, if you see an illusion of a wall appear, you get a knowledge check but if you do not spell the result happening, no knowledge check. So someone can cast a illusion to make a wall appear that isn't in the target LOS, then no knowledge check.

I would also make it harder if this was part of a prepared plan (with a NPC or a PC). This is because, in my opinion, illusion need to be prepared carefully for full effect.

This should not make it impossible to cast illusion in combat but very hard.
Of course, this is my point of view only.

For me, it's was Calista Daison a elf Wild Mage in the 2e that created a spell to make a wild surge. That spell was her solution to all thing... Thing is.. It usually worked!!

The DM hated her because she derail MANY adventure... And visited so many place in a day. One day, she started in material plane, a trip to Hell, to Heaven, to elemental plane and back to material (not adventure just mistake while casting...) I had a lot of fun...