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Ok, here is a question:
Let's say a character is sitting around the fire with her friends when the Evil Wizard she angered in a previous encounter decides to have a look in on her. An hour later his Scrying spell completes and now all that stands between her and him is the strength of her mind; she must make a Will save against the spell. Tabling for the moment the issue of who should make the roll (the player or the DM - to keep things secret a bit), if the Will save fails, is the character aware of the scrying attempt (and by aware, I mean aware of the magic of the spell, not detecting the resultant magical sensor via an Int check)? What if the Will save succeeds? Does she sense magical energy she managed to shirk off?
Broadening the question, an evil enchanter using Improved Invisibility attempts to use Dominate Person on the fighter as they pass into a room full of his minions. The fighter must make a Will save, and again, does the fighter know that he was assaulted? Does this knowledge depend on the outcome of the save? What if the spell was Charm Person, and he failed his save, would he know that some sort of magic was placed upon him, or that a magical attack of some kind occured and thus be in a position to relate this to his party even if he now considers the caster a close friend of his? Some illusions also fall under this question as well, since the general issue of being subjected to a magical effect without some flashy, overt indication thereof applies in many illusions (typically with figments and glammers of physical things already in place before the party interacts with them - like an Illusionary Wall cast prior to the party's arrival in the vicinity - and phantasms, which are mental only).
The PHB and DMG are silent on this issue, and I have been running it that on a failed save for scrying and domination-type effects, the character is unaware she is now under a magical effect while on a successful save, the character is aware that she was mentally assaulted but managed to shrug off the control. I also make these saving throws on behalf of the character to keep the players in the dark, but I understand that is a matter of preference depending on types of players the DM has at his table and the tone he is setting with the game. What about the rest of you? How do you handle these issues in game? I'd like to hear your thoughts and see if there is something I am overlooking or should be handling differently for a reason other than personal preference.
Have a read of the article at this link:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050426a
But the short answer is, Yes, the subject is aware of a spell cast on them (assuming it doesn't have a visible effect) if they save. No, if they fail.
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Have a read of the article at this link:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20050426a
But the short answer is, Yes, the subject is aware of a spell cast on them (assuming it doesn't have a visible effect) if they save. No, if they fail.
Well that clearly answers the question! I had thought I read something like this at one time but for the life of me couldn't find it. Thank you very much for the link.