Okay, so I'm trying to sort this out. The reading of Deathwatch seems almost to imply that, using Deathwatch, you become aware of the presence of all creatures of any type (living, dead and construct) that are within the emanation range. Basically meaning that, in certain settings like a dungeon, you just auto-know whether or not rooms are empty and such because you turned in that direction. This obviously seems extremely broken for a level 1 spell.
Is this supposed to let you know the status of creatures you are not aware of, or is this only supposed to allow you to know the health status of creature's you are actually aware of and who are in the emanation?
Okay, so I'm trying to sort this out. The reading of Deathwatch seems almost to imply that, using Deathwatch, you become aware of the presence of all creatures of any type (living, dead and construct) that are within the emanation range. Basically meaning that, in certain settings like a dungeon, you just auto-know whether or not rooms are empty and such because you turned in that direction. This obviously seems extremely broken for a level 1 spell.
Is this supposed to let you know the status of creatures you are not aware of, or is this only supposed to allow you to know the health status of creature's you are actually aware of and who are in the emanation?
I guess the change of wording from "Using the foul sight granted by the powers of unlife" in 3.5 to "Using the powers of necromancy" in PRPG makes it more unclear.
I would perhaps rule that it is only working on creatures that you can see within the cone.
A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can't see. It can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners).
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An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell.
In no case will deathwatch see through walls. However, it does appear to grant you knowledge of invisible or otherwise hidden creatures to which you have line of effect. Mind you, that is only knowledge of the creatures' existence and current status... not of their location, or anything about them other than features the spell specifies (e.g. undead, construct).
I would say that you not only need line of sight but also line of effect for this spell to work.
So, if you can't see a creature, you cannot determine their status.
I would not allow it to be used to detect hidden creatures with this spell. If you have seen them (ex: Perception check or See Invisibility) then the spell works as designed. If you have not, then the spell does not work on them.
"Using the powers of necromancy, you can determine the condition of creatures near death within the spell's range. You instantly know whether each creature within the area is dead, fragile, fighting off death, healthy, undead, or neither alive nor dead. Deathwatch sees through any spell or ability that allows creatures to feign death."
Any creature in the area. It doesn't tell you were the creature is, only that there is one and it's basic status. You only need line of effect due to the fact it is an area of effect spell.
That last part is a problem to me and sits on my "Lower level spells shouldn't automatically undo everything higher level spells can do" list.
A first level spell that can automatically see through any higher level spells effects is a bother to me and means the "higher level spells are more powerful" theory doesn't hold up.
Other violators include: See Invisibility (which even gives you ethereal sight to boot!), True Seeing, Obscure Object, Nondetection, Glibness, Undetectable Alignment and a few others.
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"Using the powers of necromancy, you can determine the condition of creatures near death within the spell's range. You instantly know whether each creature within the area is dead, fragile, fighting off death, healthy, undead, or neither alive nor dead. Deathwatch sees through any spell or ability that allows creatures to feign death."
Any creature in the area. It doesn't tell you were the creature is, only that there is one and it's basic status. You only need line of effect due to the fact it is an area of effect spell.
That last part is a problem to me and sits on my "Lower level spells shouldn't automatically undo everything higher level spells can do" list.
A first level spell that can automatically see through any higher level spells effects is a bother to me and means the "higher level spells are more powerful" theory doesn't hold up.
Other violators include: See Invisibility (which even gives you ethereal sight to boot!), True Seeing, Obscure Object, Nondetection, Glibness, Undetectable Alignment and a few others.
Just my house rule on this spell, you can detect hidden undead and living creatures by "seeing their life force" if and only if you have line of effect. Constructs are identified by this spell only if you can see them and know they are there. Think of it as a well I sense life in those guys but the big full plate thing isn't alive or dead, so it must be a construct. If I used it on an unmoving stone golem all I would get is a DM saying "its not alive or dead" doesn't tell me if its even a creature or not.
Is this supposed to let you know the status of creatures you are not aware of, or is this only supposed to allow you to know the health status of creature's you are actually aware of and who are in the emanation?
Supposed to? That is a rather tricky question. I would venture that it is not 'supposed to' let you know about creatures you are not aware of. But trying to read intent into rules is tricky business and is purely up to the GM.
In my home games the only works on creatures you are aware of.
If I was running a tournament game I would run it as tejón suggests above.
Yeah agreement with Tejon on general idea that something is there. Of course it isn't exact but you do know that it is somewhere in the thirty foot cone in the direction that you aimed it, which is generally good enough for another cone spell or other possible aoe effect... just hope it wasn't the five foot right in front of you when you provoke... ;D
If you look at the current wording of Locate Object, it says even a thin sheet of lead can block it. Detect Animals or Plants, Detect Chaos, Detect Evil, Detect Good, Detect Magic, Detect Undead, Detect Thoughts, Detect Poison, Detect Secret Doors and Detect Snares and Pits are all blocked by thin sheets of lead, as well as 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, or 3 feet of dirt.
Since Deathwatch is listed as having none of these limitations, it's reasonable to assume/rule that it's limited to what one can see. It basically gives you a life meter counter for all the creatures in your range of vision, and moreover will note undead and constructs. Though it does not say that it gives an unlife meter for undead, it would be reasonable to assume that it does this as well, along with an animation counter for construct hit points.
In the case of invisibility, I would rule that it cannot see through the invisibility to see the life (or unlife, or animation) behind that anymore than it can detect whether a figure wrapped in lead foil is a zombie, a flesh golem, or just a living man with some really weird armor. However, creatures that are merely camouflaged could be detected, so a chameleon or flounder could be noticed.
(Note that lead in D&D is still poisonous, so smart alecs who think they can foil detection attempts with lead boxes can have the those foiled by Detect Poison detecting lead foil.)
Detecting beyond the usual visual range should require something like a Ring of X-Ray Vision.
There should also be a "Detect Living" spell and a "Detect Constructs" spell that follow the same model as "Detect Undead," but that's another matter.
Anyway, that's how I'd run the spell. It's still useful that way, but not overpowering.
It's an AOE it works like an AOE, you got line of effect, you got the effect.
So what if it works as a "detect creature" and can bypass higher level spells? See Invisibility defeats greater invisibility (a higher level spell) true seeing defeats higher level illusions, spells I listed above do likewise.
Heck a cantrip can detect invisible targets just because they radiate magic while invisible (if using spell, spell like ability, or supernatural ability). Granted it takes 3 turns to pinpoint them, but just having them in a cone is enough to get a good effect on them with another AOE.
My end point is this is actually pretty typical of how magic in D&D works (and pathfinder), and in the end requires house rules if you are going to avoid it.
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Heck a cantrip can detect invisible targets just because they radiate magic while invisible (if using spell, spell like ability, or supernatural ability). Granted it takes 3 turns to pinpoint them, but just having them in a cone is enough to get a good effect on them with another AOE.
Round 1: You detect a weak aura of magic from an indeterminate source
Round 2: There are 4 active auras in the areaRound 3: You get stabbed in the spleen
this has been abit of a debate with the groupI go with, not the gms really but one of the gm/players.
I have a teifling Gunfighter ('gunslinger', I just hate that phrase, gun-slinger so I call her a gun-fighter.)
she has the soul-seer anility which is death watch at will. and as I understood it, I thought it was similer to 'detect' as well. not really as it read but as I understood it.
I'm not a rule nazi, I'm a strong supporter of the guide-line alliance (that a term I made up for people use use the rules more as guide lines) and the GMs didn't understand it anymore then I did.
so I just used it as a means to 'sense' things. but even if you can't simply detact stuff, it can save your rear in mainly situations, like when your trying to figure out is a statue is really a statue or a construct. or if that pile of dead bodies is really dead or a few are undead.
Honestly when I think about it, since i'm able to see something's 'soul' or the state it's in, I should be able to atleast 'notice' it.Not trying to get all spiritual here, but as I under stand the soul and the aura are the same thing, and the idea that "You can only discern it when your aware of it." is kinda similer to saying 'magic missle only works if the target sees it coming'
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I'd say it does determine the existence and health of invisible creatures, but doesn't tell you where exactly they are in the AoE. Basically, every visible creature gets a neatly labelled health bar, some with odd signage because they're not really alive. And any invisible creatures generate health bars, but not tied to any particular square. You there's something out there and that it's way too healthy to be good for you, but you don't know what and don't know where.
I'd say it does determine the existence and health of invisible creatures, but doesn't tell you where exactly they are in the AoE. Basically, every visible creature gets a neatly labelled health bar, some with odd signage because they're not really alive. And any invisible creatures generate health bars, but not tied to any particular square. You there's something out there and that it's way too healthy to be good for you, but you don't know what and don't know where.
thats what I'm saying. you don't have to be 'aware' of it sight wise to know it's there or know it's alive/dead/undead etc.
and as far as that "you can't pin point it's location" finding it should be just simple use of logic.
say you are looking north and you suddenly 'pick up' something with in 30 ft, which is the max distance, now say you move 1 foot back, you no lognger 'pick it up' you move 1 foot forward again, you would logically know it's 30 feet infront of you some where.
but hang oni'm gona look at the offical ruling xp
Click me for the official answer
No detecting invisible creatures.
The spell is deathwatch. It doesn't detect anything, it just feeds you information about what you see.
/necromancy-thread necromancy