does a spellcraft roll to determine what spell is being cast also determine what metamagic effects are on said spell?
No. If it did it would specifically point it out.
The DM of course can rule otherwise.
hm... Interesting. Yes and No.
Depends but I would say that it would not be necessary. As long as you know what spell is being cast, you can counter it.
Usually it's obvious.
Wow! He sure cast that Fireball really fast...
Zowie! He sure got a looooong range on that magic missile...
Yikes! That Lightning Bolt looks huuuuuuge...
Booyah! I couldn't even hear him say a word or wiggle a finger, but I still know he cast Shield on himself...
Etc.
For the rest, the few metamagics that don't alter some obvious property of the spell (like extending a Summon spell), or that wouldn't be visible until the spell is finished (like maximizing a Cure Critical Wounds), it would probably be very hard to tell.
I suppose, if you're sitting around with just one counterspell, and you want to counter the really really scary maximized enemy spell, you might want to be sure before you try to counter it. I'm just not sure you can be. Sounds like a guessing game.
Me, I would assume my enemy wants to win, so he'll use his best spell first, so that's the one I counter. Unless he expects that and tricks me by using a weaker, no-metamagic version first so I'll counter the wrong one. So maybe I'll counter the second spell he casts. Unless he expects that...
It's really just a guessing game at that point.
Thanks everyone for weighing in. i was curious about the effects of spellcraft on metamagic enhanced spells, mainly for the purpose of countering, i also wonder if things like still spell, and/or silent spell adversely affect the spellcraft roll, and if there are rulings out there on such things. and also for the general assessment of enemy capabilities, its good to know in the future if the bbeg that may escape can maximize,or whatnot, is any knowledge gained? because knowing is half the battle.
Thanks everyone for weighing in. i was curious about the effects of spellcraft on metamagic enhanced spells, mainly for the purpose of countering, i also wonder if things like still spell, and/or silent spell adversely affect the spellcraft roll, and if there are rulings out there on such things. and also for the general assessment of enemy capabilities, its good to know in the future if the bbeg that may escape can maximize,or whatnot, is any knowledge gained? because knowing is half the battle.
No, Still and Silent have no effect on the Spellcraft check to identify what spell is being cast. Many people think they should, and many threads have debated how to house-rule it.
Yes, it could be useful to know about an enemy's capability, but really, if he is maximizing a fireball, and you identify that he cat fireball, the very fact that it's so big and hot should tip you off (yes, I know, that's not perfect, but at least IMO a 60 HP fireball is bigger and hotter than a 35 HP fireball - there's more fire in the area of effect when it detonates). If you don't play it that way, then you probably won't know if it's maximized or not.
... but really, if he is maximizing a fireball, and you identify that he cat fireball, the very fact that it's so big and hot should tip you off (yes, I know, that's not perfect, but at least IMO a 60 HP fireball is bigger and hotter than a 35 HP fireball - there's more fire in the area of effect when it detonates). If you don't play it that way, then you probably won't know if it's maximized or not.
i see the logic, but i am confused by the timing ,you don't get to see if the fireball is big and hot before you decide to counter it i assume, which limits the observations effectiveness to assessment of capabilities. which is a bummer.
All spellcraft checks to identify a spell are penalized by the same penalties as perception checks. Including penalties for bad circumstances. As per Raw in the skill section.