Perception and spells


Rules Questions


Quote:
"Identify Spell Being Cast: Identifying a spell as it is being cast requires no action, but you must be able to clearly see the spell as it is being cast, and this incurs the same penalties as a Perception skill check due to distance, poor conditions, and other factors."

What is the DC to hear a spell with vocal component? Same as conversation? 0 for spell cast normally, 15 for a spell whispered?

Or you just can't ("you must be able to clearly see the spell")?

Also, I guess rules do not cover this, but can you effectively whisper a spell with vocal components or the words of the spell have to be spoken with decision? How do you home rule it?

Grand Lodge

p.213 wrote:
To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice.

This (copied directly from 3.5) unfortunately doesn't make it fully explicit that you must speak in a strong voice, but allowing a wizard to cast by whispering would be a house rule, since there are no published rules for the consequences of doing so and it would be unwise to allow it without cost.

Note that you don't actually make a Perception check or use the DCs for Perception, you just take the same penalties to your Spellcraft check as you would take on a Perception check.

It seems you're right, RAW doesn't allow you to identify a spell by hearing alone, even if it has no somatic component. I suggest house-ruling the Spellcraft text to "clearly see or hear the spell components as it is being cast".

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