1. If a creature is immune to trip (due to serpentine form or the ability to fly or something) can it still be affected by effects that "knock down" or "knock prone" the target? Things like Gust of Wind or Awesome Blow come to mind.
2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?
3. If a creature is attacked by a certain type of damage against which it has resistance and succeeds on a save or half damage: Do you apply the resistance before or after the saving throw?
3. After the save.
1. If a creature is immune to trip (due to serpentine form or the ability to fly or something) can it still be affected by effects that "knock down" or "knock prone" the target? Things like Gust of Wind or Awesome Blow come to mind.
I think it would depend on the "or something" I think you can knock a snake across the room all you want.. its still a snake. If you knock a gryphon prone its just as hard for it to get up and flying as it is for anyone else to get up. A beholder on the other hand can be spun like a top and simply float to a "standing" position no matter what you do.
2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?
I would say Yes. Its either spellcraft or knowledge arcana (the line between the two gets REALLY blurry sometimes) The fact is that there are abilities out there in the world, and people shouldn't be completely baffled when someone uses one of them.
The new rules for pathfinder say you need to see the caster: they don't say you need to see and hear the spell. I would think that "he didn't say anything" would be a big tip off
3. If a creature is attacked by a certain type of damage against which it has resistance and succeeds on a save or half damage: Do you apply the resistance before or after the saving throw?
After.
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2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?I would say Yes. Its either spellcraft or knowledge arcana (the line between the two gets REALLY blurry sometimes) The fact is that there are abilities out there in the world, and people shouldn't be completely baffled when someone uses one of them.
The new rules for pathfinder say you need to see the caster: they don't say you need to see and hear the spell. I would think that "he didn't say anything" would be a big tip off.
Well, technically, no, you can't, because it's not a spell. You can successfully identify it as a "either a spell-like or supernatural ability, or a very powerful spell", because you fail to identify the effect.
Personally, I agree that you should be able to identify spell-like abilities with spellcraft, and "successfully fail" to identify supernatural abilities (you know that its a supernatural ability, but not what ability). A very good suggestion, and it's certainly how I'd play it.
But it's not what the Rules As Written say, which needs to be pointed out.
1. If a creature is immune to trip (due to serpentine form or the ability to fly or something) can it still be affected by effects that "knock down" or "knock prone" the target? Things like Gust of Wind or Awesome Blow come to mind.
2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?
3. If a creature is attacked by a certain type of damage against which it has resistance and succeeds on a save or half damage: Do you apply the resistance before or after the saving throw?
1) probably since it doesn't say that they're immune to bull rush effects.
2) No. RAW it specifically says spells being cast. Also even if it were allowed you likely wouldn't be able to use it because there's no components becausethis incurs the same penalties as a Perception skill check due to distance, poor conditions, and other factors.
Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus. Intentionally searching for stimulus is a move action.
3) After.
Well, technically, no, you can't, because it's not a spell. You can successfully identify it as a "either a spell-like or supernatural ability, or a very powerful spell", because you fail to identify the effect.Personally, I agree that you should be able to identify spell-like abilities with spellcraft, and "successfully fail" to identify supernatural abilities (you know that its a supernatural ability, but not what ability). A very good suggestion, and it's certainly how I'd play it.
But it's not what the Rules As Written say, which needs to be pointed out.
The raw is, thankfully, a little less explicit on what knowledge arcana covers.
1) Something like a snake or an ooze can't be tripped because being prone is it's natural state. There's no farther down they can be knocked to. A flying thing can't be tripped because it's not standing on legs so there's nothing to trip, but flying things can sure be knocked out of the sky.
The raw is, thankfully, a little less explicit on what knowledge arcana covers.
Well, technically, no, you can't, because it's not a spell. You can successfully identify it as a "either a spell-like or supernatural ability, or a very powerful spell", because you fail to identify the effect.Personally, I agree that you should be able to identify spell-like abilities with spellcraft, and "successfully fail" to identify supernatural abilities (you know that its a supernatural ability, but not what ability). A very good suggestion, and it's certainly how I'd play it.
But it's not what the Rules As Written say, which needs to be pointed out.
But you can't use K:arcana to identify a spell as it is being cast that doesn't have a material component, which is quite relevant for counterspelling.
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1. If a creature is immune to trip (due to serpentine form or the ability to fly or something) can it still be affected by effects that "knock down" or "knock prone" the target? Things like Gust of Wind or Awesome Blow come to mind.
Anything defined as a 'trip' it's immune to, but not anything else. So, for example, the immunity to trip would cover a barbarian's Knockdown rage power (from the APG) since it's defined as 'a trip attack', but not the Knockback (AKA 'This is SPARTA!') rage power, which is defined as 'a bull rush attempt'... unless it happened to be immune to bull rush too.
2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?
Definitly Knowledge [arcane] for that one (the Conjurer). Players often seem to overestimate what Spellcraft covers (it doesn't even cover all the uses of Detect Magic). The various Knowledge skills allow a character to identify the 'special powers' of their target creature types (including spell-like abilities) - so Knowledge [arcane] is probably what you'll use to identify the spell-like abilities gained from an arcane magic-using class, but those gained from a divine magic-using class would likely require Knowledge [religion], and those gained via racial abilities will require other Knowledge skills, based on type.
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2. Can Spellcraft be used to identify spellike abilities? Unlike spells, SLAs have no components whatsoever so I think they might be harder or even impossible to identify. And how about SLAs that don't exactly mimic a spell - like a Conjurer's Acid Dart?Definitly Knowledge [arcane] for that one (the Conjurer). Players often seem to overestimate what Spellcraft covers (it doesn't even cover all the uses of Detect Magic). The various Knowledge skills allow a character to identify the 'special powers' of their target creature types (including spell-like abilities) - so Knowledge [arcane] is probably what you'll use to identify the spell-like abilities gained from an arcane magic-using class, but those gained from a divine magic-using class would likely require Knowledge [religion], and those gained via racial abilities will require other Knowledge skills, based on type.
This seems like a really good way to handle it.
Just for fun:
What skill would a 10th-level evoker use to correctly identify that the spell-like ability being hurled at him is replicating a magic missile?
:P
2. Unfortunately, that is part of several long running debates on these forums.
In 3.5, the rules for spellcraft explicitly stated that you could not identify a spell that had no verbal or somatic components. So, if someone casts a still + silent spell, you don't get a spellcraft check. You can't identify SLAs with spellcraft in 3.5.
In PF, the rules were simplified in a way that left things somewhat ambigious on whether you can id a spell with no material, verbal, or somatic component. The PF rules state that perception modifiers apply to the spellcraft check, but doesn't say anything about what happens when there is nothing to perceive in the first place.
Further PF, made some changes to spell-like abilities. Spell-like abilities are now just spells with still, silent, and eschew materials applied for free. The most important consequence of this is that SLA can now be counterspelled(maybe, the rules actually contradict themselves on this point depending on where you look). Whether SLA can be identified with spellcraft is currently left in the dark.
I would say no, but I can put together a convincing argument the other way.
Just for fun:
What skill would a 10th-level evoker use to correctly identify that the spell-like ability being hurled at him is replicating a magic missile?
:P
Before the effect happens, spellcraft(maybe, see above)
As the missles are coming at him, knowledge(arcana) DC 16 with a +2 circumstance bonus for it being in his favored school. Give him a +4 with he has the spell in his spell book.
Remember, not every wizard's magic missle will look identical. They may be different colors, shapes, fly in different patterns, etc.
2. Unfortunately, that is part of several long running debates on these forums.
In 3.5, the rules for spellcraft explicitly stated that you could not identify a spell that had no verbal or somatic components. So, if someone casts a still + silent spell, you don't get a spellcraft check. You can't identify SLAs with spellcraft in 3.5.
In PF, the rules were simplified in a way that left things somewhat ambigious on whether you can id a spell with no material, verbal, or somatic component. The PF rules state that perception modifiers apply to the spellcraft check, but doesn't say anything about what happens when there is nothing to perceive in the first place.
Further PF, made some changes to spell-like abilities. Spell-like abilities are now just spells with still, silent, and eschew materials applied for free. The most important consequence of this is that SLA can now be counterspelled(maybe, the rules actually contradict themselves on this point depending on where you look). Whether SLA can be identified with spellcraft is currently left in the dark.
I would say no, but I can put together a convincing argument the other way.
Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus. Intentionally searching for stimulus is a move action.
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Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus. Intentionally searching for stimulus is a move action.
I am talking about spellcraft, not perception, specifically.
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.
If they are casting a spell with no somatic component, can they clearly seen the spell being cast?
What is the perception penalty to observe something that isn't there?
Auto-fail the test(visual test auto-fail when blinded), +20 to the DC as per invisible, no penalty?
1. No, by RAW they are immune to those abilities. Although, I would probably rule that a flying creature is forced to make a flying test or crash. If they pass the test, they are unaffected. That is my take of the RAI for flyers.
3. After.