Is it possible to see and identify feat / ability being used, such as combat expertise or power attack?


Rules Questions


Something that generally comes up but not really ever an issue is, if a feat such as Dodge, Combat Expertise, power attack, are being used, can a character identify them being used? Would it just be known? What about abilities like Stance of the Xorn, or Stances in general. You could probably see when someone is probably doing something "fancy" even if you don't know what it is. What if you have the feat/ability, can you identify it?

What about if someone was readying and action. You might not know what the action is, but could you tell that they are getting ready to do something?

Who's job is it to express such "obvious" displays? By which I mean, do the players need to inquire about it first, or does the GM need to state that they are indeed doing something odd.

Sovereign Court

The answer will depend almost entirely on the GM's presentation & his preferences.

For example, I make a point of telling players the difference between an attack that flat out fails and one that connects but fails to penetrate armor. (hits touch AC, but doesn't hit normal AC). Most GMs I've played for do not make this distinction, however.

One novelty style trick that I've seen (and find amusing) is the GM slyly (but obviously) tossing his d20 from hand to hand in imitation of the NPC similarly flipping his weapon back and forth. That demonstration is his own way of informing the player(s) that the NPC is attempting a Feint maneuver.


That will depend on the feat and the GM. Power Attack is just swinging to do more damage.
Feats are basically metagame knowledge and do not exist to the characters in many cases. Things like Silent Spell might be an exception, but it would not be noted as feat, but that a caster can cast spells with verbal components.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Yes, but only in the most general sense. Here are some examples of how it might be described to the player (and understood by his character):

Power Attack: "Your foe swings at you with all of his might, leaving little regard for accuracy."

Combat Expertise: "Your foe concentrates on parrying each of your blows" or "Your enemy takes a defensive posture."

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