Greetings,
Questions like these come up a lot as I read through different mind-affecting spells. In this case, the spell in question is detect thoughts:
- If the subject fails the Will save, does the subject know that their thoughts are being scanned? Assume that the person didn't see the spell being cast and is otherwise unaware of the caster (or don't, if it makes a difference).
- If the subject makes a successful Will save (thereby foiling the scan), do they know that someone attempted to read their mind?
- If the subject makes a successful Will save, does the caster receive no information or faulty information?
Thanks in advance.
Succeeding on a Saving Throw: A creature that successfully saves against a spell that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell, you sense that the spell has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area spells.
So
#1: Unlikely#2: They know something's up, but don't know the exact spell
#3: The caster knows the spell has failed.
1)I do not believe there are any rules stating that the subject knows that they failed a save against a spell. Since the spell has no obvious physical effects, the subject should not know. If you cast the spell in their presence they should get a spellcraft or knowledge arcana check to determine the spell. However, since the spell is concentration, you could cast it out of site and then walk towards the subject, thus avoiding the chance of identification.
2)They know that a spell was cast on them and that they made their save. They do not know what spell was cast unless they make a spellcraft check.
3) The save is Will/negates, so no info. The spell failed. Edit: What slim said too.
The spell has no effect on a subject that makes a successful saving throw.
Looks good to me. Thanks to both of you.