Is it possible to tell if a spell is Arcane or Divine?

[Starcoffin]

Is their a skill check (or anything for that matter) that allows an onlooker to tell if you are casting with divine or arcane magic?

[LazarX]

Well when a cleric casts a divine spell the divine focus will always be present.

Is there a reason it matters?

[King Cobra]

You can figure it out logically most of the time. Several spells are divine or arcane only. Divine casters can cast in armor where arcane casters usually can't. Divine spells frequently require a holy symbol as a focus where arcane never does (unless there's an extremely obscure arcane spell I'm not aware of).

You can also use Arcane Sight to tell if a caster is arcane or divine.

[King Cobra]

LazarX wrote:

Well when a cleric casts a divine spell the divine focus will always be present.

Is there a reason it matters?

Usually but not always. Command, for example, is verbal only.

[Seranov]

Can't Spellcraft do that?

I should probably read over it to see.

[mplindustries]

Seranov wrote:

Can't Spellcraft do that?

I should probably read over it to see.

Technically, Spellcraft only tells you the spell and is silent on whether you can tell if it is arcane or divine. I think it would not be unreasonable to assume it does that as well, but nothing in the Spellcraft skill actually says so.

[concerro]

The nature of the spell is determined by the caster.

[Starcoffin]

The reason I ask is becuase I am playing an oracle in a campaign where oracles are hunted down by all religions for unknown (to us) reasons. Oracles know that, and choose spells that can make them appear to be a sorcerer and hide the best they can.

It is weird how so many sorcerers in this world seem to have had tragic accidents...

[Jal]

"Oracles do not need to provide a divine focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the components."

So casting in armor or a spell someone specifically knows is divine only via spellcraft skill is only way to identify for you. Also you could fake being cleric of a religion also, one not normally in the region...

[Harley Quinn X]

You could use Arcane Sight.

Quote:

Arcane Sight

School divination; Level sorcerer/wizard 3

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S

Range personal

Target you

Duration 1 min./level (D)

This spell makes your eyes glow blue and allows you to see magical auras within 120 feet of you. The effect is similar to that of a detect magic spell, but arcane sight does not require concentration and discerns aura location and power more quickly.

You know the location and power of all magical auras within your sight. An aura's power depends on a spell's functioning level or an item's caster level, as noted in the description of the detect magic spell. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Spellcraft skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura; DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + half caster level for a nonspell effect.)

If you concentrate on a specific creature within 120 feet of you as a standard action, you can determine whether it has any spellcasting or spell-like abilities, whether these are arcane or divine (spell-like abilities register as arcane), and the strength of the most powerful spell or spell-like ability the creature currently has available for use.

As with detect magic, you can use this spell to identify the properties of magic items, but not artifacts.

Arcane sight can be made permanent with a permanency spell.

[Darksol the Painbringer]

Arcane Sight is the only definitive way for them to identify your class type, since nothing else in the rules as far as I know dictates otherwise.

And even then, it's going to be ambiguous since some caster can learn divine spells through other means, meaning it will still be difficult for them to truly identify what kind of class you are. That is, outside of your apparently obvious spells or curses that may transpire.

[Funky Badger]

Cleric spells with verbal components tend to be quite obvious - "The power of CHRIST comples you!" etc.

Although the sneakier gods might be more understanding about obfuscation.