Spellcraft a spell not on a classes spell list

[Ammerz]

I have been wondering how Gm's handle this situation. I am currently running an adventure with a 9th lvl Magus as an NPC if he casts Monstrous Physique 1 can any class with spellcraft discern the exact spell or does it need to be a class with the spell on its spell list? The party consist of a Witch an Oracle and a Magus/Monk, can only the Magus/Monk identify the spell or can all three of the casters have a chance at identifying it as it is being cast?

For ease and speed of play I am willing to allow all the classes identify it if they make the roll but is that how other GM's rule it?

[Marthian]

as long as they make the dc, they would identify. Even if they aren't a caster at all, they can still identify (I've seen fighters pick up spell craft)

On the other hand, I would think if it was on your spell list (moreso prepared), you'd probably have a better chance at identifying it (there's no bonus afaik).

[Artanthos]

This

Non-spellcasters can take spellcraft and identify spells cast.

[Grick]

Ammerz wrote:

can any class with spellcraft discern the exact spell or does it need to be a class with the spell on its spell list?

Spellcraft does not require that you are capable of casting spells.

A fighter who makes the DC 18 Spellcraft check will know someone is casting Monstrous Physique I.

[Xaratherus]

To offer an analogy: One does not have to be an engineer in order to be able to interpret the basics of an engineering schematic. You might not be able to create such a schematic on your own, but you could have the knowledge necessary to understand what such a drawing means.

Same with spellcraft.

[DrDeth]

Joe-Bob the Peasant “Hmm, I wonder what the ball of fire was…”.

Mind you, if it’s weird spell, with nothing obvious and out of class, sure, why not assign a small +2 DC to it?

[Bwang]

The 3.5/PF game I played in for several years had the +2 circumstance for a spell being in your chosen school, with the same penalty for not being a spellcaster. But that was a campaign rule. Non-CORE spells, such as self-researched spells, were given a -5 to be spell crafted. Oh, spellcrafting a spell you actually know was +5.