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A buddy of mine made a paladin that can cast Deathwatch at will. He used it in a game I was GMing and we were unsure of how the spell worked. The basic rules of the spell are: 30 ft cone and it lasts 10 min/level. My friend thought that he could cast it and look in different directions throughout the duration to get creatures' statuses. I argued that I didn't think it worked that way. The spell doesn't have a target of personal or you so I don't think it is a spell that you can move the area by looking different directions. The way I think it works is that you cast it and get the status of anyone within the 30 foot cone. Then, for the duration, you would know the status of those creatures that were in the initial cone effect.
Can anyone provide any insight on this?
Well, the rules are a little sparse in the actual spell description. But I would liken it to the Detect line of spells (Detect Evil, etc). The description in those spells says you can detect in a new area each round, but those spells also explicitly require concentration. I would think that Deathwatch should, but doesn't state it.
It definitely doesn't work the way you are describing though, which is any character in the cone is affected for 10 mins/level. You have to be in the cone, which would be a persistent cone for 10mins. It also doesn't make sense for it to be stationary since the character could move, and the effect should move with him as it is a cone shaped emanation.
Emanation says:
Burst, Emanation, or Spread: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point.
A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can't see. It can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. A burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.
An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Most emanations are cones or spheres.
Cone says:
A cone-shaped spell shoots away from you in a quarter-circle in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and widens out as it goes. Most cones are either bursts or emanations (see above), and thus won't go around corners.
So, they spell is a cone shaped emanation by it's description and we now understand how those work. The spell doesn't say it requires concentration so it doesn't. The only thing thats unclear is whether or not he can change which corner it originates from in his square, but common sense would say yes since he can just turn his body and it should turn the emanation. But Pathfinder doesn't actually have facing rules, so it actually doesn't matter which way he is looking.
So in short, it would seem yes, each turn he can just choose to have it emanate from a different corner of his square and detect how close to "death" people in that area are.
Not the most useful use of a standard action. The spell cannot move, it would say if it could. Multiple casting could cover 360 degrees though.
It most certainly moves, because it's an emanation from the caster, so at the very least it moves with the caster. You could argue that it is always emanating from the same corner of the caster square, but Pathfinder would have to have facing rules (which it doesn't) or else it doesn't make sense because you just face a different dirrection and detect in that area. At the worst, a level 1 character (with this power at will) could cast this 4 times before combat to cover all direction around him and it would last another 9.6 minutes before anyone spell would cease to function. At level 6, the castings last for an hour. He has the spell at will, if he gets 24 free seconds he can just recast them all. You decide how you want to run this? He either can move it as a free action on his turn or will have a 360 degree 30ft radius that lasts so long its irrelevant how often he has to recast, doubly so because he can cast it an unlimited number of times.
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I agree that nothing in the spell description suggests that it moves with you. It emanates from you when you cast it and keeps emanating from that spot and in the same cone for the duration of the spell. The emanation description even says "...continues to radiate from the origin point for the duration of the spell." That "origin point" would be the corner or side of the square that you started the cone, not the caster.
I did miss the emanation part when I first posted. Now, I think that it keeps emanating in that original cone and any creatures that move within that cone can be analyzed. In order to move the cone you would have to re-cast it.
Remember this is only a level 1 spell. It would seem to me that it would be way too powerful if it moved with the caster (at least more than a level 1 spell should be). Detect Magic and Detect Evil both have the stipulation of having to concentrate which is why they are allowed to move with you. I would think if this spell was designed to move with you it would also have concentration in the duration.
Take a look at Antimagic field. Though it is a much higher level spell it is a 10ft radius emanation, and it emanates from the caster. As all emanations due. They're always from a caster. You'll notice nothing about the spell Deathwatch actually implies that you cast it on a spot and then a cone extends from that spot which would magically convey information to you, even after you walk away. Trust me, the emanation follows the caster around. You can say that it's always locked onto one corner of his square, but he can effectively turn his character, and due to a lack of rules about facing it's irrelevant and he can effectively rotate the effect towards any direction he wants. Keep in mind this spell isn't particularly powerful. It lets you know if someone is injured and how close to death they are, but it's really only useful for 1st and 2nd level characters because above 4 hp (and injured) is considered "fighting off death", and then you're healthy at full hp. It will also let you know if something is undead or neither alive or dead. These abilities aren't game breaking, the worst it can do is the BBEG isn't a surprise undead anymore.
And again:
A cone-shaped spell shoots away from you in a quarter-circle in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of square and widens out as it goes. Most cones are either bursts or emanations (see above), and thus won't go around corners.
So it's always the casters square.
Further, if you read the description of Detect Evil it is described as a 60ft cone-shaped emanation where Deathwatch is a 30ft cone-shaped emanation. The only piece that Death Watch is missing is "Each round, you can turn to detect evil in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it",exisiting in the Detect line of spells.
Also check out globe of invulnerability. It is also a 10ft radius emanation, but it is specifically called out as not moving with you. The first words in the description are "an immobile". But Antimagic Field lacks this description and moves with you. You'll also find that Detect Evil and Deathwatch lack any such resitrcition either.
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OK, I think I understand the way the spell works now after reading your last post and re-reading the spell again. I didn't realize there was a big area where it was all the same (4 hp - full). Maybe it just seemed powerful because it kinda broke the BBEGs strategy in the scenario I was running. The BBEG had regeneration and used feign death and later casts shadow walk to get away if defeated (but not killed).
Also, there was another scenario where there were constructs in a room with statues in it and he thought he could spot the constructs. After re-reading the spell, it would have no effect since statues and constructs alike are neither dead or alive so they would all look the same. It seems as though he thought the spell did more than it actually does.
So, are you saying that he could physically move with the spell active and would basically have to pick a 30-foot cone section after movement in which to emanate?
So, are you saying that he could physically move with the spell active and would basically have to pick a 30-foot cone section after movement in which to emanate?
Yes, but remember that it is valid for him to cast the spell 4 times, and since it has 10 minutes per level he could actually have it going in all four directions at 1 time, for at least several minutes.
As a home rule, I would honestly say that the spell only last in duration for as long as he concentrates, up to 10 mins/level. Keeping in mind that concentration actually requires you use a standard action to perform. That would make the ability perfectly balanced IMO. I think it was something that was probably just left out of the spell by accident especially when you look at the Detect line of spells. (By the way, if he concentrates as a standard he can't attack nor can he cast the spell again without losing the first spell.)
What I was claiming the spell could do is that every round for 100 rounds, I could choose 1 direction to "aim" the cone. Although I would imagine that if I wanted to do nothing else that turn, I should be able to "aim" the cone more an one direction in a turn.I disagree that it requires concentration, as other abilities with cone-shaped emanations, like Detect Evil or Detect Magic, state that concentration is necessary. Deathwatch does not state anyone of the kind. I would say it's a standard action to cast the first time, then maybe a swift action or move action to adjust the aim each round.
If you were to use a standard or move action to change the focus of the emanation that would seem reasonable to me, though refering to Detect Evil it sounds as though you can only change it once at the start of your turn. Unfortunately Deathwatch really doesn't state, and the closest thing we have to work off of are the Detect spells.
You are absolutely correct that by RAW the spell doesn't require concentration, but if it doesn't require concentration you could simply cast if 4 times and have each aligned a different direction covering everything in a 30ft radius and it would persit for 96 rounds minimum. At level 6 it would persist for 596 rounds after casting. This is why I suggest as a house rule that the spell only last until concentration or 10 minutes per level.
The duration of the detect spells is concentration, up to 10 mins/level. If you stop concentrating they stop working at all. If you focus in the same area with the spell for multiple rounds it reveals additional information. You must have something in your focus area for multiple turns to find out more information than if anything evil is in that area. Which means on the first turn of detect evil, one evil creature in the area will cause you to detect evil, but you wont be able to tell which creature it is.
Read how detect evil works carefully.
Yes, but the only information you get from the initial casting of Detect Evil is if anyone in the 30ft cone is evil. That's barely even remotely useful.
Concentration is to keep the spell active, it has nothing to do with the amount of information you gain. The information is completely dependent on having the cone on someone to gain further information about them.
I am aware the spell doesn't mention concentration. I've already said that, I'm aware of what the RAW is. I made the mention as a suggestion because you're GM doesn't seem comfortable with this ability at will. Do you not get that?
Paladin doesn't really apply because they can use a move action to target one creature with smite evil and determine if they are evil or not.
It's an emanation, and as such moves with you. So, unless you rule that turning arount doesn't count as moving, rotating into a new direction will make the spell also follow you, covering the new direction you are facing.
And BTW since there is still a lot of misinformation on the question, Pathfinder doesn't have facing since expert adventurers are considered watching their backs constantly, assuming they didnt already grow eyes on their butts.
So you can scan all 360 degree in one sweep since the spell lacks the specific line of other detects about having to concentrate each round for each different area.
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OK, here's the only problem I have with that. Why make it a cone if all you have to do is sweep your vision 360 degrees in one round thus turning it into a 30 foot radius? If that's the intent, wouldn't they have just made it a 30 foot radius or burst, not a cone? Most, if not all, cone spells have an effective area of just the cone. I don't know of any cone spells that let you get more than that cone in one round.
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OK, here's the only problem I have with that. Why make it a cone if all you have to do is sweep your vision 360 degrees in one round thus turning it into a 30 foot radius? If that's the intent, wouldn't they have just made it a 30 foot radius or burst, not a cone? Most, if not all, cone spells have an effective area of just the cone. I don't know of any cone spells that let you get more than that cone in one round.Not every spell is written well. There's clearly only one sensible way to run it.
If it's not written well then it's obviously not clear, hence the reason for this thread to begin with.
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You are assuming that it works through the eyes. There is nothing in the spell description, however, that says anything about SEEING. It says you instantly know, not you visually see. I agree it moves with the caster but I don't see any reason or intent for it to be 360 degrees in an instant. It clearly says cone, not radius. In PFS you have to go by strict RAW reading of the spell. If it was meant to be a radius then there should be a FAQ or errata to make this known.
The strict RAW work as we are saying. You don't need any extra action to sweep the cone in a 360 degree since there is no line that specify it like other detect. Witch is also a wrong interpretation (comparing to other detects) imho since is not called "detect dead people" and has plenty of differences with the detect line as previusly pointed.
Also it's still work differently than a radius, since you still need to physically face the wanted direction. Mening that someone can still keep himself in your shadow, you could be bound and as such unable to face wherever you want, exc..
There are plenty of differences between a moving cone or a fixed radius, you don't need to keep everything working the same way.
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The strict RAW work as we are saying. You don't need any extra action to sweep the cone in a 360 degree since there is no line that specify it like other detect. Witch is also a wrong interpretation (comparing to other detects) imho since is not called "detect dead people" and has plenty of differences with the detect line as previusly pointed.
Also it's still work differently than a radius, since you still need to physically face the wanted direction. Mening that someone can still keep himself in your shadow, you could be bound and as such unable to face wherever you want, exc..
There are plenty of differences between a moving cone or a fixed radius, you don't need to keep everything working the same way.
Show me where in the spell description does it say this is allowed. Again, nothing says that this spell has anything to do with vision. You KNOW statuses within the cone...period. If vision isn't a factor then you can't sweep 360 degrees in a round. And, again, if that was the INTENT of the design team wouldn't it say radius, not cone? Bringing up some rare occurrence where you could potentially be bound (which would have to include some way to keep you from turning your head) doesn't signify that is the way it should work.
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But in that sentence "sees through" is figuratively describing that the feign death ability becomes transparent and doesn't work. It's not referencing vision.
If it was based on sight, then if you were blinded it wouldn't work. I see no reason for it not to work if you were blinded. You would cast it in whatever direction and you would get statuses on creatures in that cone. You may not know who or what those creatures are but you would "know" (again, wording of the spell) their health status.
I think by saying it's tied to vision you are trying to find a reality-based answer for how it works. The phrase gets thrown around a lot but why not just "because of magic". Magic works in mysterious ways you know.
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I think the reason they said it won't work on invisible creatures is because you have a level 2 spell (see invisibility) for that. If it worked on invisibility then you would essentially have a level 1 spell that can virtually see invisibility.
Either way, it is a matter of the spell description not being fully clear on the intent of the spell and how it works.