The barbarian has no opportunity to recognize the magical properties of an item being used by an opponent. Even a wizard wouldn't be able to until a spell or ability was used, and then a spellcraft check would be needed.
I am also asking about mundane equipment. He is proficient in the Bastard sword and heavy steel shield. Can he recognize them on sight?
Anyone could unless they were disguised, yes.
I would think anyone proficient with a weapon, or skilled in it's craft feat, would have no problem (meaning no roll required) in identifying if said item was masterwork or not. No way to tell if it's magic without a detect magic spell (or similar effect) - unless, you know, it's shrouded in flames or glowing like a torch.
And detect magic is going to take three rounds of study before you can narrow it down to a particular item, and a knowledge (arcana) check to determine the school of magic, and a spellcraft check to identify its properties.
So no, beyond masterwork or not, a barbarian doing so in combat is going to take longer than to just sunder everything.. ;-)
The barbarian has no opportunity to recognize the magical properties of an item being used by an opponent. Even a wizard wouldn't be able to until a spell or ability was used, and then a spellcraft check would be needed.
So long as he's not raging, why wouldn't a barbarian be able to use spellcraft to identify magical effects? Assuming he has ranks in the skill, of course.
I was assuming the barbarian is going to be raging if he's trying to sunder an opponent's gear.
I was assuming the barbarian is going to be raging if he's trying to sunder an opponent's gear.
True, but no reason he couldn't roll spellcraft and pick his target prior to raging.
The barbarian has no opportunity to recognize the magical properties of an item being used by an opponent. Even a wizard wouldn't be able to until a spell or ability was used, and then a spellcraft check would be needed.So long as he's not raging, why wouldn't a barbarian be able to use spellcraft to identify magical effects? Assuming he has ranks in the skill, of course.
What part of the Spellcraft skill are you thinking would allow him to do so? The only thing close is the "Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic". This requires casting of Detect Magic to do so.
What part of the Spellcraft skill are you thinking would allow him to do so? The only thing close is the "Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic". This requires casting of Detect Magic to do so.The barbarian has no opportunity to recognize the magical properties of an item being used by an opponent. Even a wizard wouldn't be able to until a spell or ability was used, and then a spellcraft check would be needed.So long as he's not raging, why wouldn't a barbarian be able to use spellcraft to identify magical effects? Assuming he has ranks in the skill, of course.
I don't think I'd make him roll to identify the caster having a wand in his hand - he might not know what kind of wand or what kind of spell but it's pretty simple to think 'robe guy with small stick like object = bad'
Outside of that is it common? I think more people could identify a knight's plate armor than would know what scale male is in our world for example - if we were still in the middle ages and seeing people in chain and plate were common I doubt people would have a problem at least guessing the general type of armor they are wearing.
As to a shield - type (small, large, tower, buckler) should be easy to identify - the rest of the info could be easy to identify on sight or difficult (a lacquered shield could be metal, wood, stone, or who knows - where a piece of raw wood with handles should be pretty easy to identify unless it's enchanted (ironwood))
It's really up to the GM to say what's easy to note - until they make contact - once he hits the shield for example it should be easy to know if it's really really hard or gives under his sunder attempt.
What part of the Spellcraft skill are you thinking would allow him to do so? The only thing close is the "Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic". This requires casting of Detect Magic to do so.The barbarian has no opportunity to recognize the magical properties of an item being used by an opponent. Even a wizard wouldn't be able to until a spell or ability was used, and then a spellcraft check would be needed.So long as he's not raging, why wouldn't a barbarian be able to use spellcraft to identify magical effects? Assuming he has ranks in the skill, of course.
Admittedly, unless the barbarian has gained access to detect magic any identification of items is going to be a matter of GM discretion. I could see an argument for it being a knowledge roll rather than spellcraft, and a non-caster would probably need to see some of the item's properties in action.
During combat, if an NPC/PC wishes to identify what an opponent is wearing/wielding, what are the rules?
Example 1:
A barbarian is attacking a fighter. He wishes to sunder the Fighter's equipment, and needs to decide whether to attack the shield, armour or weapon.The fighter is wearing field plate, and wielding a heavy steel shield and a bastard sword.
Sunder the weapon, so they cannot hurt you while you kill them. Unless you see backup weapons. Then sunder the shield. Sunder Armor after shield, as loosing armor can gain Dex to AC. The shield is also probably less enchanted, as it is more easily taken of left unequipped.
Example 2:
The same barbarian encounters a Wizard wearing one of those fancy leaf cloaks, but it's been enchanted and it's masterwork. His weapon is a wand of magic missile, but the Wizard has not used it yet.The barbarian wishes to smash either armour or weapon again.
Don't bother to sunder. Casters are squishy, and will die in one hit to a competent barbarian.
I would think anyone proficient with a weapon, or skilled in it's craft feat, would have no problem (meaning no roll required) in identifying if said item was masterwork or not. No way to tell if it's magic without a detect magic spell (or similar effect) - unless, you know, it's shrouded in flames or glowing like a torch.
Agreed, IF the barbarian can handle the item in question for a bit. However, in the heat of battle, that is not an option. So, no identifying masterwork in combat.
You can Appraise an item, and if you beat the DC by 5, you can tell if it is magic. DC 20 for common items, more for uncommon and rare items.
/cevah
Usually a character make perception checks in a reactionary fashion(in which case they are non-actions). In the case you describe, the character is actively scanning his opponents to decide how they are equipped and which is the better item to attack. This is "actively seeking stimulus" and falls within the perception rules. Actively seeking stimulus with perception is a move-action.
hope it helps.
-Nearyn