Invisibility DC.


Rules Questions

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I am rather confused about the invisibility spot DC's. And, it comes up in my campaign quite a bit, so let me see if I get this right;

Sorsha walks within 30 ft. of an invisible person, DC 20 to notice. And to pinpoint the square, she needs to make a 40 (+20). If the invisible bugger in question starts speaking, it's back to 20 to pinpoint? If the guy starts to move at half speed, is the DC now 35 (20+20-5) to pinpoint? Does Stealth come into 0 may at all?

Sorry for such a basic question, but the description befuddled me for some reason.


Stealth comes into play when the invisible person wants to get not noticed and puts effort to it. Then its a +20 bonus to the Perception-check.

Invisibility is more Predator-like so that it can be spotted with a very good perception check, as ripples in the air. Not to mention that someone can also just make walking noices, or walk into a coffeetable and bump it.

A beat stealth means you know that he is *there*, because you heared him exactly there. But still would get a 50% misschance because you dont see him exactly, but just hear him in the 5ft-field.


Whne they speak you know instantaneously in which square they are in.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Guru-Meditation wrote:
Whne they speak you know instantaneously in which square they are in.

See, I'm not sure about that:

prd wrote:
creature can generally notice the presence of an active invisible creature within 30 feet with a DC 20 Perception check. The observer gains a hunch that "something's there" but can't see it or target it accurately with an attack. It's practically impossible (+20 DC) to pinpoint an invisible creature's location with a Perception check.

Way I read it, it's 40 to pinpoint the exact square (the 20 to know 'something's not right', +20 with the actual pinpoint). It goes on to say, the DC is lowered by 20 if "invisible creature is in combat or speaking". Would the DC to pinpoint not be 20?

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Sorry if I'm parsing too much, but the +20 for pinpointing reads as though it's adding to an existing dc, not merely setting one.


This has been debated several times, and the devs have yet to give a direct answer on how invis works in this case.

It is a flat DC 20 to notice that someone invis is around. The pinpoint DC is 40. That assumes no stealth is in play. If the person is standing still then it is a 40 to notice and 60 to pin point.

For stealth is makes sense to say that you add your stealth roll to those numbers along with other modifiers. I really don't like it though, and I would hope the devs would clear it up one day.

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