Do Lashunta make the best spies?

[VampByDay]

I mean, they have telepathy to disseminate information to whomever they want to without risking anyone overhearing, 1/day detect thoughts, racial bonus to charisma and any two skills (Bluff and disguise?).

I just played an SFS scenario where all four of us were Lashunta and I was amazed at how good we were as ‘spies.’ That was despite the fact that we were a vidgamer, a former child star, a biologist, and pregen Raia.

[Ecliptic12]

they're definitely good with detect thoughts... but it's only once per day and it takes 3 rounds to have a chance at surface thoughts, which is negated by a will save.

On the other hand, I'd say astrazoans make for some of the best spies... their ability to change themselves into ANY medium creature, even specific ones, is pretty amazing.

[SirShua]

If spell-like abilities didn't glow like normal spells I'd say for sure. But limited duration, once a day, and glowing magic would make it hard to secretly detect thoughts

[Ravingdork]

SirShua wrote:

If spell-like abilities didn't glow like normal spells I'd say for sure. But limited duration, once a day, and glowing magic would make it hard to secretly detect thoughts

Is it stated anywhere in Starfinder that spell-like abilities are as overtly obvious as spellcasting?

[Jasque]

Lashunta are definitely good. I agree with Ecliptic12, though, that astrazoans make even better spies. But that might just be because I'm a huge fan of astrazoans.

[Pantshandshake]

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)

Spell-like abilities are magical abilities that function very much like spells do (see Casting Spells). The main difference is that you gained the ability through a different means than normal spellcasters gain spells. A spell-Like ability has a casting time of a standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability or spell description. Usually, a spell-Like ability either can be used a specific number of times per day, can be used at will, or can affect a creature constantly. If a spell requires an expenditure of credits or Resolve Points as part of its casting, a creature that can cast the spell as a spell-like ability does not need to pay such costs. Creatures with spell-like abilities that can be made permanent still must pay any costs and take the listed amount of time to do so. In all other ways, a spell-Like ability functions just like a spell.

Because it functions like a spell, using a spell-like ability in a threatened square usually provokes attacks of opportunity unless the text of the ability or the spell it emulates specifically says otherwise.

Spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance and dispel magic. They do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated.

Just as for spells, a spell-like ability’s caster level determines the ability’s power (see Caster Level). If no caster level is specified in the ability’s description, the caster level is equal to the creature’s character level or CR. The DC of a spell-like ability is typically equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the Charisma modifier of the creature using it. If a class grants a spell-like ability that is not based on an actual spell, the ability’s effective spell level is equal to the highest-level class spell the character could cast at the class level the ability is granted.

Spell-like abilities are often denoted with the abbreviation “Sp” in parentheses next to the ability’s name

So, much like Pathfinder, a spell like ability functions just like a regular spell. I'd say yes, they light up.

*Edit*
I just remembered how sometimes rules were ported directly to SF from PF with no regard to them being different games by the people writing the book. So, I could be convinced that they do not light up.

[Dracomicron]

I think that it's always obvious that they're casting a spell. Otherwise you wouldn't know to make an Attack of Opportunity on them.

It's great that modern advances have eliminated the need to carry around bat guano, wave your hands around, or even speak magic words, but they haven't yet found a solution to the fact that using magic is incredibly obvious, and that a sword through the gut while casting will mess your day up (even more than it was already messed up, having been stabbed).

[Jasque]

Quote:

In all other ways, a spell-Like ability functions just like a spell.

I believe the above statement means that following rule applies to spell-like abilities.

Casting Spells wrote:

When your character casts a spell, she is harnessing the latent magical energy that permeates the universe to achieve specific, measured effects. Whether you’re playing a mystic or a technomancer, or a character who has gained the ability to manipulate magical energies through some other more unusual means, casting a spell follows one basic process, as described below. A cast spell always has obvious effects that are noticeable by nearby creatures; it is not possible to clandestinely cast a spell. For information about casting a spell as a spell-like ability, see Spell-Like Abilities. [emphasis added]

[Ecliptic12]

Going to have to go to the bathroom to cast your spell first, I guess ;D

[VampByDay]

Well, detect though is great, what really made us great was the limited telepathy. We were each able to disseminate information to each other in the middle of an ‘enemy’ lair, while getting a tour from the ‘bad guys.’

Spokesperson: ”Here we find ourselves making X.”
Lashunta 1) They are totally making Y, right?
Lashunta 2) Oh yeah, totally.
Lashunta 3) Oh, are they? I didn’t know that. Think this person knows?
Lashunta 4) I’m not sure, but I don’t trust those other guys.