Bardic Performance Fascinate Does target realize what happened?


Rules Questions


Hello
When a bard uses fascinate to stop someone from doing something they would normally do can the target realize that they were charmed?

In the group I am in the bard has a tendency to use fascinate on other party members. At what point in time would anyone realize what is going on or do we automatically know


The rules don't say. (Nitpick: They weren't "charmed", merely fascinated.) That said, I'd expect to realize after the fact that I spaced out listening to a song or watching a dance. But it's magic, so who knows?


Fascinate wrote:

At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability.

Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect.

Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. Fascinate relies on audible and visual components in order to function.

If your fascinated character made the save then they know they were targeted by hostile magic. Meanwhile the rest of the party likely sees what is happening.

I'd say your bard is due for a reckoning.

/cevah


What both Cevah and blahpers have said. Characters making the Will save will know, as blahpers pointed out, they were targeted by hostile magic. But they may not know the source or cause of magic. That's more in the realm of GM keeping the game 'under control' and the circumstances around the event. And after the Fascination wears off the character(s) are very likely to know the cause and will be aware they were magically influenced. Again how aware of who/what was the cause is in the hands of the GM but I'd lean strongly in favor of the PCs pretty much knowing it unless something about why and how the Bard goes about it is increasing everyones fun factor or fits the story somehow. I would definitely not encourage PvP type behavior unless everyone is seeking that.

PS: And while there are no rules specifying such I would also tend to give PCs who figured out what was going on during previous use of the Fascinate a bonus to further saves against this Bards Fascinate in the future.


I'd say make a sense motive to figure out what the bard is up to with his her or their performances. Bard songs aren't magic they're supernatural their just so good at them they have an effect which can be likened to magic.

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