Melodious Spell, being hidden,or targeting a "dumb" creature could all be ways to cast a spell without the act of casting being obvious as an attack.
Electric Arc's entry describes a visible manifestation of electricity between the targets.
Daze's entry includes no visuals.
Since there isn't any beam going to or from the caster, and no attack roll, would using either of these spells from hidding reveal casters position?
Would a creature even know that Daze has been cast on it, if it did't see the caster, or could not recognize that a spell had been cast?
I'm thinking of casting Daze from hiding at a humanoid, at a snake, pigeon, bar or squirrel,right out in the open or even at deer,from inside a blind.
I think Melodious Spell or even basic bardic instrument substitution could let you cast Daze right in a person's face without them knowing, but I'm not sure.
On a different note,do Daze or Electric Arc suffer from or induce multiple attack penalties?
Could you cast either of these spells and then attack the same turn,without penalty?
Could you throw an unprepared oil flask at a creature,then cast Electric Arc without penalty?
Would Electric Arc damage ignite an oil soaked creature?
As an aside, I'm thinking Electric Arc would be a good spell to cast the same turn as commanding an animal, using the Arc to indicate targets.
Creatures, even otherwise dumb ones, will look for agency. So while they might not think you did it, they will look for who did it (even were it just a natural phenomenon.) So have a patsy around. :)
And they can often smell, so don't trust to hiding.
They also might not know Daze is a spell, but it is harm, so they should become alert. Many of the creatures you mention would flee if able.
And they may avoid that area or whatever new food they last ate, such is the way association works.
Commanding an animal already designates targets, though using Electric Arc is thematically cool. It also might help them choose their second target should you go down before they're done with the first and if they have an action on their own.
On a different note,do Daze or Electric Arc suffer from or induce multiple attack penalties?
Could you cast either of these spells and then attack the same turn,without penalty?Could you throw an unprepared oil flask at a creature,then cast Electric Arc without penalty?
Would Electric Arc damage ignite an oil soaked creature?As an aside, I'm thinking Electric Arc would be a good spell to cast the same turn as commanding an animal, using the Arc to indicate targets.
1. Neither has the attack trait, so they don't interact with MAP at all. (see recent errata concerning some other things which have the attack trait but shouldn't have it, including some other cantrips)
2. From 1, yes you can cast them and attack at full bonus.
3. Yes you could do those things. Though up to DM whether the flask breaks, typically you don't want oil flasks to be very breakable since they're carried in your bags.
4. Nope. You could argue for produce flame though and I'd give the listed 1d6 as extra damage, but electric arc is stretching a little too far IMO. (This falls into DM adjudication territory)
5. The act of commanding the animal indicates targets to it, through a spoken command or pointing or what have you, so while thematic it isn't necessary.
Thanks for the great replies.
I will add, for posterity, the it turns out anything you do while Hidden that isn't Hide, Sneak, or Step will end your Hidden state.
I'm still reading to understand how Hidden, Observe, Concealment, etc work together.
IIRC there is a feat to conceal spellcasting, in addition to bard shenanigans. Without it, your spellcasting isn't concealed.
"Because you’re a bard, you can usually play an instrument for spells requiring somatic or material components, as long as it takes at least one of your hands to do so. If you use an instrument, you don’t need a spell component pouch or another hand free. You can usually also play an instrument for spells requiring verbal components, instead of speaking"
So,you can play an instrument instead of having a free hand,using a spell component pouch and uttering verbal components.
If the spell your casting with your instrument also has no sensory effects, how will they know you're casting a spell?
They can guess, obviously, and in a world that has bard magic,they have cause to be suspicious.
On the other hand,given the lack of recorded music, there is bound to be lots of mundane musical performers around,offering plenty of cover for shifty bards.