Scrutinize Spell when it work?

[Koraxs]

Hello.
Can you help me with understanding WHEN work this feat&
By text "When you witness a creature casting a spell, you can attempt a Spellcraft check to determine what sort of spellcaster the target is—specifically, what the target’s class is. Once you have identified the target’s class, you can add your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is higher) to Spellcraft checks to identify all spells the target casts from that class’s spell list. Additionally, after you have determined the target’s spellcasting class, you can attempt an Intimidate check as a free action to demoralize the target, gaining a bonus equal to your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is highest)."

So WHEN PC can attempt an Intimidate check as a free action?
1) on turn of enemy caster as soon as he can see that he/she casting?
or
2) on own turn (but what if PC see more then one caster that cast spells previous his turn)?

[Kurald Galain]

It makes most sense (to me) to read "after" as "immediately after", instead of "at some unspecified moment in the future". So I'd say it's #1.

[Pizza Lord]

I agree with Kurald Galain. By the wording, you would make the Intimidate check immediately.

On an unrelated note...
What the heck is going on with this feat?

Scrutinize Spell:

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You can quickly size up spellcasters to gain an advantage when counterspelling their spells.

Prerequisite(s): Spellcraft 1 rank.

Benefit(s): When you witness a creature casting a spell, you can attempt a Spellcraft check to determine what sort of spellcaster the target is—specifically, what the target’s class is. The DC of this skill check is equal to 10 + the spellcaster’s Hit Dice. If the target has levels in multiple spellcasting classes, succeeding at this check reveals what class spell list the spell came from. If the result of the check is high enough that it would identify the spell being cast (DC = 15 + the spell’s level), you also identify the spell.

Once you have identified the target’s class, you can add your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is higher) to Spellcraft checks to identify all spells the target casts from that class’s spell list. Additionally, after you have determined the target’s spellcasting class, you can attempt an Intimidate check as a free action to demoralize the target, gaining a bonus equal to your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is highest).
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It says that you have a better chance of counterspelling their spells. I don't see anything related to that. I mean, it might help identify them, but that's not in any way going to make countering them easier. I mean, there isn't even a check really unless you're using dispel magic, which you don't even need to identify the spell to use. Why wouldn't it just say it makes it easier to identify their spells?

And you get an Intimidate check to demoralize them because you know what kind of caster they are? In what world does that make anyone nervious?

Evil Cleric: "Prepare to face the wrath of a true cleric of evil!"
PC Wizard: "Wait! Waaaaaait.... You're a.... Cleric!"
Evil Cleric: "Nooooo! How did you know!? My deepest, most shameful secret! I'm melting! Melting! What a world! What a wooooorld! You must be some kind of god... or... [turns a scrutinizing eye] wizard... perhaps?"
PC Wizard: "RUN AWAY!!!"

[Belafon]

Pizza Lord wrote:

On an unrelated note...
What the heck is going on with this feat?

It says that you have a better chance of counterspelling their spells. I don't see anything related to that. I mean, it might help identify them, but that's not in any way going to make countering them easier.

Identifying spells is usually a prerequisite to countering them.

CRB wrote:

If the target of your counterspell tries to cast a spell, make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell’s level). This check is a free action. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent’s spell and can attempt to counter it. If the check fails, you can’t do either of these things.

[Pizza Lord]

Belafon wrote:

Identifying spells is usually a prerequisite to countering them.

I think you missed the point of what I was saying. Yes, you usually need to identify a spell to counter it. Not always, you could always just use dispel magic. Having this feat, in no way makes your chance of dispelling an enemy any easier. It only makes identifying spells cast by them easier (depending on your Wisdom or Charisma bonus, which might be nothing). If you identify the spell, and have the spell, you can counter the spell, period. If not, you use dispel magic... and probably counter the spell. This doesn't even add a single bonus to that check to counterspell.

The point being made is, the description has about as much bearing on the feat's effect as if a feat, like Weapon Focus, saying you deal more damage to your enemies... but then you realize it doesn't have anything to do with damage, it actually gives you a bonus to hit... which is a prerequisite to dealing damage... but it could just have said you're better at hitting enemies. The same applies here. Counterspelling isn't even brought up in the entire Scrutinize Spell benefit section.

It's all about identifying spells... and then completely out of nowhere, Intimidating the caster... for some reason. Don't tell me they couldn't have put something along those lines in the short description to help people reading through them,

That doesn't even go into the absurdity of why an enemy knowing that you're a wizard or a witch or a bard is somehow unsettling to you.

NPC Bard: I am the famed bard, NPC BARD! I am now casting sculpt sound, a bard only spell and I am using my performance to cast the Verbal Component, as a bard would do.
PC Wizard 1: (makes Spellcraft check) "He's casting sculpt sound a bard only spell. I think he's a bard, we should be prepared for bardic performances that enhance our enemies and hinder us.
NPC BARD: "Yes! I love that my reputation precedes me! Knowing that my foes know how their defeat will arrive thrills me!"
PC Wizard 2: (makes Spellcraft check with Scrutinize Spell) "Yes, that is indeed sculpt sound he's casting. He is indeed the infamous NPC BARD!" (makes Intimidate check).
NPC Bard: "Oh no! You know I'm a bard?! This revelation has shaken me to the core of my being!"