A long time ago I tried to understand stealthy spell casting in PF2.
I came away with the understanding that practically speaking it doesn't exist.
Now the Psychic exists and brings Mental as a substitute for Verbal components and I'm wondering why?
If I understand correctly casting a spell immediately makes you observed and if you are attacking with a spell your attack does not benefit from them being flat footed relative to you.
Further, your spell makes noise and has a visual component, even if that isn't in the spell description?
If this is true,the only advantage I can think of is you can cast under the effects a Silence spell.
Hide the fact you are casting a spell you can use feats from the Bard, Witch or Wizard classes.
They can hide every trace that shows you are casting a spell but the act will still give away your presence.
Do I have this right?
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I came away with the understanding that practically speaking it doesn't exist.
That is correct.
If I understand correctly casting a spell immediately makes you observed and if you are attacking with a spell your attack does not benefit from them being flat footed relative to you.
Further, your spell makes noise and has a visual component, even if that isn't in the spell description?
Correct. Casting Spells
Source Core Rulebook pg. 302"When you Cast a Spell, your spellcasting creates obvious visual manifestations of the gathering magic." Also Psychic, Dark Archive pg. 8: "Your spells still have clear and noticeable visual and auditory manifestations, as normal for a spellcaster."
If this is true,the only advantage I can think of is you can cast under the effects a Silence spell.
Silent doesn't matter as you have "obvious visual manifestations".
Hide the fact you are casting a spell you can use feats from the Bard, Witch or Wizard classes.
They can hide every trace that shows you are casting a spell but the act will still give away your presence.
Do I have this right?
Conceal Spell and Melodious Spell will hide the manifestations if you make your Stealth or Perform check. It doesn't hide you though.
Thank you for confirming what I feared.
I had hoped that this had been fixed.
I understand it could be considerably feature, not a bug, but this goofiness is right up there with formulas as something I dislike.
Anyway, thanks again for your help.
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Yeah, the devs consider it to be a feature.
Many people think secret stealthy spell casting is bad for the game (and I generally agree that you shouldn't be able to do it without investment).
The fact that psychics have a mental component instead of verbal is mostly for flavor purposes, not intended to be a mechanical benefit.