A Question about summoning.

[Li Shenron]

... which really sucks when the enemy spellcaster IDs your spell really well (spellcraft check, etc, etc), and wraps the summon's arrival zone in a Wall of Fire or the like.

But Spellcraft will tell you which spell it is, not how many, what type and where the monsters will be summoned.

Anyway, if you saw the caster staring at you while casting you can try moving away from that spot.

 

[Pax]

I interpret Spellcraft's "Identify a spell as it is cast" differently.

Sicne, in casting the spell, you have towork those VERY details (what you're going for, where they will be, etc) into the casting of the spell ... that information should be gained, along with the PHB (or wherever) name of the spell.

If someone drops a fireball, and you made a spellcraft roll ... you should know WHERE the fireball will be, BEFORE it actually goes off (helpful for some readied actions, like "if the enemy wizard casts an area spell that includes me, MOVE!").

IOW, you should know the spell, and it's target, with the spellcraft roll. Along with other specifics (which element that Protection From Elements spells is set for; which version of Fireshield was just cast; etc, etc, etc).