Do spell recipient's know the orgin of the spell cast?

[Stalker0]

I've been wondering, does it say in the books when a person gets a spell cast on them, do they know from whom it came, or does that require use of spellcraft?

It comes up, because a fighter without spellcraft who gets a buff spell or even a heal spell cast on him wouldn't know if it was friend or foe who cast it, and therefore wouldn't know to foregoe the save. Now of course, the friend could say I'm casting a heal spell, but there are situations where this wouldn't be possible.

 

[Staffan]

I do not think you know who's casting a spell on you unless there's something giving it away. However, there usually is - that's one thing verbal and somatic components are for. If you see the guy who just torched you with a fireball chanting and waving, and you feel that *some* magic is trying to affect you, it's a pretty good bet that it came from Fireball guy.

 

[Crothian]

Casting a spell is obvious unless you use feats (still spell, silent spell, enshew materials).

A heal spell requires a touch, so it would be quite obvious when your friends was casting it on you. For sake of ease I allow the PC to know whenever a friend is casting a beneficial spell.

 

[Stalker0]

If your casting a spell near me yes, it is obvious. But when your behind me and I'm in the middle of combat, its not.

Personally, I also use the rules that you always know when your allies are giving you spells, I just thought it was an interesting point for those who like strict play.

 

[Crothian]

well, speaking is a free action so befor your ally casts thje spell he can go "Crothian I will make thy strong" and then cast Bull Strnegth on me, even if he is behind me I know what he is doing.

 

[Arravis]

What if it's a "Charm Person" spell or some other mind affecting spell, and it's silent/still spelled', would you know it was cast on you? Are you aware of the "influence" of the spell? If it was Suggestion.... would you know it was magic?

 

[reiella]

Difference between someone muttering something in Draconic and someone casting a spell is lost to most people unless they have Spellcraft. Fun tactic for confusing people would be to have the party all speak various phrases in Draconic (just memorized) to confused people from knowing who was casting that spell, or if they know Draconic, have them actually just utter the Verbal component while they do their own thing, just to further confuse things .

At the very least, they have to wonder if people have Quicken Spell or Still Spell. Armor isn't even a good gauge because a stilled spell can just as easily be cast in armor.

As written, the person who fails the saving throw only knows that a hostile force or a tingle, but can't deduce the exact nature of the attack. The example further clarifies that the person wouldn't know who tried to charm them if htey succeeded their save.

Although if the spell succeeds would they know if something happened? Hmm. Well, the AoO you get from casting a spell probably makes it obvious to people who are around you that you've let your guard down and are doing 'something'. I don't think that they would be aware of 'who' cast the spell (After the fact, for Suggestion or Charm Person, yea, because they end up being the one who you have fuzzy memories of trusting and such). Rest would probably be common sense (or using the Spellcraft skill).

 

[Numion]

If your casting a spell near me yes, it is obvious. But when your behind me and I'm in the middle of combat, its not.

How can the spellcaster be behind you in a combat system without facing rules? There is no "front" and "back" for the fighter, so the caster can't actually be behind the fighter.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

If you walk up behind Fred the dwarf fighter, who is the victim of a Hold Monster spell, in order to cast Remove Paralysis, you could probably argue that you are walking up "behind" him.

Armor isn't even a good gauge because a stilled spell can just as easily be cast in armor.

Or your wizard casts Change Self to look like a fighter. No one will think he's a primary target until he casts his first spell.

If you fail a save, you are unaware that a spell has been cast on you, unless the caster was very obvious about it. (IMC the verbal component of Charm Person is innocent-sounding, and can be hidden in conversation. For instance, "in my culture, when I meet a new friend, I say this ancient Draconic phrase.") If you make a save, you are a aware that a spell was cast on you, but you might not know it was cast by the Improved Invisible wizard with the Silent Spell feat or the drow using her spell-like abilities.

I'm pretty sure this rule is in the FAQ.