Do you notice being affected by a [Su] ability?

[SteveC]

Hi everyone,
A new character in my Shackled City game is an Inquisitor, with the supernatural ability to return transformed or shapechanged creatures to their natural form with a touch. The player tells me that he's the sort who will go up and shake hands and put a slap on the back to people all the time, and that he's going to use this ability on pretty much everyone he meets.

The question is, does someone who is affected by this power know what's happening? There is no save versus the effects--it is merely a caster level check.

I ruled in the game that the person being affected would notice a 'tingle' of magical power, but I'm wondering if I made the right call. I also ruled that it would be possible for a character to identify the effect as it happened to them with a very high spellcraft check (I think I set it at DC 35).

The questions I have: first, does the RAW say anything about this? Second, if not, do you think I was too harsh on the player?

Since this is really a narrow issue of one power, I'm really asking this question more in general: does using a [Su] ability on someone that has no obvious visual effect allow for any check or roll to notice it? Wait, maybe the question is more general than that...does a [Su] ability always have an obvious effect?

Whatcha' think?

--Steve

 

[Darklone]

I would certainly make them notice it.

You know, it's this typical character in many books who's officially a very good guy but noone trusts him and everyone tries to avoid him because it gives them the shivers when he's shaking their hands...

Know what I mean?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Normally a Su power takes a standard action to activate unless described otherwise, doesn't it?

If that *is* the case, then I'd say that this is a pretty obvious effect, since it takes as much concentration and activity on his part as casting a spell or making an attack!

I'm inclined to make the use of all supernatural powers obvious in some way, for various reasons (not least that of preventing abuse)

Cheers

 

[frankthedm]

I'd say you only feel it if it could affect you. Kinda like how holy water is not much different than normal water, unless you are a fiend or undead.

The guy you are shaking hands with is paying attention to you, as you would expect.

Now in a world of magic, a LOT of folks won't let you touch them. Physical contact is not a normal greeting in a lot of societies and gods knows what could be wrong with a person. Those who have authority can often insist, but remember in our own world, some claim the handshake derived from guards making sure visitors did not have a weapon up their sleeve. If the character keeps it up, rumors may spread to why he can't keep his hands off people.

Anybody who the character tries to get his paws on does deserve a DC 20 sense motive check to get a hunch to notice something is up. If the NPC makes that check, initiative may be rolled depending on the disposition of the NPC.

Hunch

This use of the skill involves making a gut assessment of the social situation. You can get the feeling from another’s behavior that something is wrong, such as when you’re talking to an impostor. Alternatively, you can get the feeling that someone is trustworthy.

The player tells me that he's the sort who will go up and shake hands and put a slap on the back to people all the time, and that he's going to use this ability on pretty much everyone he meets

Keep a post-it note on the disease section of the DMG. Notably the diseases spread by contact. Call for fort saves every couple days from mundane colds and such.

Or you can go the Status-quo route. Every once in a while he does reveal a shapechanger. Tough for him when you roll the encounter level on a 1d20 and he instigates a near epic encounter that was tring to keep a low profile.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Or you can go the Status-quo route. Every once in a while he does reveal a shapechanger. Tough for him when you roll the encounter level on a 1d20 and he instigates a near epic encounter that was tring to keep a low profile.

Especially funny if he's in a small room and it is an ancient gold dragon shapechanged into human form. Have to be good for an instant 'crush' attack

 

[Darklone]

That touch thing reminds me about Xykon and O'Chul.

 

[SteveC]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I am away from my books, but I believe the ability was described as "at will." Does that change your mind at all?

It sounds from what you're saying that there isn't an official RAW answer to this question, so I think I'm going to go with the same logic that whenever you're affected with a spell effect, you feel it. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being unfair to the player or the character.

--Steve

 

[Darklone]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I am away from my books, but I believe the ability was described as "at will." Does that change your mind at all?

Nope, "at will" just says he can use it without limit, but as said above, it's still a standard action.

 

[frankthedm]

so I think I'm going to go with the same logic that whenever you're affected with a spell effect, you feel it.

No, you don't. You feel it when you make a save. Even if you apply that to a level check, the level check never happens if the ability fizzles from being used on a target it can't effect.

Succeeding on a Saving Throw

A creature that successfully saves against a spell that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell you sense that the spell has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area spells.

 

[prospero63]

Hi everyone,
A new character in my Shackled City game is an Inquisitor, with the supernatural ability to return transformed or shapechanged creatures to their natural form with a touch. The player tells me that he's the sort who will go up and shake hands and put a slap on the back to people all the time, and that he's going to use this ability on pretty much everyone he meets.

The question is, does someone who is affected by this power know what's happening? There is no save versus the effects--it is merely a caster level check.

I ruled in the game that the person being affected would notice a 'tingle' of magical power, but I'm wondering if I made the right call. I also ruled that it would be possible for a character to identify the effect as it happened to them with a very high spellcraft check (I think I set it at DC 35).

The questions I have: first, does the RAW say anything about this? Second, if not, do you think I was too harsh on the player?

Since this is really a narrow issue of one power, I'm really asking this question more in general: does using a [Su] ability on someone that has no obvious visual effect allow for any check or roll to notice it? Wait, maybe the question is more general than that...does a [Su] ability always have an obvious effect?

Whatcha' think?

--Steve

1) I think they should notice it. I would adjudicate it that way under the premise that while there is no save allowed, it requires a melee touch attack.
2) I think an NPC is going to put an ass whooping on him and it won't take long for rumors of this guy trying to ensorcell folks, with the appropriate responses...