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*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Noticing that an animal is actually a wild shaped druid casting a spell
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<blockquote data-quote="Goblyns Hoard" data-source="post: 1900279" data-attributes="member: 19970"><p>Correct - but how is that focus different from the entirely normal 'freeze' reaction when they first spot you.  I've seen many squirrels go completely motionless in an attempt to not be spotted themselves.  OK maybe some whisker movement/ear-twitching, but how easy is it going to be to notice the difference?  Are you close enough becomes an important factor.  </p><p></p><p>Even if we give the PCs the benefit of the doubt first of all you have to spot that the squirrel is focussed on you (Spot), then you need to be aware that this is abnormal behaviour (Knowledge Nature, druids/rangers/barbarians in their preferred terrain get at least +5), then connect the momentary (if it's a standard action) abnormal behaviour of a squirrel with the prospect of it being a spell casting druid (Sense Motive).  Until the spell actually goes off I'd rule that one very difficult (unless the party has been attacked in this manner before/repeatedly/etc.  After all a standard action is a fraction of a 6 second period, so a squirrel that focusses on you for a second or two before bolting back along the branch or around the otherside of the trunk will be practically impossible to notice... particularly if the forest you're in is full of squirrels.  Differentiating between those that focus and those that freeze before bolting - I wouldn't want to have to do it.  If it's a full round casting that's a different matter - significant bonus on the knowledge nature cause it's sat there staring at you for a full 6 seconds.</p><p></p><p>And then let's think about the druids outside of the forest - what about the eagle watching intently from a nearby rock outcrop in the mountains... staring intently is exactly what eagles do, and the movement of it's feet could just be getting a better grip onit's perch.  In the deserts it should be easy - you don't see enough animals to have a problem telling which was the only one in the area when the spell went off, you just need to hope it wasn't half-buried in the sand so you had a chance to see it.  In swamp or jungle I'm sorry to say you haven't got a chance - just spotting the animal will be practically impossible even before you have a chance of identifying that it's behaviour is abnormal or guess it's a spell casting druid.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goblyns Hoard, post: 1900279, member: 19970"] Correct - but how is that focus different from the entirely normal 'freeze' reaction when they first spot you. I've seen many squirrels go completely motionless in an attempt to not be spotted themselves. OK maybe some whisker movement/ear-twitching, but how easy is it going to be to notice the difference? Are you close enough becomes an important factor. Even if we give the PCs the benefit of the doubt first of all you have to spot that the squirrel is focussed on you (Spot), then you need to be aware that this is abnormal behaviour (Knowledge Nature, druids/rangers/barbarians in their preferred terrain get at least +5), then connect the momentary (if it's a standard action) abnormal behaviour of a squirrel with the prospect of it being a spell casting druid (Sense Motive). Until the spell actually goes off I'd rule that one very difficult (unless the party has been attacked in this manner before/repeatedly/etc. After all a standard action is a fraction of a 6 second period, so a squirrel that focusses on you for a second or two before bolting back along the branch or around the otherside of the trunk will be practically impossible to notice... particularly if the forest you're in is full of squirrels. Differentiating between those that focus and those that freeze before bolting - I wouldn't want to have to do it. If it's a full round casting that's a different matter - significant bonus on the knowledge nature cause it's sat there staring at you for a full 6 seconds. And then let's think about the druids outside of the forest - what about the eagle watching intently from a nearby rock outcrop in the mountains... staring intently is exactly what eagles do, and the movement of it's feet could just be getting a better grip onit's perch. In the deserts it should be easy - you don't see enough animals to have a problem telling which was the only one in the area when the spell went off, you just need to hope it wasn't half-buried in the sand so you had a chance to see it. In swamp or jungle I'm sorry to say you haven't got a chance - just spotting the animal will be practically impossible even before you have a chance of identifying that it's behaviour is abnormal or guess it's a spell casting druid. [/QUOTE]
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