See Invisibility castable on others?

[Kershek]

Can you cast the spell See Invisibility on other people? There is no "Target" designator in the spell, therefore the lack of "Target: Personal" could make someone believe that you could.

 

[Oni]

It only affects the caster

 

[Kershek]

Is that your opinion or can you back it up?

 

[0-hr]

Can you prove that it is your opinion?

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

At first I thought it could be cast on anyone since it doesn't say Target: Caster.

But no, it's only the caster. Here's why.. read the description:

The character sees any objects or beings that are invisible, as well as any that are astral or ethereal, as if they were normally visible.

Since it says "the character" and not "the target" it just affects the character who casts it. Otherwise, you'd be able to cast Detect Magic onto others as well... and that's just plain wrong.

 

[Oni]

You'll notice the spell only refers to you (you being the caster). Other similar spells are arranged in a similar matter (such as detect magic), though see invisibility has an area of cone because of its variable range. Notice also how the wording of the spell differs from the likes of True seeing or other targetable spells.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Would you allow someone to cast Project Image on someone else?

How about Repulsion, centred on someone else?

Neither of them are "Target : Personal"...

-Hyp.

 

[green slime]

This very issue come up at our last game, on Saturday. It is an example of poor writing in the Heading.

The player naturally assumed that it could be cast on other targets, (he isn't a power gamer, just assumed it, or he wouldn't have readied the spell in more than one slot).

I ruled however that it only targets the caster. But it should be explicit, like it is for most spells.

 

[Hypersmurf]

But it should be explicit, like it is for most spells.

The was I see it, "You see any objects" is as clear as "Target: You".

"You" is a standard word in spell descriptions to refer to "the caster".

-Hyp.

 

[green slime]

The was I see it, "You see any objects" is as clear as "Target: You".

"You" is a standard word in spell descriptions to refer to "the caster".

-Hyp.

Indeed, but, as I needed to explain this to a player who is not such a gaming nerd as myself, it is obviously not enough. It would be different if your explanation was used consequently throughout the PHB. But it is not, and thus it cannot be regarded as explicit from the spell stats, but more from reading the text for the spell description.

It is a small distinction, but when dealing with non-gaming nerds, the ability to point to a clear, concise source, rather than having to open the book, read, reread, then refer to another section describing "you", I find somewhat inferior to the system that is supposedly already in place, but which was lacking for this particular spell.