Level Up (A5E) Sight & Targeting a Spell

[Distracted DM]

Could a blinded creature, or targeting someone in a fog cloud etc. target another creature with a spell like Hold Person?

In 5e, unless a creature is deliberately hiding via using an action to stealth, you can still hear the creature and know its whereabouts to attack it. But A5E's target says a spellcaster must be able to see the creature, or otherwise know its precise location. I am given to believe based on folks' arguments that means that just knowing what 5ft space the creature is in wouldn't be enough to target it with said spell.

 

[Anonymous3]

Perhaps, "precise location" are for situations where you do not rely on sight to find a target and instead use another means to do so.
In these situations (blind sense, eco-location, maybe smell, blind fighting) I would argue the a "line of sight" has been qualified (therefore, their precise location is known) and the caster can cast Hold Person on the target.

 

[Distracted DM]

Notably, tremorsense specifically says that it doesn't count as sight.

 

[Anonymous3]

oh dear

 

[billd91]

I've seen senses designated as "targeting" or "accurate" in superhero games (Champions and Mutants and Masterminds, respectively) to indicate that they're suitable for use in targeting an opponent with attacks. Normally, that applies to sight by default, but it can be bought with any sense in those games.
I've long thought D&D could benefit from the same just to make it clear whether or not certain other senses could be used for just such a situation. I find it much clearer and more direct than saying whether or not tremorsense counts as a form of "sight".

 

[noodohs]

My understanding (perhaps wrong) is that the wording was changed to accommodate the idea of characters with disabilities. So, for example, if your character cannot see (even if not because they are normally blind), as long as they can otherwise know the precise location of a creature, they can target it.

I don't remember if A5e makes the distinction or if I'm thinking of PF2e, but in some systems, different senses are defined as precise or imprecise, which would help with determining what qualifies. With that in mind, I don't think it has to qualify as sight, it just has to qualify as precise to satisfy the requirements.