Spellcasting

[mikebr99]

I am going to have to disagree with most of you and say, that unless you have at least some skill in spellcraft... you have no idea what that unarmored elf in the background is saying, or doing... as he crumbles dung into his hand.


Anyway. Just use Bluff to create some kind of diversion to hide the fact you just cast a spell.

YMMV


Mike

 

[MerakSpielman]

Spellcraft is used only to try to determine which spell somebody is casting. I'd be pissed if my DM didn't let my characters know when the enemy was casting a spell.

When I picture a D&D spellcaster casting a spell I see them adopting an unusual stance, raising his arms with a strange object (component) on one hand and doing grand, complex gestures with the other, and ritualistically chanting gibberish-words in a firm, strong voice. The only thing that could make it more obvious would be swirling lights like they have in virtually all video games, but I leave those out.

When somebody does that, they're either casting a spell or pretending to cast a spell. There's not much room for sublety or doubt.

 

[jgsugden]

The use of the listen and spot should be used to determine if the orc saw or heard the activities of spellcasting, as mentioned above. 360 feet is a pretty long distance away. Over a football field in length. It would be pretty hard to hear or see anything clearly at that distance. A -36 on the DC-5 check would seem pretty reasonable to me.

It is up to the DM if that orc can identify spellcasting as spellcasting.

Some things I'd consider: A creature with any ranks in spellcraft should probably be able to identify spellcasting verbal or somantic components. Any creature that sees spellcasting on a regular basis can probably identify it (ie; if there is a shaman in the tribe that casts bless on the orcs before combat - though a DM might rule that arcane and divine spellcasting are quite different).