Spot Checks & Invisibility

[Shinmantis]

Hey Guys I dont know if this has been asked before and the search link didnt work for me.

Spot Skill states...

"A spot check result of greater than 20 can generally let you become aware of an invisible creature near you (although you can actually see it)"

My Questions are...

1)If you have a high enough spot, can you See/detect an opponent who is invisible even if its pitch black outside? They use notice and detect interchangibly in the rest of the discription of the skill. So is it based on your characters ability to Visually see something? (E.G Look I spot a bird in the trees) or is it a 6th sense which would indicate you dont have to see anything to spot something with a high enough skill (E.G a Blind person using spot skill)

2)What is the definition of "near you" in relation to something close enough to detect invisibility with the skill? What general distance are you guys using in your games?

Thanks,

 

[Jay Lofstead]

I have to say that the rules are really vague there. If I were to have to rule on that, I'd use the distance modifiers they have listed and look at the DC if the person is just hiding. If they exceed it by a certain amount (say 20), they have an idea that an invisible person is "nearby". I wouldn't give out anything else. Listen is probably a more appropriate skill than spot for this. I'd almost want to have this be a listen check rather than a spot check.

The other option I would consider is that if they roll a 20 on the spot/listen check that they get a general idea where the invisible creature is.

It is vague enough that it sounds like a good question for the sage (check the FAQ as well).

 

[Dr. Zoom]

In the definition of Blinded in the glossary of the PH, it says that skills that rely on vision, such as Spot, automatically fail. If you think it is a 6th sense for "detecting" invisible guys, then give them the Spot check with a -4 penalty.

The definition of "near you" is found in the DMG, page 78, under Invisibility. It is 30 feet. It further defines how the Spot check works against invisible guys. It also tells you how Listen works.

 

[Darklone]

I think Piratecat wrote something in a similar thread about +20 on the DC to locate someone invisible with a spot check, e.g. DC40.

 

[Shinmantis]

Thanks for the clarification and the responses.