Spot DC for invisible creatures

[BriarCub]

Would anyone happen to know the rules for spotting an invisible creature(s) within 30'? I've seen reference to DC 20 for a 'nearby' creature but I've not been able to find an actually definition of 'nearby' For example, if a 6th-level halfling druid makes a DC 35 spot check in a 30x30 room (specifically asking to spot something in the mostly-bare room) with an invisible ogre mage preparing to use its cone of cold, would the druid have a chance of spotting it?

Thanks in advance!

to/\/\

 

[DarkMaster]

Would anyone happen to know the rules for spotting an invisible creature(s) within 30'? I've seen reference to DC 20 for a 'nearby' creature but I've not been able to find an actually definition of 'nearby' For example, if a 6th-level halfling druid makes a DC 35 spot check in a 30x30 room (specifically asking to spot something in the mostly-bare room) with an invisible ogre mage preparing to use its cone of cold, would the druid have a chance of spotting it?

Thanks in advance!

to/\/\

yes if you look at spot skill I would say DC23 = 20 for invisible + 1 per 10 feets of distance.
so a 35 would be more than enough to detect the invisible creature, if the mage is hidding in the mostly bare room than you need to beat an opposed roll
the DC becomes d20 + hide skill + 23

 

[Plane Sailing]

If he made the check he'd know that there was something "in that [ square ] over there", but not what it was or what it was doing, it would still have its 50% miss chance from total concealment.

 

[Diirk]

If he made the check he'd know that there was something "in that [ square ] over there", but not what it was or what it was doing, it would still have its 50% miss chance from total concealment.

Not even that... its DC 20 to realize there's something present, however you still have no idea what it is, or where it is.. just that there's something invisible in the area.

Here's the exact rules:

A creature can generally notice the presence of an active invisible creature within 30 feet with a DC 20 Spot check. The observer gains a hunch that “something’s there” but can’t see it or target it accurately with an attack. A creature who is holding still is very hard to notice (DC 30). An inanimate object, an unliving creature holding still, or a completely immobile creature is even harder to spot (DC 40). It’s practically impossible (+20 DC) to pinpoint an invisible creature’s location with a Spot check, and even if a character succeeds on such a check, the invisible creature still benefits from total concealment (50% miss chance).

In the Special Abilities & Conditions part of SRD, under invisibility

 

[Plane Sailing]

Not even that... its DC 20 to realize there's something present, however you still have no idea what it is, or where it is.. just that there's something invisible in the area.

I never said nor implied that DC20 was the check to notice where it is.

 

[Darklone]

Yupp, DC 60 + distance to pinpoint an immobile invisible creature

Always cast invisible permanencied on your treasure before you hide it.

 

[Ottergame]

When you toss in the Hide skill it gets worse. Find a level 20 hiding invisible halfling rogue in bad lighting.

 

[Darklone]

No problem, use True Strike

 

[dcollins]

I never said nor implied that DC20 was the check to notice where it is.

But you did say "If he made the check he'd know that there was something 'in that [ square ] over there'". But when making the check, he does not know what square it is in -- at that point in the thread only the DC 20 check had been mentioned.

 

[GodPhoenix]

so does being invisible give you +20 to your hide? that seems to be what y'all are implying...but is that actually spelled out anywhere? (sage/dragon/etc) the SRD only says:

"A Spot check result higher than 20 generally lets you
become aware of an invisible creature near you, though you
can’t actually see it."

Nice how they throw in a complicating descriptor like "generally"