D&D 5E To what degree can targets sense Hex/Hunter's Mark?

[WhosAChaoticGoodBoy]

Hey folks!

What are your experiences with PCs is trying to discreetly cast spells like Hex and Hunter's Mark?

My group typically does DEX (Sleight of Hand) checks to determine whether or not the caster was subtle enough to not be detected, but I'm curious how other tables have ruled. Cheers!

 

[WhosAChaoticGoodBoy]

Adding that PHB p. 204 says the following:

Unless a spell has a perceptible effect, a creature might not know it was targeted by a spell at all. An effect like crackling lightning is obvious, but a more subtle effect, such as an attempt to read a creature’s thoughts, typically goes unnoticed, unless a spell says otherwise

 

[machineelf]

I do what you do. I see what the spell requirements are. If it is verbal, it might be difficult to cast the spell unnoticed, unless the caster whispers and/or the target isn't in close proximity and/or there is other noise and they don't hear the whispering. Might call for a stealth check in certain situations. Some situations would be impossible to pull off. If it is somatic, then I do a slight of hand check vs. passive perception. But if they pull that off with a spell that doesn't have obvious visual or physical clues, like hex or hunter's mark, then the target has no idea they have been targeted by a spell.

 

[cooperjer]

In my game a creature will know it's cursed with Hex if it can perceive a caster targeting it with the spell. If a creature is cursed without perceiving the casting it may suspect magic is to blame if it keeps fouling up its words, has a sudden imbalance, loss of strength capability, etc.

 

[Lanliss]

Hey folks!

What are your experiences with PCs is trying to discreetly cast spells like Hex and Hunter's Mark?

My group typically does DEX (Sleight of Hand) checks to determine whether or not the caster was subtle enough to not be detected, but I'm curious how other tables have ruled. Cheers!

It has not come up for me, but I would probably do (Casting stat)(Sleight of hand), rather than dex. An unobserved ranger, casting Hunters mark out of the shadows should not really use dex, I think. IMO, it should be affected by how good they are with their relevant casting skill.

 

[Saeviomagy]

It has not come up for me, but I would probably do (Casting stat)(Sleight of hand), rather than dex. An unobserved ranger, casting Hunters mark out of the shadows should not really use dex, I think. IMO, it should be affected by how good they are with their relevant casting skill.

Why would it be dex? Hunters mark only has a V component, and it's a pretty good argument for "v components are not shouted".

Hex is vsm, so is more likely to be detected... but if you can surprise someone by shooting a bow or throwing a dagger, I would expect you can cast hex undetected if you take measures.

 

[Saeviomagy]

In my game a creature will know it's cursed with Hex if it can perceive a caster targeting it with the spell. If a creature is cursed without perceiving the casting it may suspect magic is to blame if it keeps fouling up its words, has a sudden imbalance, loss of strength capability, etc.

What if it just happens to roll low a couple of times in a row? The effect of hex is pretty much indistinguishable from that.

Mind you, if your NPCs regularly go around blaming bad luck on evil witches hexing them, that's pretty true to life...

 

[Horwath]

When the greatswords cuts through 3 of your ribs, but by the swing and strength of the orc you expected to cut through just two of them!

 

[i_dont_meta]

At the end of the day, what's the desired outcome? What's the point in determining whether an Enemy know's whether it has Hex or Hunter's Mark cast upon them? Outside of some Dispel Magic, is there anything else you could do??


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[Lanliss]

At the end of the day, what's the desired outcome? What's the point in determining whether an Enemy know's whether it has Hex or Hunter's Mark cast upon them? Outside of some Dispel Magic, is there anything else you could do??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Someone knowing they have been Marked is the difference between a ranger getting surprise or not. If they know something is fishy, they are already on guard. Also, Hex has out-of-combat uses, like cheating in competitions. Your target glowing with bright Hex-Fire will kind of give that away.