Warlock's Curse and Hunter's Quarry - Can enemies see it?

[ReeboKesh]

Hey guys we had a situation on the weekend where the PCs managed to sneak up on a large group of Kobolds unseen. The two Warlocks in the party proceeded to drop their curses on every Kobold in sight.

I ruled that the unsuspecting kobolds could not detect the Warlock's Curses and we went ahead with combat. Was I right in handling the situation that way?

So that brings me to the question - does it state in the rulebooks that a creature knows if it is 'marked' by Warlock's Curse or Hunter's Quarry? What about with Combat or Divine Challenge?

Thanks in advance
Reebo

 

[Khime]

Yes. Check the last paragraph of p57 of the PHB; when you affect a creature with a power, the creature knows exactly what you've done to it.

Now, whether they just mean for 'powers' or for everything, one could argue. I.e. Divine Challenge is a class feature listed as a power; Warlock's Curse is not.

Also, the question might come up whether other enemies can see that you've cursed one of their fellows. But talking is a free action, and kobolds know how to say "I've been cursed!"

 

[ReeboKesh]

Hmmm not convinced
I guess a counter argument to that with would be a stealthy bow Ranger trying to take out some sentries quickly and quietly with the benefit of Hunter's Quarry. Would be silly if a huge WoW-like pointy arrow appeared above the sentry's head?!
Reebo

 

[FadedC]

Keep in mind that you can only cure/quarry your nearest enemy, so it's going to be rather hard to catch an entire camp anyway without alot of moving around and stealth checks.

As others have said it's unclear, though I would have a hard time justifying the target of a quarry knowing that some hidden ranger was aiming at him. Plus that only goes on one target at a time anyway.

I've generally ruled that people know when they are cursed (and I'd tell the players if they were cursed by a monster with the warlock class package), so I'd probably say that would raise an alarm. But that's just my take on it and far from official.

 

[icarusfallz]

A quarry is unlikely to know that it is being hunted, but a curse seems more like an "in your face" kinda thing. just my opinion.

 

[Leatherhead]

Hmmm not convinced
I guess a counter argument to that with would be a stealthy bow Ranger trying to take out some sentries quickly and quietly with the benefit of Hunter's Quarry. Would be silly if a huge WoW-like pointy arrow appeared above the sentry's head?!
Reebo

I would like to point out that only the creature that is targeted with the quarry knows it is targeted, and you can target a creature with a quarry, attack it, then run away to hide all in the same round. But only one creature being aware of the quarry would be a moot point in your situation anyway. If you are taking out sentries with a bow, the "pointy arrow over their head" isn't going to give you away, but the pointy arrow sticking out of their neck will.

Oh and as for challenge and marks overall, the reason monsters know about marks is so that defenders can actually do their job.

 

[Oompa]

RAW says they would know they've been cursed or marked otherwise.. but flavor wise i would rule in this situation they wouldnt..

Keep in mind the closest and moving to curse/quarry someone.. make appropiate stealth checks and passive perception checks..

You can also give the enemies an save 1-9 the enemy doesnt know, 10-19 they know they are marked or whatever, 20 they know what and from where..

 

[Blue]

Hmmm not convinced
I guess a counter argument to that with would be a stealthy bow Ranger trying to take out some sentries quickly and quietly with the benefit of Hunter's Quarry. Would be silly if a huge WoW-like pointy arrow appeared above the sentry's head?!
Reebo

The rules say the target knows, not anyone else.

So it wouldn't ba a WoW-like pointy arrow over their head, it would be an itching between their shoulder blades as they felt someone watching them.

I'm not a fan of the rule - it breaks some of the illusionist powers that came out in Dragon. But it's still the rule. Feel free to house rule it for your game.

Cheers,
=Blue(23)

 

[ReeboKesh]

The rules say the target knows, not anyone else.

So it wouldn't ba a WoW-like pointy arrow over their head, it would be an itching between their shoulder blades as they felt someone watching them.

I'm not a fan of the rule - it breaks some of the illusionist powers that came out in Dragon. But it's still the rule. Feel free to house rule it for your game.

Cheers,
=Blue(23)

Yeah I'm with you Blue. Makes no sense that they can detect this power that actually has no effect until the target is struck by a damaging power. I'm gonna house rule it. Besides what works for the PCs, works for the monsters.
Thanks
Reebo

 

[keterys]

While it might not make sense that it can detect the quarry except as an itch between its shoulderblades or whatever, the curse might be something far more visible. A dark pall might settle over the creature and a grim cold settle through their veins as they become more vulnerable to the eldritch energy of the warlock, etc. You don't have to do damage for a creature to realize something is up.