If it's cast on an npc do the know they have been hit with it? The spell doesn't deal any damage, or have any text that would imply that they would and there is no check or save. Is there some rule about this that I'm not finding?
For spells that don’t necessarily have explicitly perceptible effects, it’s up to the DM. Hex is something I would say the target knows about. I’d probably rule that there is in fact a visual component to it, because I think that would be cool. But another DM might be fine with it being perfectly imperceptible.
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.
Keep in mind that it's a different situation if your target sees you casting a spell and has reason to believe you cast it on them, but per the rules at least, they wouldn't notice Hex most likely.
Hex has V,S,M components (so they will know you cast a spell) and causes the target to have disadvantage on one ability check (so they will be aware that something is wrong), so I would expect it to cause a hostile response.
Hex has V,S,M components (so they will know you cast a spell) and causes the target to have disadvantage on one ability check (so they will be aware that something is wrong), so I would expect it to cause a hostile response.
Not challenging that statement at all, just curious from a rules standpoint: Do PCs/NPCs "know" they have disadvantage? Or do they just feel like they're having an off day with that ability? Guess I've never had to look that up before.
Hex has V,S,M components (so they will know you cast a spell) and causes the target to have disadvantage on one ability check (so they will be aware that something is wrong), so I would expect it to cause a hostile response.
Not challenging that statement at all, just curious from a rules standpoint: Do PCs/NPCs "know" they have disadvantage? Or do they just feel like they're having an off day with that ability? Guess I've never had to look that up before.
Rules don't actually say which status effects characters are aware of, but it's hard to run the game without telling the players about effects that modify their rolls, so I generally assume everyone is aware of status effects on their character unless specified otherwise.
It may be over RP for some people but, I think casting a spell has some body language involved. Hex is a curse and the intended target should be aware due to the crooked pointing finger and theAbyssal mouthings coming from the caster. A fireball spell might be an apparent drawing in of energy right before a forceful hurling motion. In some cases, maybe passive or active Arcana checks could puzzle out spell intent.
An Active arcana check (i.e. a readied action or a reaction) by someone that can cast the spell should definitely identify the spell. Probably can tell something about the spell even if you can cast the spell
In my personal opinion, a passive Arcana check (not using an action or reaction), should at the very least let you recognize a spell you can cast.
But I can not see someone that is not proficient in Arcana being able to recognize anything about a skill, no matter how good their stat is.
Okay, but what if the scenario is that the caster is behind a screen or one-way mirror or at a much higher elevation than the subject who is surrounded by talking people? I can see that making it much harder for a PC or NPC to know that s/he has been Hexed until it's actually time to roll for the ability check.
If somebody nearby suddenly points a finger at me and starts saying “I call upon the power of my immortal patron to lay a Hex upon thee. Hex hex hex, thrice hexed thee be!” or some other such, I think I might notice that. Just sayin’. (You know, kinda like the old crone in Buttercup’s dream?)
Okay, but what if the scenario is that the caster is behind a screen or one-way mirror or at a much higher elevation than the subject who is surrounded by talking people?
Well, 2/3 of those cause the spell to fail because they lack a clear path to the target, but it's probable that some spells can be cast subtly, it's just not really listed what those spells are.
Okay, but what if the scenario is that the caster is behind a screen or one-way mirror or at a much higher elevation than the subject who is surrounded by talking people?
Well, 2/3 of those cause the spell to fail because they lack a clear path to the target, but it's probable that some spells can be cast subtly, it's just not really listed what those spells are.
Any spell a Sorcerer with that Metamagic option wants I suspect.
A screen or mirror just needs a small hole in it that the caster is peaking through to have line of sight. Not what most people think of, which is why it would be effective if used before combat in a very noisy room or if other noisy environment.
Any spell a Sorcerer with that Metamagic option wants I suspect.
Using subtle spell to cast fireball is not going to cause people not to notice the source...
Maybe...
Subtle Spell
When you cast a spell, you can spend 1 sorcery point to cast it without any somatic or verbal components.
A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger to a point you choose within range and then blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 8d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.
* - (a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur)
One presumes that the S component is the “your pointing finger” and the V components are irrelevant, so if the tiny ball of bat guano and surfer floats to a point and then the “bright streak flashes...” who would necessarily know you were involved unless they were watching you specifically.
I’m picturing the classic movie scene where one or more characters are about to face a publicly execution and the rest of the party are in the crowd to affect an escape. If everyone is watching the stage, and you don’t point your finger and shout “IGNIS!” or whatever, who would know it was you specifically?
One presumes that the S component is the “your pointing finger” and the V components are irrelevant, so if the tiny ball of bat guano and surfer floats to a point and then the “bright streak flashes...” who would necessarily know you were involved unless they were watching you specifically.
It's still a bright streak coming from you. In a complicated situation it may not be immediately obvious who cast the spell, but it's obvious that someone cast a spell, and the general direction and location it came from.
I have always assumed that spells were cast using your native language and verbal components were spoken in a normal tone of voice. If someone was 60' away speaking elvish ( which perhaps i dont) at a normal level for conversation, it is very possible i would have no idea what he was doing until it was to late. And if it was a spell without damage, maybe never.
One presumes that the S component is the “your pointing finger” and the V components are irrelevant, so if the tiny ball of bat guano and surfer floats to a point and then the “bright streak flashes...” who would necessarily know you were involved unless they were watching you specifically.
It's still a bright streak coming from you. In a complicated situation it may not be immediately obvious who cast the spell, but it's obvious that someone cast a spell, and the general direction and location it came from.
Sure, but I’m a pact crowd, was it you, or one of the 30 odd people you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with? How high is the DC on that perception check? Without subtle spell, maybe 10-15, with subtle spell maybe over 20?
The whole pointing point is even more exaggerated when the person's voice adopts a sorcerer's tone to it in a language you mostly don't understand, the one word you do get being "Dominus!" while they look at your friend.
Since, you know, common takes bits and pieces from the other languages.
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The question is specifically about Hex.
If it's cast on an npc do the know they have been hit with it? The spell doesn't deal any damage, or have any text that would imply that they would and there is no check or save. Is there some rule about this that I'm not finding?
For spells that don’t necessarily have explicitly perceptible effects, it’s up to the DM. Hex is something I would say the target knows about. I’d probably rule that there is in fact a visual component to it, because I think that would be cool. But another DM might be fine with it being perfectly imperceptible.
From the PHB:
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.
Keep in mind that it's a different situation if your target sees you casting a spell and has reason to believe you cast it on them, but per the rules at least, they wouldn't notice Hex most likely.
Hex has V,S,M components (so they will know you cast a spell) and causes the target to have disadvantage on one ability check (so they will be aware that something is wrong), so I would expect it to cause a hostile response.
Not challenging that statement at all, just curious from a rules standpoint: Do PCs/NPCs "know" they have disadvantage? Or do they just feel like they're having an off day with that ability? Guess I've never had to look that up before.
Rules don't actually say which status effects characters are aware of, but it's hard to run the game without telling the players about effects that modify their rolls, so I generally assume everyone is aware of status effects on their character unless specified otherwise.
Casting a spell, even without an effect, is the D&D equivalent of pointing a gun at someone.
You do not know when someone starts casting if they are casting a Comprehend Language or a Meteor Swarm.
You cast a spell in front of a wizard they counter spell, even without knowing what the spell is.
It may be over RP for some people but, I think casting a spell has some body language involved. Hex is a curse and the intended target should be aware due to the crooked pointing finger and theAbyssal mouthings coming from the caster. A fireball spell might be an apparent drawing in of energy right before a forceful hurling motion. In some cases, maybe passive or active Arcana checks could puzzle out spell intent.
An Active arcana check (i.e. a readied action or a reaction) by someone that can cast the spell should definitely identify the spell. Probably can tell something about the spell even if you can cast the spell
In my personal opinion, a passive Arcana check (not using an action or reaction), should at the very least let you recognize a spell you can cast.
But I can not see someone that is not proficient in Arcana being able to recognize anything about a skill, no matter how good their stat is.
Okay, but what if the scenario is that the caster is behind a screen or one-way mirror or at a much higher elevation than the subject who is surrounded by talking people? I can see that making it much harder for a PC or NPC to know that s/he has been Hexed until it's actually time to roll for the ability check.
If somebody nearby suddenly points a finger at me and starts saying “I call upon the power of my immortal patron to lay a Hex upon thee. Hex hex hex, thrice hexed thee be!” or some other such, I think I might notice that. Just sayin’. (You know, kinda like the old crone in Buttercup’s dream?)
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Well, 2/3 of those cause the spell to fail because they lack a clear path to the target, but it's probable that some spells can be cast subtly, it's just not really listed what those spells are.
Any spell a Sorcerer with that Metamagic option wants I suspect.
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Using subtle spell to cast fireball is not going to cause people not to notice the source...
A screen or mirror just needs a small hole in it that the caster is peaking through to have line of sight. Not what most people think of, which is why it would be effective if used before combat in a very noisy room or if other noisy environment.
Maybe...
One presumes that the S component is the “your pointing finger” and the V components are irrelevant, so if the tiny ball of bat guano and surfer floats to a point and then the “bright streak flashes...” who would necessarily know you were involved unless they were watching you specifically.
I’m picturing the classic movie scene where one or more characters are about to face a publicly execution and the rest of the party are in the crowd to affect an escape. If everyone is watching the stage, and you don’t point your finger and shout “IGNIS!” or whatever, who would know it was you specifically?
I mean, isn’t that the whole point?
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It's still a bright streak coming from you. In a complicated situation it may not be immediately obvious who cast the spell, but it's obvious that someone cast a spell, and the general direction and location it came from.
I have always assumed that spells were cast using your native language and verbal components were spoken in a normal tone of voice. If someone was 60' away speaking elvish ( which perhaps i dont) at a normal level for conversation, it is very possible i would have no idea what he was doing until it was to late. And if it was a spell without damage, maybe never.
Sure, but I’m a pact crowd, was it you, or one of the 30 odd people you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with? How high is the DC on that perception check? Without subtle spell, maybe 10-15, with subtle spell maybe over 20?
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The whole pointing point is even more exaggerated when the person's voice adopts a sorcerer's tone to it in a language you mostly don't understand, the one word you do get being "Dominus!" while they look at your friend.
Since, you know, common takes bits and pieces from the other languages.