Does a target of the Scrying spell know they were targeted?
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Does a target of the scrying spell know that they were the target of the spell, either as the spell is being cast or after the target makes their saving throw?
The text of the spell seems to leave it ambiguous, perhaps deliberately (emphasis mine):
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw [...] If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
If it is ambiguous and thus left up to the DM, what would be other ways for the target to know that someone was casting scrying on them, while the spell is being cast? (As opposed to detecting the sensor, if and when the spell is successful.)
dnd-5e spells divination
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
add a comment |
Does a target of the scrying spell know that they were the target of the spell, either as the spell is being cast or after the target makes their saving throw?
The text of the spell seems to leave it ambiguous, perhaps deliberately (emphasis mine):
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw [...] If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
If it is ambiguous and thus left up to the DM, what would be other ways for the target to know that someone was casting scrying on them, while the spell is being cast? (As opposed to detecting the sensor, if and when the spell is successful.)
dnd-5e spells divination
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
1
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
1
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27
add a comment |
Does a target of the scrying spell know that they were the target of the spell, either as the spell is being cast or after the target makes their saving throw?
The text of the spell seems to leave it ambiguous, perhaps deliberately (emphasis mine):
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw [...] If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
If it is ambiguous and thus left up to the DM, what would be other ways for the target to know that someone was casting scrying on them, while the spell is being cast? (As opposed to detecting the sensor, if and when the spell is successful.)
dnd-5e spells divination
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
Does a target of the scrying spell know that they were the target of the spell, either as the spell is being cast or after the target makes their saving throw?
The text of the spell seems to leave it ambiguous, perhaps deliberately (emphasis mine):
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw [...] If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
If it is ambiguous and thus left up to the DM, what would be other ways for the target to know that someone was casting scrying on them, while the spell is being cast? (As opposed to detecting the sensor, if and when the spell is successful.)
dnd-5e spells divination
dnd-5e spells divination
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
edited Dec 23 '18 at 17:25
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
asked Dec 21 '18 at 22:14
Frank T
1436
1436
1
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
1
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27
add a comment |
1
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
1
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27
1
1
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
1
1
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Not by default
Some spells specify that their target knows they that they are being magically influenced. For example, the target of Charm Person (PHB, p. 221):
When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
In the absence of similar text, the target of Scrying does not know, by default, that they are the target of this spell.
A tweet from Jeremy Crawford further clarifies that it is not automatically evident what is, and isn't, the target of a spell.
You know that a creature/object/space is affected by a spell only if the spell's effects are visible, you witnessed the spell being cast on the target, or you've otherwise detected/discerned the presence of the spell's effects.
Since the spell, if cast far away from the target, has no visible effects before the saving throw has been made (or afterwards, if the target cannot see invisible things), most creatures will not know you are casting this spell on them.
Of course, there are plenty of ways that a person could know that you are casting the spell. They could see you casting it while holding a personal item of theirs, or you could have told them ahead of time that you will be casting this spell at a specific time of day. But by default, a target would be unaware.
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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Not by default
Some spells specify that their target knows they that they are being magically influenced. For example, the target of Charm Person (PHB, p. 221):
When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
In the absence of similar text, the target of Scrying does not know, by default, that they are the target of this spell.
A tweet from Jeremy Crawford further clarifies that it is not automatically evident what is, and isn't, the target of a spell.
You know that a creature/object/space is affected by a spell only if the spell's effects are visible, you witnessed the spell being cast on the target, or you've otherwise detected/discerned the presence of the spell's effects.
Since the spell, if cast far away from the target, has no visible effects before the saving throw has been made (or afterwards, if the target cannot see invisible things), most creatures will not know you are casting this spell on them.
Of course, there are plenty of ways that a person could know that you are casting the spell. They could see you casting it while holding a personal item of theirs, or you could have told them ahead of time that you will be casting this spell at a specific time of day. But by default, a target would be unaware.
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
Not by default
Some spells specify that their target knows they that they are being magically influenced. For example, the target of Charm Person (PHB, p. 221):
When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
In the absence of similar text, the target of Scrying does not know, by default, that they are the target of this spell.
A tweet from Jeremy Crawford further clarifies that it is not automatically evident what is, and isn't, the target of a spell.
You know that a creature/object/space is affected by a spell only if the spell's effects are visible, you witnessed the spell being cast on the target, or you've otherwise detected/discerned the presence of the spell's effects.
Since the spell, if cast far away from the target, has no visible effects before the saving throw has been made (or afterwards, if the target cannot see invisible things), most creatures will not know you are casting this spell on them.
Of course, there are plenty of ways that a person could know that you are casting the spell. They could see you casting it while holding a personal item of theirs, or you could have told them ahead of time that you will be casting this spell at a specific time of day. But by default, a target would be unaware.
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
Not by default
Some spells specify that their target knows they that they are being magically influenced. For example, the target of Charm Person (PHB, p. 221):
When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
In the absence of similar text, the target of Scrying does not know, by default, that they are the target of this spell.
A tweet from Jeremy Crawford further clarifies that it is not automatically evident what is, and isn't, the target of a spell.
You know that a creature/object/space is affected by a spell only if the spell's effects are visible, you witnessed the spell being cast on the target, or you've otherwise detected/discerned the presence of the spell's effects.
Since the spell, if cast far away from the target, has no visible effects before the saving throw has been made (or afterwards, if the target cannot see invisible things), most creatures will not know you are casting this spell on them.
Of course, there are plenty of ways that a person could know that you are casting the spell. They could see you casting it while holding a personal item of theirs, or you could have told them ahead of time that you will be casting this spell at a specific time of day. But by default, a target would be unaware.
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
Not by default
Some spells specify that their target knows they that they are being magically influenced. For example, the target of Charm Person (PHB, p. 221):
When the spell ends, the creature knows it was charmed by you.
In the absence of similar text, the target of Scrying does not know, by default, that they are the target of this spell.
A tweet from Jeremy Crawford further clarifies that it is not automatically evident what is, and isn't, the target of a spell.
You know that a creature/object/space is affected by a spell only if the spell's effects are visible, you witnessed the spell being cast on the target, or you've otherwise detected/discerned the presence of the spell's effects.
Since the spell, if cast far away from the target, has no visible effects before the saving throw has been made (or afterwards, if the target cannot see invisible things), most creatures will not know you are casting this spell on them.
Of course, there are plenty of ways that a person could know that you are casting the spell. They could see you casting it while holding a personal item of theirs, or you could have told them ahead of time that you will be casting this spell at a specific time of day. But by default, a target would be unaware.
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
edited Dec 22 '18 at 1:19
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
answered Dec 21 '18 at 22:57
Gandalfmeansme
17.9k367113
17.9k367113
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
1
1
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
I think the scrying sensor is irrelevant to this question, as are any other spell effects. The question is whether the target knows they are targeted before/during the casting of the spell so that they can decide whether to fail the save, which means that no spell effects have happened yet.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:27
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
Good point. I will edit.
– Gandalfmeansme
Dec 22 '18 at 1:18
add a comment |
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1
I think you should edit your question title to emphasize that you are asking about what the target knows before the spell's casting is complete, since that's actually a very different question from whether they know they were targeted after the fact.
– Ryan Thompson
Dec 22 '18 at 0:28
1
I've clarified the lede question to call out those two "phases". I think Gandalfmeansme's answer below explicitly answers both.
– Frank T
Dec 23 '18 at 17:27