Can a bard cast Vicious Mockery without passersby thinking it's an attack?

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So Vicious Mockery is, to my understanding, the bard insulting a target, and the target taking psychic damage, and gaining disadvantage.



The flavor, as I understand it, is that they're so insulted it actually hurts.



Which lead me to wonder - could a bard get a vicious mockery off, and the target not know they've been attacked?



Of course, the target knows they've been viciously insulted, and assuming they fail their wisdom check, are mad at the bard and would probably like to murder said bard. But, if they're all in a bar, and the target wants to attack the bard (Attempting to murder him in broad daylight), it seems reasonable that other people would want to stop said murder - after all, it is just a bard insulting someone, and bards do that all the time - it doesn't quite rise to the level of trying to knock his lights out (Although most of the patrons of said bar are probably fairly understanding of his position....)



To look at a slightly different situation, if a wizard cast fireball on a patron, the entire bar would be up in arms attempting to lynch said wizard. Would there be a similar effect on a bard mocking someone?



So I guess my question boils down to: Do other people recognize vicious mockery as an actual attack, or do they simply think it's a devastating insult?










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  • You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
    – AshRandom
    1 hour ago














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












So Vicious Mockery is, to my understanding, the bard insulting a target, and the target taking psychic damage, and gaining disadvantage.



The flavor, as I understand it, is that they're so insulted it actually hurts.



Which lead me to wonder - could a bard get a vicious mockery off, and the target not know they've been attacked?



Of course, the target knows they've been viciously insulted, and assuming they fail their wisdom check, are mad at the bard and would probably like to murder said bard. But, if they're all in a bar, and the target wants to attack the bard (Attempting to murder him in broad daylight), it seems reasonable that other people would want to stop said murder - after all, it is just a bard insulting someone, and bards do that all the time - it doesn't quite rise to the level of trying to knock his lights out (Although most of the patrons of said bar are probably fairly understanding of his position....)



To look at a slightly different situation, if a wizard cast fireball on a patron, the entire bar would be up in arms attempting to lynch said wizard. Would there be a similar effect on a bard mocking someone?



So I guess my question boils down to: Do other people recognize vicious mockery as an actual attack, or do they simply think it's a devastating insult?










share|improve this question























  • You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
    – AshRandom
    1 hour ago












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











So Vicious Mockery is, to my understanding, the bard insulting a target, and the target taking psychic damage, and gaining disadvantage.



The flavor, as I understand it, is that they're so insulted it actually hurts.



Which lead me to wonder - could a bard get a vicious mockery off, and the target not know they've been attacked?



Of course, the target knows they've been viciously insulted, and assuming they fail their wisdom check, are mad at the bard and would probably like to murder said bard. But, if they're all in a bar, and the target wants to attack the bard (Attempting to murder him in broad daylight), it seems reasonable that other people would want to stop said murder - after all, it is just a bard insulting someone, and bards do that all the time - it doesn't quite rise to the level of trying to knock his lights out (Although most of the patrons of said bar are probably fairly understanding of his position....)



To look at a slightly different situation, if a wizard cast fireball on a patron, the entire bar would be up in arms attempting to lynch said wizard. Would there be a similar effect on a bard mocking someone?



So I guess my question boils down to: Do other people recognize vicious mockery as an actual attack, or do they simply think it's a devastating insult?










share|improve this question















So Vicious Mockery is, to my understanding, the bard insulting a target, and the target taking psychic damage, and gaining disadvantage.



The flavor, as I understand it, is that they're so insulted it actually hurts.



Which lead me to wonder - could a bard get a vicious mockery off, and the target not know they've been attacked?



Of course, the target knows they've been viciously insulted, and assuming they fail their wisdom check, are mad at the bard and would probably like to murder said bard. But, if they're all in a bar, and the target wants to attack the bard (Attempting to murder him in broad daylight), it seems reasonable that other people would want to stop said murder - after all, it is just a bard insulting someone, and bards do that all the time - it doesn't quite rise to the level of trying to knock his lights out (Although most of the patrons of said bar are probably fairly understanding of his position....)



To look at a slightly different situation, if a wizard cast fireball on a patron, the entire bar would be up in arms attempting to lynch said wizard. Would there be a similar effect on a bard mocking someone?



So I guess my question boils down to: Do other people recognize vicious mockery as an actual attack, or do they simply think it's a devastating insult?







dnd-5e bard






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edited 26 mins ago









Slagmoth

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asked 1 hour ago









Selkie

23117




23117











  • You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
    – AshRandom
    1 hour ago
















  • You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
    – AshRandom
    1 hour ago















You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
– AshRandom
1 hour ago




You should remove "sneak attack" from the title of this question
– AshRandom
1 hour ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

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up vote
3
down vote



accepted










Debatable: but it's still insulting



The general rules for spellcasting suggest that when a spell has a verbal component, this may be more than any common speech you must make to cast the spell. As an example, Jeremy Crawford indicated that for the spell Suggestion to work:




Verbal components are mystic words (PH, 203). The spell's suggestion is a separate, intelligible utterance.




But Vicious Mockery is an unusual case. Not only are its only components Verbal, its description also states:




You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. (PHB, p. 285. Bold added)




The word "subtle" in particular may indicate that you can cast this spell without anyone noticing its magical nature. Such an attempt may require an Arcana check on the part of onlookers/the target, or may succeed or fail automatically at the discretion of the DM. (See Xanathar's Guide to Everything p. 85 for an optional rule that applies).



Them's Fighting Words



Whether or not you are known to be literally using your words to fight an opponent, you could definitely be seen as issuing them a challenge by literally viciously mocking them.



Is your society one where duels are legal? Where besmirching a man's honor is a legal defense for retaliation? If so, your perceived insults may give as much provocation as an actual attack.



And even if insults are not legally considered provocation, beware social norms. If you assume that after you have brutally insulted a person in a bar, everyone in the bar will leap to your defense if the insulted person proceeded to attack you (or that the insulted party will simply sit there and accept your perfectly legal insults), you may be disappointed in your strategy's results.






share|improve this answer






















  • Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
    – Selkie
    40 mins ago










  • Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
    – SeraphsWrath
    14 mins ago

















up vote
2
down vote













Maybe



Vicious mockery has a verbal component. Verbal components are described as:




...the chanting of mystic words. 




So before the insult, a bard chants mystic words that lace the insult with magic. These verbal components would be apparent to the onlookers. Whether or not they identify them as a spell and specifically as an attack spell is dependent on who the onlookers are and how commonplace magic us in the world.



Some advice on how to handle this can be found in Xanthar's Guide to Everything, though it is an optional rule so it will largely depend on the GM:




Sometimes a character wants to identify a spell that someone else is casting or that was already cast. To do so, a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast, or they can use an action on their turn to identify a spell by its effect after it is cast.



If the character perceived the casting, the spell's effect, or both, the character can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check with the reaction or action. The DC equals 15 + the spell's level. If the spell is cast as a class spell and the character is a member of that class, the check is made with advantage.




I've also often seen ruled that a character who can also cast the spell automatically succeeds on the Intelligence (Arcana) check.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
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    Most likely, the patrons would. The target certainly would. A spell can be perceived when it uses any of a verbal, somatic, or material component. Observers do not necessarily know what spell it is, but they do see that a spell is being cast. The patrons of the bar would easily recognize that the bard is using some sort of magic while he is yelling at the target. Seeing the target wince in pain at the same time is easy enough to put 2 and 2 together to realize what happened - the bard yelled and cast some sort of magic and the target was hurt somehow by it.




    But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone
    to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be
    perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or
    material component.




    Xanathar's p. 85.






    share|improve this answer




















    • It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
      – Gandalfmeansme
      1 hour ago











    Your Answer




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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    3
    down vote



    accepted










    Debatable: but it's still insulting



    The general rules for spellcasting suggest that when a spell has a verbal component, this may be more than any common speech you must make to cast the spell. As an example, Jeremy Crawford indicated that for the spell Suggestion to work:




    Verbal components are mystic words (PH, 203). The spell's suggestion is a separate, intelligible utterance.




    But Vicious Mockery is an unusual case. Not only are its only components Verbal, its description also states:




    You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. (PHB, p. 285. Bold added)




    The word "subtle" in particular may indicate that you can cast this spell without anyone noticing its magical nature. Such an attempt may require an Arcana check on the part of onlookers/the target, or may succeed or fail automatically at the discretion of the DM. (See Xanathar's Guide to Everything p. 85 for an optional rule that applies).



    Them's Fighting Words



    Whether or not you are known to be literally using your words to fight an opponent, you could definitely be seen as issuing them a challenge by literally viciously mocking them.



    Is your society one where duels are legal? Where besmirching a man's honor is a legal defense for retaliation? If so, your perceived insults may give as much provocation as an actual attack.



    And even if insults are not legally considered provocation, beware social norms. If you assume that after you have brutally insulted a person in a bar, everyone in the bar will leap to your defense if the insulted person proceeded to attack you (or that the insulted party will simply sit there and accept your perfectly legal insults), you may be disappointed in your strategy's results.






    share|improve this answer






















    • Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
      – Selkie
      40 mins ago










    • Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
      – SeraphsWrath
      14 mins ago














    up vote
    3
    down vote



    accepted










    Debatable: but it's still insulting



    The general rules for spellcasting suggest that when a spell has a verbal component, this may be more than any common speech you must make to cast the spell. As an example, Jeremy Crawford indicated that for the spell Suggestion to work:




    Verbal components are mystic words (PH, 203). The spell's suggestion is a separate, intelligible utterance.




    But Vicious Mockery is an unusual case. Not only are its only components Verbal, its description also states:




    You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. (PHB, p. 285. Bold added)




    The word "subtle" in particular may indicate that you can cast this spell without anyone noticing its magical nature. Such an attempt may require an Arcana check on the part of onlookers/the target, or may succeed or fail automatically at the discretion of the DM. (See Xanathar's Guide to Everything p. 85 for an optional rule that applies).



    Them's Fighting Words



    Whether or not you are known to be literally using your words to fight an opponent, you could definitely be seen as issuing them a challenge by literally viciously mocking them.



    Is your society one where duels are legal? Where besmirching a man's honor is a legal defense for retaliation? If so, your perceived insults may give as much provocation as an actual attack.



    And even if insults are not legally considered provocation, beware social norms. If you assume that after you have brutally insulted a person in a bar, everyone in the bar will leap to your defense if the insulted person proceeded to attack you (or that the insulted party will simply sit there and accept your perfectly legal insults), you may be disappointed in your strategy's results.






    share|improve this answer






















    • Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
      – Selkie
      40 mins ago










    • Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
      – SeraphsWrath
      14 mins ago












    up vote
    3
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    3
    down vote



    accepted






    Debatable: but it's still insulting



    The general rules for spellcasting suggest that when a spell has a verbal component, this may be more than any common speech you must make to cast the spell. As an example, Jeremy Crawford indicated that for the spell Suggestion to work:




    Verbal components are mystic words (PH, 203). The spell's suggestion is a separate, intelligible utterance.




    But Vicious Mockery is an unusual case. Not only are its only components Verbal, its description also states:




    You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. (PHB, p. 285. Bold added)




    The word "subtle" in particular may indicate that you can cast this spell without anyone noticing its magical nature. Such an attempt may require an Arcana check on the part of onlookers/the target, or may succeed or fail automatically at the discretion of the DM. (See Xanathar's Guide to Everything p. 85 for an optional rule that applies).



    Them's Fighting Words



    Whether or not you are known to be literally using your words to fight an opponent, you could definitely be seen as issuing them a challenge by literally viciously mocking them.



    Is your society one where duels are legal? Where besmirching a man's honor is a legal defense for retaliation? If so, your perceived insults may give as much provocation as an actual attack.



    And even if insults are not legally considered provocation, beware social norms. If you assume that after you have brutally insulted a person in a bar, everyone in the bar will leap to your defense if the insulted person proceeded to attack you (or that the insulted party will simply sit there and accept your perfectly legal insults), you may be disappointed in your strategy's results.






    share|improve this answer














    Debatable: but it's still insulting



    The general rules for spellcasting suggest that when a spell has a verbal component, this may be more than any common speech you must make to cast the spell. As an example, Jeremy Crawford indicated that for the spell Suggestion to work:




    Verbal components are mystic words (PH, 203). The spell's suggestion is a separate, intelligible utterance.




    But Vicious Mockery is an unusual case. Not only are its only components Verbal, its description also states:




    You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. (PHB, p. 285. Bold added)




    The word "subtle" in particular may indicate that you can cast this spell without anyone noticing its magical nature. Such an attempt may require an Arcana check on the part of onlookers/the target, or may succeed or fail automatically at the discretion of the DM. (See Xanathar's Guide to Everything p. 85 for an optional rule that applies).



    Them's Fighting Words



    Whether or not you are known to be literally using your words to fight an opponent, you could definitely be seen as issuing them a challenge by literally viciously mocking them.



    Is your society one where duels are legal? Where besmirching a man's honor is a legal defense for retaliation? If so, your perceived insults may give as much provocation as an actual attack.



    And even if insults are not legally considered provocation, beware social norms. If you assume that after you have brutally insulted a person in a bar, everyone in the bar will leap to your defense if the insulted person proceeded to attack you (or that the insulted party will simply sit there and accept your perfectly legal insults), you may be disappointed in your strategy's results.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 1 hour ago

























    answered 1 hour ago









    Gandalfmeansme

    14.1k25193




    14.1k25193











    • Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
      – Selkie
      40 mins ago










    • Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
      – SeraphsWrath
      14 mins ago
















    • Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
      – Selkie
      40 mins ago










    • Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
      – SeraphsWrath
      14 mins ago















    Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
    – Selkie
    40 mins ago




    Oh I imagine there's lots of room for a DM to play with - guy's going to attack you, but what do the other people think? Do they notice the magic (Arcana check)? Is this a seedier bar, where they want to see a fight? Is this a society that frowns (or smiles?) on violence? So much room for fun - just wanted to make sure there was room, unlike the 'wizard casts fireball' example
    – Selkie
    40 mins ago












    Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
    – SeraphsWrath
    14 mins ago




    Don't forget the, "catch-em later in a back-alley" approach.
    – SeraphsWrath
    14 mins ago












    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Maybe



    Vicious mockery has a verbal component. Verbal components are described as:




    ...the chanting of mystic words. 




    So before the insult, a bard chants mystic words that lace the insult with magic. These verbal components would be apparent to the onlookers. Whether or not they identify them as a spell and specifically as an attack spell is dependent on who the onlookers are and how commonplace magic us in the world.



    Some advice on how to handle this can be found in Xanthar's Guide to Everything, though it is an optional rule so it will largely depend on the GM:




    Sometimes a character wants to identify a spell that someone else is casting or that was already cast. To do so, a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast, or they can use an action on their turn to identify a spell by its effect after it is cast.



    If the character perceived the casting, the spell's effect, or both, the character can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check with the reaction or action. The DC equals 15 + the spell's level. If the spell is cast as a class spell and the character is a member of that class, the check is made with advantage.




    I've also often seen ruled that a character who can also cast the spell automatically succeeds on the Intelligence (Arcana) check.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      Maybe



      Vicious mockery has a verbal component. Verbal components are described as:




      ...the chanting of mystic words. 




      So before the insult, a bard chants mystic words that lace the insult with magic. These verbal components would be apparent to the onlookers. Whether or not they identify them as a spell and specifically as an attack spell is dependent on who the onlookers are and how commonplace magic us in the world.



      Some advice on how to handle this can be found in Xanthar's Guide to Everything, though it is an optional rule so it will largely depend on the GM:




      Sometimes a character wants to identify a spell that someone else is casting or that was already cast. To do so, a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast, or they can use an action on their turn to identify a spell by its effect after it is cast.



      If the character perceived the casting, the spell's effect, or both, the character can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check with the reaction or action. The DC equals 15 + the spell's level. If the spell is cast as a class spell and the character is a member of that class, the check is made with advantage.




      I've also often seen ruled that a character who can also cast the spell automatically succeeds on the Intelligence (Arcana) check.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        Maybe



        Vicious mockery has a verbal component. Verbal components are described as:




        ...the chanting of mystic words. 




        So before the insult, a bard chants mystic words that lace the insult with magic. These verbal components would be apparent to the onlookers. Whether or not they identify them as a spell and specifically as an attack spell is dependent on who the onlookers are and how commonplace magic us in the world.



        Some advice on how to handle this can be found in Xanthar's Guide to Everything, though it is an optional rule so it will largely depend on the GM:




        Sometimes a character wants to identify a spell that someone else is casting or that was already cast. To do so, a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast, or they can use an action on their turn to identify a spell by its effect after it is cast.



        If the character perceived the casting, the spell's effect, or both, the character can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check with the reaction or action. The DC equals 15 + the spell's level. If the spell is cast as a class spell and the character is a member of that class, the check is made with advantage.




        I've also often seen ruled that a character who can also cast the spell automatically succeeds on the Intelligence (Arcana) check.






        share|improve this answer












        Maybe



        Vicious mockery has a verbal component. Verbal components are described as:




        ...the chanting of mystic words. 




        So before the insult, a bard chants mystic words that lace the insult with magic. These verbal components would be apparent to the onlookers. Whether or not they identify them as a spell and specifically as an attack spell is dependent on who the onlookers are and how commonplace magic us in the world.



        Some advice on how to handle this can be found in Xanthar's Guide to Everything, though it is an optional rule so it will largely depend on the GM:




        Sometimes a character wants to identify a spell that someone else is casting or that was already cast. To do so, a character can use their reaction to identify a spell as it's being cast, or they can use an action on their turn to identify a spell by its effect after it is cast.



        If the character perceived the casting, the spell's effect, or both, the character can make an Intelligence (Arcana) check with the reaction or action. The DC equals 15 + the spell's level. If the spell is cast as a class spell and the character is a member of that class, the check is made with advantage.




        I've also often seen ruled that a character who can also cast the spell automatically succeeds on the Intelligence (Arcana) check.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        David Coffron

        29.5k2102202




        29.5k2102202




















            up vote
            1
            down vote













            Most likely, the patrons would. The target certainly would. A spell can be perceived when it uses any of a verbal, somatic, or material component. Observers do not necessarily know what spell it is, but they do see that a spell is being cast. The patrons of the bar would easily recognize that the bard is using some sort of magic while he is yelling at the target. Seeing the target wince in pain at the same time is easy enough to put 2 and 2 together to realize what happened - the bard yelled and cast some sort of magic and the target was hurt somehow by it.




            But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone
            to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be
            perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or
            material component.




            Xanathar's p. 85.






            share|improve this answer




















            • It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
              – Gandalfmeansme
              1 hour ago















            up vote
            1
            down vote













            Most likely, the patrons would. The target certainly would. A spell can be perceived when it uses any of a verbal, somatic, or material component. Observers do not necessarily know what spell it is, but they do see that a spell is being cast. The patrons of the bar would easily recognize that the bard is using some sort of magic while he is yelling at the target. Seeing the target wince in pain at the same time is easy enough to put 2 and 2 together to realize what happened - the bard yelled and cast some sort of magic and the target was hurt somehow by it.




            But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone
            to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be
            perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or
            material component.




            Xanathar's p. 85.






            share|improve this answer




















            • It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
              – Gandalfmeansme
              1 hour ago













            up vote
            1
            down vote










            up vote
            1
            down vote









            Most likely, the patrons would. The target certainly would. A spell can be perceived when it uses any of a verbal, somatic, or material component. Observers do not necessarily know what spell it is, but they do see that a spell is being cast. The patrons of the bar would easily recognize that the bard is using some sort of magic while he is yelling at the target. Seeing the target wince in pain at the same time is easy enough to put 2 and 2 together to realize what happened - the bard yelled and cast some sort of magic and the target was hurt somehow by it.




            But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone
            to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be
            perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or
            material component.




            Xanathar's p. 85.






            share|improve this answer












            Most likely, the patrons would. The target certainly would. A spell can be perceived when it uses any of a verbal, somatic, or material component. Observers do not necessarily know what spell it is, but they do see that a spell is being cast. The patrons of the bar would easily recognize that the bard is using some sort of magic while he is yelling at the target. Seeing the target wince in pain at the same time is easy enough to put 2 and 2 together to realize what happened - the bard yelled and cast some sort of magic and the target was hurt somehow by it.




            But what about the act of casting a spell? Is it possible for someone
            to perceive that a spell is being cast in their presence? To be
            perceptible, the casting of a spell must involve a verbal, somatic, or
            material component.




            Xanathar's p. 85.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Constablebrew

            21417




            21417











            • It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
              – Gandalfmeansme
              1 hour ago

















            • It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
              – Gandalfmeansme
              1 hour ago
















            It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
            – Gandalfmeansme
            1 hour ago





            It's worth noting that damage is not always painful. A reduction in hit points can be a reduction in a characters "mental durability,... will to live, and luck." (PHB, p. 196, Hit Points) . Not all of these things are attached to nerve endings.
            – Gandalfmeansme
            1 hour ago


















             

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