Does casting a spell break stealth?

[SangoProduction]

OK, casting fireball, where you're having to speak loudly and clearly, wave your hands about like a madman, while stinking of bat guano, right before igniting a flaming ball of death.... yeah. Maybe that would break stealth. Like, a -2 circumstance penalty, right? /s

But as... Actually... Does that break stealth by the rules? OK, stop getting distracted!

Anyway. if you cast something that has no components (like many psionics), and has no manifestation (like Charm Person, outside of the person's odd behavior)....
Can it be safely cast from stealth, or are you going to have to do some funky stuff to get around it?

[InvisibleBison]

If you're in a situation where no one has noticed you, and you do a thing that doesn't draw anyone's attention, you're going to still be unnoticed afterwards.

[Aracor]

Technically, since D&D isn't a video game, there isn't any such thing as "breaking stealth".

However, the DC for hearing someone speaking (which Fireball would require) is 0.

I'd also apply a massive negative to any Hide check because of a pea-sized ball of fire streaking from the caster to the point of the explosion.

[Crake]

Technically, since D&D isn't a video game, there isn't any such thing as "breaking stealth".

However, the DC for hearing someone speaking (which Fireball would require) is 0.

I'd also apply a massive negative to any Hide check because of a pea-sized ball of fire streaking from the caster to the point of the explosion.

Sounds like sniping rules would fit here, -20 and a move action to remain hidden after firing.


Anyway. if you cast something that has no components (like many psionics), and has no manifestation (like Charm Person, outside of the person's odd behavior)....
Can it be safely cast from stealth, or are you going to have to do some funky stuff to get around it?

The act itself would not, the effect may, depending on what it is.

[Silly Name]

It depends heavily on how the spell works. Assuming it requires no components, however you manage it (Silent+Still+Eschew Materials?), a ray would still run the risk of you being detected, whereas something that just appears 40 feet away from you, such as a summoned monster, probably doesn't.

People would still be able to notice the effects of the spell, assuming they can be perceived, but you could remain hidden depending on the situation.

[Darg]

It depends heavily on how the spell works. Assuming it requires no components, however you manage it (Silent+Still+Eschew Materials?), a ray would still run the risk of you being detected, whereas something that just appears 40 feet away from you, such as a summoned monster, probably doesn't.

People would still be able to notice the effects of the spell, assuming they can be perceived, but you could remain hidden depending on the situation.

Invisible Spell would prevent even that from being detectable. It even makes summoned monsters invisible.

[D+1]

Anyway. if you cast something that has no components (like many psionics), and has no manifestation (like Charm Person, outside of the person's odd behavior)...There are no spells that have no components at all (as far as I know - and even if there are they are so rare as to not really be relevant to the issue). The requirement of using spell components can be overcome with metamagic feats, and that generally adds a level to the resulting spell. Manifestations created by the spell don't affect attempts to conceal of the process of casting itself. Only if a spell already lacks components, or if you can use silent spell, still spell, and possibly eschew components, is casting a spell in and of itself going to be able to go without being particularly noticed. Also, psionics is not spellcasting, even if the effects may be considered magic, and doesn't have any bearing on consequences relating to spell casting. A spell with a verbal component eliminates all stealth benefits of silence. A spell with somatic components eliminates all stealth benefits of not moving.


Can it be safely cast from stealth, or are you going to have to do some funky stuff to get around it?Being stealthy and casting a spell, by default, don't mix. Only with significant effort as noted can you begin to get around that, and then as you suggested the effects of the spell that are manifested will almost always reveal that even if nobody saw the casting - casting (or use of items creating the effects) nonetheless took place. It eliminates any chances of surprise and causes everyone to be alert - which typically invalidates the purposes of being stealthy.

It can be done, but not without having a character built to do it with feats, or equipped to do it with magical items that provide the feats. And that still is not a guarantee that stealth automatically works.

[Particle_Man]

Note that psionic stuff doesn’t have the standard Verbal or Somatic or Material components, but can have other approximate equivalents to components (called displays) that would quite possibly break stealth.

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicPowersOverview.htm#display