Scent ablility?

[errand]

At the 4th Half-orc paragon level, my character gains the scent ability. What is it and what does it do?

[mchvlichldprdgy]

I kinda know. It allows you to sense where people are, vaguely, within a certain distance/reasonable amount of time.

I think you may need skill checks on it, or it may use some other check. I dunno.

[WerewolfPaladin]

I’m not great guru Steve, but here’s a link to information on the scent ability from the SRD:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/naturalSpecia … .htm#scent

[SteveB]

Thanks Werewolfpaladin. From the SRD:

“This extraordinary ability lets a creature detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.

A creature with the scent ability can detect opponents by sense of smell, generally within 30 feet. If the opponent is upwind, the range is 60 feet. If it is downwind, the range is 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at three times these ranges.

The creature detects another creature’s presence but not its specific location. Noting the direction of the scent is a move action. If it moves within 5 feet of the scent’s source, the creature can pinpoint that source.

A creature with the Track feat and the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10. The DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Track feat. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

Creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.

Water, particularly running water, ruins a trail for air-breathing creatures. Water-breathing creatures that have the scent ability, however, can use it in the water easily.

False, powerful odors can easily mask other scents. The presence of such an odor completely spoils the ability to properly detect or identify creatures, and the base Survival DC to track becomes 20 rather than 10.”

Thus, if an enemy is within 30′ (standard) then you know someone is there, but you have to take a move action to do so…sniff the air, so to speak. If someone is within 5′, you can pinpoint their exact location, again, I would assume, with a move equivalent action. Thus it would help you against invisible enemies. You would still get the miss chance afforded by invisibility or concealment, but would know which square the enemy was in, and would thus not have to guess as per standard invisibility.

Other things, such as tracking, are covered in the SRD, above.

[errand]

Perfect, thank you very much.

[Salubrai]

Mother of GOD, with answers like that, I wonder how you DIDN’T pass that WOTC test….

[DrNick]

Because the test was silly. More luck than judgement by far.

[Author]

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