Cast a spell without letting your surroundings know what you are doing. This skill allows spellcasters to use magic unnoticed, whether in the presence of enemies, skeptical authorities, or situations where open spellcasting would be dangerous.
Roll d100 + skill versus DR 100 + target's General Perception
Success: Spell is cast without immediate detection. No one recognizes it as spellcasting unless observing a magical effect - still they will not know the spell came from you (unless there are clear visual, auditory clues).
Failure: Spell is visibly or audibly cast—observers are aware and may react
-20 to DR - Target's have no inclination that you are a spell caster
-10-20 to DR - Visual/auditory cover (shadows, noise, distractions etc.)
+20 to DR - Observers are suspicious or actively scanning for spells (outside of combat)
+40 to DR - you have cast the spell in the presence of the observers
Casting under noisy bar conditions while not looking like a magic user: DR 70
Attempting to cast while watched by a guard who suspects that you could be a magic user: DR 120
Secret Casting allows a caster to cloak the sensory cues associated with spell use. This includes minimizing hand gestures, muffling vocal components, and subtly shaping magical energy so that enemies, guards, or rival casters do not recognize the act in time to intervene.
This skill becomes critical in infiltration, negotiation, or high-stakes social or tactical encounters—allowing spells to be launched without triggering alarms, opportunity attacks, or counters. A well-trained caster can use Secret Casting to shape the battlefield before the enemy even realizes magic is being used.
This skill is used with a spell, so it is inherently sequenced (adding +1 AP to the casting of the spell).
Sequence with Delay Spell to have opponents unknowingly walk into... well... havoc...
No direct counters, but the following can help detect the spell:
Detect high tech and magic, Danger Sense, Detect Magic, Threat Map - module (can identify you as a spell caster)
Skills, modules and spells that enchance General Perception.