Druid's Trackless Step

[Joël of the FoS]

Question: on your opinion, can a druid performing Trackless Step (Ex ability at druid level 3rd) be tracked by scent? (ex. by a wolf?)

Trackless step: sarting at 3rd level, a druid leaves no trail in natural surroundings and cannot be tracked. She may choose to leave a trail if so desired.

Joël

 

[Crothian]

I think they can by the rules, but I think it's cooler that the Druid just can't be tracked even by scent.

 

[ValhallaGH]

No. "cannot be tracked." Can be scryed upon but cannot be tracked. Not even by scent. Unless the druid chooses to leave a trail.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

No. "cannot be tracked." Can be scryed upon but cannot be tracked. Not even by scent. Unless the druid chooses to leave a trail.

Then why didn't they said "even with scent", as they clearly did in the pass without trace spell? (or if scent is masked too, why didn't they said "in natural surroundings, as the pass without trace spell" ?)

So there is two valid interpretations of this blurb

1) cannot be tracked by a ranger, as there are no visible tracks, but could be by scent (since they didn't clearly specify it as I mentionned)

2) can't be tracked, as it's implying "even by scent"

Our group is a lil confused here

Joël

 

[Crothian]

Our group is a lil confused here

Welcome to D&D

It depends if you want a literal reading or not. It does say cannot be tracked, and scent specifically says can track using it. It does seem odd that this implies Druids can stop themselves from smelling so no silent and deadlies from them.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Then why didn't they said "even with scent", as they clearly did in the pass without trace spell?

Let's say we have a class feature, Protective Trance, and a spell, Protective Aura.

The class feature says "While the character is in a protective trance, he takes no damage from any attack."

The spell says "The subject takes no damage from any attack, even a force effect."

Does the character in a protective trance take damage from a Spiritual Weapon?

Aside from that, Trackless Step states he leaves no trail. Pass Without Trace states he leaves neither footprints nor scent. Both state he cannot be tracked.

What is a trail?

2a. A mark, trace, course, or path left by a moving body.
2b. The scent of a person or animal: The dogs lost the trail of the fox.

There you are - 'trail' means 'footprints or scent'. That which is not left by a Trackless Stepper is the same as that which is not left by a Passer Without Trace.

-Hyp.

 

[Nellisir]

Then why didn't they said "even with scent", as they clearly did in the pass without trace spell? (or if scent is masked too, why didn't they said "in natural surroundings, as the pass without trace spell" ?)

No, they can't be tracked. It's perfectly clear. It's true the description doesn't say "even with scent", but neither does it say "except by scent".

 

[Sejs]

Question for those saying a druid with trackless step cannot be tracked via smell:


Are they then also immune to the Scent ability?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Question for those saying a druid with trackless step cannot be tracked via smell:

Are they then also immune to the Scent ability?

I wouldn't think so.

With Trackless Step, you can't see where he was. But you can see where he is.

Similarly, I'd think that while you can't smell where he was (tracking by scent), you can smell where he is (pinpointing via the Scent ability).

-Hyp.

 

[Aurora]

It does say cannot be tracked, and scent specifically says can track using it.

Makes sense to me. At a quick glance I thought maybe you could track them by scent, but when you really get into the definitions of what the words mean, I would have to agree that, no, they can't be tracked using scent. Nice ability; I have never played a druid.