Seek, Point Out, and Perception in Combat

Perception in combat governs detecting hidden or invisible creatures, noticing environmental details, and sharing information with allies.

Seek (1 action, concentrate): Scan an area or focus on a creature to detect hidden or undetected threats. Choose a 30-foot cone or a 15-foot burst within line of sight. Make a Perception check against the Stealth DC of any hidden or undetected creatures in the area. On success, the creature becomes observed to you. On critical failure, you get a false impression.

Point Out (1 action, auditory, visual): Indicate a creature you can detect to your allies. If the creature is hidden, your allies now know its location (still hidden to them, but they know which square it occupies). If the creature is undetected, your allies treat it as hidden instead. This does not require a check — it just requires your allies to see and hear you.

Sense Motive (1 action, concentrate): Determine whether a creature is being deceptive. Roll Perception against the target's Deception DC. On success, you sense they're being dishonest. On critical success, you know the specific deception.

Recall Knowledge (1 action, concentrate): While technically a skill action, it's commonly used in combat to identify creatures and learn their weaknesses. Use the relevant knowledge skill (Arcana, Nature, Religion, Occultism, Society) against the creature's identification DC. The GM reveals useful information on success — typically resistances, vulnerabilities, and special abilities.