Cloak of Silence

Cloak of Silence — 5.5e / 2024

Effect

A sound-dampening shell extends about 1 foot from the target and moves with it. Sounds created wholly inside the shell do not pass beyond its boundary, and ordinary sound from outside does not pass through the shell. Sounds can still exist inside the enclosed space.

The target can speak, whisper and cast spells that have Verbal components. A spell, command, performance or other effect that requires a creature outside the shell to hear the target cannot affect that creature unless the effect itself carries the communication magically rather than relying on ordinary sound.

The target has Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks when sound could reveal its position . Message can still carry a whispered communication because its magic delivers the words directly to the chosen target.

This does not make the target invisible, conceal tracks, suppress scent or prevent observers from noticing movement, opened doors, displaced objects or other visual evidence.

Weapons drawn, armour shifted and objects handled wholly inside the shell make no sound audible outside it. If the target is grappling another creature, that creature is treated as being inside the shell for as long as the grapple lasts.

The spell does not grant immunity or Resistance to Thunder damage unless another rule specifically says that the effect depends on audible sound crossing the shell.

Cloak of Silence — D&D 5e / 2014

Effect

A moving field of magical sound-dampening surrounds the target to a distance of about 1 foot. Sound created wholly inside that space cannot be heard outside it, and ordinary sound from outside the field cannot be heard within it.

The target can still speak, whisper and provide verbal components for spells because sound continues to exist inside the field. A spell, command, performance or other effect that requires a creature outside the cloak to hear the target cannot affect that creature through the boundary.

The target has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made when avoiding detection depends on remaining unheard . The spell gives no benefit against sight, tracks, scent or other non-auditory means of detection.

Drawing a weapon, shifting armour or manipulating an object wholly inside the cloak creates no sound audible beyond the field. If the target grapples another creature, the grappled creature is considered inside the cloak while the grapple continues.

Message is a specific exception. Although Message is normally blocked by magical silence, Cloak of Silence preserves the original spell’s interaction and allows a whispered Message to pass magically between the caster and its target.

The cloak does not make the target deafened and does not grant immunity to thunder damage. Those properties belong to Silence , not to Cloak of Silence.

Cloak of Silence — Pathfinder 1e

Description

A narrow field surrounds the target and moves with it. The target can speak and cast spells with verbal components inside the field, but ordinary sound made within the cloak cannot be heard outside it. A listener can hear the target normally if the listener’s ear enters the enclosed space.

The target gains a +10 competence bonus on Stealth checks made to avoid being heard . If the same Stealth check also determines whether the target is seen, apply this bonus only against observers whose detection depends on hearing; the spell does not make the target harder to see.

The field extends approximately 1 foot from the target. Anything within that area makes no apparent sound outside it. Drawing a weapon, handling gear or moving armour within the cloak therefore makes no audible noise beyond the field. If the target grapples another creature, that creature is considered inside the field for the duration of the grapple.

The target can cast spells with verbal components, but an audible or language-dependent effect cannot influence a creature outside the field if that creature must hear the target for the effect to work. Message can still function because the spell magically carries the whispered communication to its targets.

Audible bardic performances cannot benefit creatures outside the field. A bard can still use Countersong for itself, but creatures beyond the cloak cannot hear that performance and receive no benefit from it.

Cloak of Silence — D&D 3.5e

Description

The spell surrounds one target with a moving sound-dampening field similar to Silence , except that a few inches of audible space remain between the creature and the field. The target can therefore speak and provide verbal spell components, but ordinary sound does not escape the cloak.

• The target gains a +10 competence bonus on Move Silently checks.
• The field extends approximately 1 foot from the target. Anything within this area makes no apparent sound outside it. Drawing a weapon produces no audible noise. A creature grappled by the target is treated as being inside the field for the duration of the grapple.
• The target can cast spells with verbal components. Effects that require an outside creature to hear the caster cannot function through the field. Shout , Suggestion and Command are examples when their effect depends on audible speech reaching the subject. Message functions normally because it carries the whisper magically.
• The target cannot use Bardic Music to benefit creatures outside the field. Countersong can still protect the bard, but listeners beyond the cloak cannot hear it and gain no benefit.

This presentation updates the original 2003 casting-time terminology from “1 action” to the D&D 3.5e term “1 standard action” while preserving the spell’s level, components, range, target limit, duration, saving throw, spell resistance and sound-control effects.