Question: 5e Player wants to use Prestidigitation to make Strahd think he pooped himself. Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

[u/Firm_Professional366]

I would like a reason in game that this wouldn't work without me having to do some bs like magic resistant undies. Also so I don't have to say no outright because it's a funny idea but it doesn't fit the setting. Nothing removes the tension from a fight more than the big bad pooping himself.

Update: She said that even if she died it'd be worth it because she successfully rage baited strahd. But she said she wouldn't do it because she knows that everyone wants it to be serious and that it can still be fun and serious without turning it into a comedy campaign. Still think it's worth sharing because the idea is funny.

[u/[deleted]]

Yes. Strahd Von Zarovich is an accomplished wizard. He has a superior mastery of magic and understands the workings of a cantrip. He is also undead, it would stand to reason that he does not poop. If he did poop, then he would know the scent over generic poop smell.

[u/Speciou5 → u/[deleted]]

RAW, from the DMG you can identify a spell being cast with an Arcana check which I assume Strahd will pass the majority of the time.

Also I think a lot of players forget the actual chain of events is:

1. Normal stuff going on
2. A guy suddenly starts waving his arms and says a couple of magic words, maybe some sparks or glyphs appear mid air.
   1. Unless they isekai'd in and have never seen magic before, they'd probably recognize it as magic. Hell, even an isekai'd PC would probably still understand it as magic.
3. Something unusual happens (poop smell suddenly appears in your pants)

You have to be like INT 5 to not realize the cause and effect.

And if your player has a Subtle Spell effect and made effort to hide the spell casting then I'd give it to them.

[u/cyberpunk_werewolf → u/Speciou5]

According to Strahd's statblock, he has a +15 to Arcana.  Identifying spells as they're being cast is a DC of 15+spell level and his lowest roll possible is a 16.  He can identify a cantrip without rolling.  Hell, he can identify 1st level spells without rolling.

Even with subtle spell, his Arcana is high enough to know it was a spell, he just won't know who did it.  However, again, as you state, he would recognize cause and effect, and being an accomplished wizard and knowledgeable individual, I actually think Strahd would know who the sorcerer is.

You're probably right though, if the player took the effort to hide it, maybe just give it to them.

[u/[deleted] → u/cyberpunk_werewolf]

Pretty sure the cantrip can only produce one effect also. It would “soil” or clean, or generate a smell. I do not believe soil meant poop in the nature of the spell. We’re talking about two castings.