wolfsbane114
Warrior
327 Posts
    
 | | 07/20/2006 12:21 PM |
| | Can a pc use detect magic to see an invisible creature? | |
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Malin Lug
Sergeant
742 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 1:00 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by wolfsbane114
Can a pc use detect magic to see an invisible creature?
No, it doesn't work that way. (Else why would see invisibility be a second level spell when detect magic is a 0 level spell.) This was answered in the Q&A of one of the books, I don't remember which one.
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nyjastul69
Commander
2731 Posts
Rhode Island
| | 07/20/2006 1:02 PM |
| For ease of reference from the SRD:
Detect Magic
Divination
Level: Brd 0, Clr 0, Drd 0, Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped emanation
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You detect magical auras. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of magical auras.
2nd Round: Number of different magical auras and the power of the most potent aura.
3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Spellcraft skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura; DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + half caster level for a nonspell effect.)
Magical areas, multiple types of magic, or strong local magical emanations may distort or conceal weaker auras.
Aura Strength: An aura’s power depends on a spell’s functioning spell level or an item’s caster level. If an aura falls into more than one category, detect magic indicates the stronger of the two.
————————— Aura Power —————————
Spell or Object Faint Moderate Strong Overwhelming
Functioning spell (spell level) 3rd or lower 4th–6th 7th–9th 10th+ (deity-level)
Magic item (caster level) 5th or lower 6th–11th 12th–20th 21st+ (artifact)
Lingering Aura: A magical aura lingers after its original source dissipates (in the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a magic item). If detect magic is cast and directed at such a location, the spell indicates an aura strength of dim (even weaker than a faint aura). How long the aura lingers at this dim level depends on its original power:
Original Strength Duration of Lingering Aura
Faint 1d6 rounds
Moderate 1d6 minutes
Strong 1d6x10 minutes
Overwhelming 1d6 days
Outsiders and elementals are not magical in themselves, but if they are summoned, the conjuration spell registers.
Each round, you can turn to detect magic in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.
Detect magic can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
In a word, no. What detect magic can do is after three rounds of concentration you could detect the location of the aura. Even if you pinpoint the location however, the creature is still invisble. You can attack into the suspect space and possibly hit the creature. Look at the rules for attacking invisible creatures. Does this make any sense?
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kyrin
Commander
3171 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 3:07 PM |
| I would say that the Invisibilty spell also makes the aura invisible, and thus Detect Magic by itself doesn't work. Ditto with Detect Evil. No way a 0-level spell trumps a 2nd-level spell like that.
JIM
aka kyrin | |
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wolfsbane114
Warrior
327 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 3:21 PM |
| Thats what I thought but I couldn't explain the why to my player and I wanted a better answer than "no it doesn't.".
Thanks for the replies. | |
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nyjastul69
Commander
2731 Posts
Rhode Island
| | 07/20/2006 3:35 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by kyrin
I would say that the Invisibilty spell also makes the aura invisible, and thus Detect Magic by itself doesn't work. Ditto with Detect Evil. No way a 0-level spell trumps a 2nd-level spell like that.
JIM
aka kyrin
I don't think that's how the RAW handles it. If the target is moving it's pretty difficult to track them with Detect Magic. Also remember that the inviso aura may be concealed or muted by other, stronger auras.
Edit: Also note that if the invisible creature leaves the AoE the 3 round process will have to start again.
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 07/20/2006 4:32 PM |
| Note that invisible creatures that carry a light source do emanate light. As a magical aura is also an emanation, UI'd say that it is also clearly generated.
If an enemy uses detect magic and focuses on an area where there is an invisible creature, by the rules, the following happens:
Rd 1: The spellcaster will know there is sometyhing magical in the area of effect, but will have no idea where (or what) it might be.
Rd 2: The spellcaster will know the number of magical auras in the area, and he will know the strength of the most powerful aura in the area. He will not know the school of magic of any of the auras.
Rd 3: The spellcaster will know the strength and location of each magic aura in the area, and can perform a spellcheck to identify the school. However, knowing the location is not the same as being able to see the invisible object. Although the location is known, there is still concealment issues. Typically, attackers will have a 50% chance of missing the target, even if they now the location of the invisible target. | |
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Feathers
Underboss
1140 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 4:43 PM |
| | And of course, the invisible dude can just move each round so you'll never be able to do more than just detect an aura vaguely. | |
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 07/20/2006 11:40 PM |
| | Of course, the invisible guy is probably a rogue, so he might as well stab the wizard's %#$and be done with it... [)] | |
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