tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post739035305934973940..comments2023-11-11T02:30:30.116-06:00Comments on Super Galactic Dreadnought: Identifying potions with Detect Magic.Desert Scribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862907749003106864noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post-41624673245984550802021-12-05T20:54:23.626-06:002021-12-05T20:54:23.626-06:00Here's how I do it
The spell detects if the it...Here's how I do it<br />The spell detects if the item in question make an arcana check to find out more.<br />At low level a person is inexperienced<br />At using the spell and coalescing all of the information.<br />Blackbriar fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13840339255657465060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post-82150506163315277442012-12-24T10:14:36.320-06:002012-12-24T10:14:36.320-06:00In context of potions, I think this is a great int...In context of potions, I think this is a great interpretation. It helps with the problem of identifying potions <i>and</i> it has another practical use for <i>Detect Magic</i> which encourages players to use those utility spells that folks normally overlook.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post-35224447444979741912012-12-22T10:15:47.790-06:002012-12-22T10:15:47.790-06:00I would think that because the phrase is inside on...I would think that because the phrase is inside one set of commas, the Detect magic spell detects if there is some enchantment on a door. If it read "whether a door is held, or wizard locked," I might see some ambiguity. <br /><br />Further, it specifically says that it tells whether a magic item is magical but doesn't say it tells you what the exact enchantment on it is. Attributing extra powers to a spell that aren't explicit is like expecting that Fly will make you resistant to the cold and buffeting winds found at high altitudes. <br /><br />As for some reason why Holmes wrote about Detect Magic under Potions, maybe it was from an earlier draft where Detect Magic explicitly did Identify. Maybe it refers to Detect Magic identifying the TYPE of magic, which would give a clue to the potion's effect. Maybe it refers to finding out the potion is magical at all instead of a vial of holy water, acid, or some water sample. <br /><br />That said, I've found that Identify used on potions is a PITA especially in higher-level games where multiple potions are found AND in lower-level games where the material component for ID is worth more than the eventually-identified potion. Especially since the buyer probably wants to pay for independent identification of the item. <br /><br />One good solution would be to allow Detect Magic to identify potions, in the same way Read Magic identifies an M-U scroll. These are low-power and low-value magic items and shouldn't require as much effort to ID. <br /><br />Another good option would be to give Gnomes the ability to ID potions by smell. It's a cool ability that's relevant to the race, improves an (in my experience) under-used race, is not too powerful, isn't used in combat, and is useful throughout the PC's career. It also encourages use of Gnomes as alchemists' assistants, unless the alchemist is himself a Gnome. I like the idea of henchgnomes. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post-20134296024697362552012-12-21T18:42:04.133-06:002012-12-21T18:42:04.133-06:00I know :)I know :)Desert Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862907749003106864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7290267799484368042.post-19892805804247680032012-12-20T13:24:57.283-06:002012-12-20T13:24:57.283-06:00Lawyers...yeesh.Lawyers...yeesh.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596247660364673313noreply@blogger.com