| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sourcemaster2 |
Posted - 09 May 2004 : 05:36:40
Can locate object be used to find magical items? The spell description says:
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object. You can search for general items, in which case you locate the nearest one of its kind if more than one is within range. Attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails. You cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that particular item firsthand (not through divination).
Would magical item be a "general item?" If not, does anyone know of a spell that specifically divines such items(besides the usual detect magic and arcane sight spells? |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cpthero2 |
Posted - 30 Sep 2018 : 13:37:10
Senior Scribe Sourcemaster2,
I see this as quite a bit more involved than not. Here's why.
As I went through the PFCRB, I took note that there is no definition of object (I searched by that word, and no definition). So, after going to the dictionary, here is what it is:
quote:
a material thing that can be seen and touched.
The conjunction 'and' creates issues. Here is an example of just one issue that comes to mind:
- No objects exist to blind people because though they can be touched, they cannot be seen. So, in this case Locate Object couldn't work for a blind person since they have never seen items. Sure, they've felt them before, but that is not being seen, which is a past participle of see, which is:
quote:
perceive with the eyes; discern visually
Even with a secondary definition of seen, it seems difficult:
quote:
discern or deduce mentally after reflection or from information; understand
...since the issue is that you know exactly what it looks like. Though I take note of the first line of the spell Locate Object, which says,
quote:
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object.
That is interesting, because the definition of visualize is:
quote:
form a mental image of; imagine
So in this case, you can at a minimum sense the direction of something you can form a mental image or or imagine. If you have seen it, or seemingly, can discern or deduce the object mentally after reflection or from information, then you can actually locate it, within the range of the spell. I don't see it as cut and dry as it could be.
To be perfectly frank, divination magic has in my opinion often been the worst worded Art in the game. I feel it is by far the most powerful Art, but due to a lack of articulation of definitions that allow a practitioner of Art to concisely utilize the spells, it gets thrown into a gray area.
That's my take, but then again, I'd love to hear other people's views. Perhaps I'm looking at it obtusely, and someone has additional insight.
Best regards,
quote:
Originally posted by Sourcemaster2
Can locate object be used to find magical items? The spell description says:
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object. You can search for general items, in which case you locate the nearest one of its kind if more than one is within range. Attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails. You cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that particular item firsthand (not through divination).
Would magical item be a "general item?" If not, does anyone know of a spell that specifically divines such items(besides the usual detect magic and arcane sight spells?
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| DDH_101 |
Posted - 10 May 2004 : 01:54:01
For magical items, don't you have to cast detect magic? Also, for example, you could say a "portal" is a general item but to find a portal you have to cast Find Portal. Casting locate object wouldn't work in finding one. |
| Arivia |
Posted - 09 May 2004 : 21:01:03
quote:
Originally posted by Sourcemaster2
That's sort of what I meant. Could a wizard look for "the closest magical item?" That would reveal the nearest scroll, ring, wand, ect, without defining it specifically, so it could be used to search for any enchanted object in range, without having to look for, say, magical swords or such.
Yes, they could-be warned, they could find the closest rock with a light spell cast on it, though. And remember-any items the wizard is carrying are legal results for the spell, too. |
| Teflon |
Posted - 09 May 2004 : 19:34:58
Acutally I dont think you can use locate object to find a magical item. In the spell decription it says "You can locates objects as apparel,jewlery,furniture,tools,weapons, or even a leader". Then it says under general items "such as a stairway, a sword, or a jewel". Nowhere does it say magical items. The only thing I could think of that would work to find magical items would be detect magic. |
| Sourcemaster2 |
Posted - 09 May 2004 : 17:51:58
That's sort of what I meant. Could a wizard look for "the closest magical item?" That would reveal the nearest scroll, ring, wand, ect, without defining it specifically, so it could be used to search for any enchanted object in range, without having to look for, say, magical swords or such. |
| Arivia |
Posted - 09 May 2004 : 06:28:48
Yes, it can.
The bit about general items would be referring to: "find me the closest cat" and such. |
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