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When you cast clairvoyance:

You create an invisible sensor within range in a location familiar to you [...]

If you do this near someone with truesight, which gives the following benefit:

A creature with truesight can [...] see invisible creatures and objects

Therefore, if you have truesight, can you see the invisible sensor created by clairvoyance?

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Related: Does detect magic allow detection of scrying? \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 16:58
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    \$\begingroup\$ Whatever source you pulled the spell description from does not agree with the official wording. I would recommend using only official sources in the future (or if this is from a translated version, noting that in the question). \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 17:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ I thought I got it from Roll20, but looking at the text on there it matches your edit. \$\endgroup\$
    – GPPK
    Dec 4, 2018 at 17:50

2 Answers 2

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Yes, the sensor can be seen with truesight

I will briefly state what has already been pointed out in Dinomaster's answer:

The clairvoyance spell specifies that it creates "an invisible sensor", and truesight it described as allowing a creature to "see invisible creatures and objects", so this implies that such a sensor can be seen via truesight, although since a sensor isn't explicitly described as an object, it's not conclusive evidence...

In addition to that, a similar situation exists for the spell scrying (PHB, pg. 273), which is made more explicit:

... the spell creates an invisible sensor within 10 feet of the target. [...] A creature that can see invisible objects sees the sensor as a luminous object about the size of your fist.

So not only can creatures with truesight (or any creature that can see invisible objects for any other reason) see the sensor, but according to scrying, it looks like "a luminous objects about the size of your fist".

Given that the language regarding the "invisible sensor" is the same in both spells, it seems as though invisible sensors can be seen by creatures with truesight, and furthermore it's likely that the appearance of the sensor described by scrying would be the same for clairvoyance as well (or at the very least it gives the DM a precedent to follow).

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    \$\begingroup\$ In other cases (Wall of Force and the like), the thing created by a spell is not an 'object' for the purposes of object interactions, spells or effects that target objects, etc. What about the sensor that makes it an 'object', since this is a specially defined game term? \$\endgroup\$
    – user47897
    Dec 4, 2018 at 15:07
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    \$\begingroup\$ @MarkTO I'm not saying that a sensor is an object per se, I'm just pointing out that scrying says that creatures that can see invisible objects can also see the sensor. There's also that it's described as a "luminous object", but that's more that it looks like an object, not that it is one. My main point, though, is that scrying sets a precedent for creatures that can see invisible objects being able to see invisible sensors too. \$\endgroup\$
    – NathanS
    Dec 4, 2018 at 15:25
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    \$\begingroup\$ @NathanS I'm a bit confused though. Wouldn't the fact that they put the wording in scrying but not in clairvoyance actually imply that they aren't intended to work the same? I'm not sure there is any example of a spell that depends on the wording of another spell without explicitly saying so. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 16:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Mindwin object is a game term and thus has a special definition. "You make" certainly implies something is created. However, the assumption that anything you "make" via a spell is an object is simply not true. There are many things you can make with spells in game and some of them are clearly not objects. For example you can make creatures, you can make illusions, etc. Even physically created substances such as water are generally not treated as objects by the game's definition. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 17:15
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    \$\begingroup\$ I have accepted this answer because I believe it gives the most robust justification even though the rules are potentially unclear. \$\endgroup\$
    – GPPK
    Dec 5, 2018 at 10:37
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Yes

The Claivoyance spell makes an invisible object.

You create an invisible sensor within range in a location familiar to you...

Which can be seen by Truesight

A creature with truesight can, ... see invisible creatures and objects

So yes truesight can see the sensor.

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    \$\begingroup\$ What makes you think that the sensor is an object? Spells will say when the thing they create is an object and many spell effects are not considered objects (eg wall in wall of force). So how do you justify calling the sensor an object here? \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 16:04
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    \$\begingroup\$ @rubiksmoose: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/make - "to produce something, often using a particular substance or material:" - The wording "you make" implies that an object is created. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 17:03
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Mindwin object is a game term and thus has a special definition. "You make" certainly implies something is created. However, the assumption that anything you "make" via a spell is an object is simply not true. There are many things you can make with spells in game and some of them are clearly not objects. For example you can make creatures, you can make illusions, etc. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 4, 2018 at 17:09

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