Questions tagged [divination]
For questions related to game mechanics that involve divining the future, scrying, or other forms of magical or divine information gathering.
100
questions
10
votes
3
answers
850
views
Is there a way to learn what was written in a burned document?
I'm playing pathfinder and I just recovered the ashes of burned papers. The Dm told me make whole wouldn't work because a big part of the paper went off in smoke and as such there isn't all the parts. ...
- 411
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it possible for a caster to have 2 castings of Foresight active?
The Foresight spell specifically includes the following caveat:
This spell immediately ends if you cast it again before its duration
ends.
Looking at this, I figured the only way to avoid that issue ...
- 33.5k
10
votes
1
answer
706
views
Can I Use Minor Illusion to create a 5ft box around myself to block a scrying sensor's sight?
My party is being scryed on by an enemy. We are all low level and don't have access to second level spells yet.
I want to use paper and quill, to write down sensitive information, then pass the ...
- 567
8
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What can be done to a Scrying sensor?
The spell scrying states:
On a failed save, the spell creates an invisible sensor within 10 feet of the target. You can see and hear through the sensor as if you were there. The sensor moves with ...
- 19k
20
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How should Augury work when the course of action relies on a skill check?
My party's Cleric has just picked up Augury. It's clearly a spell that garners some understandable confusion, but I don't think this precise question's been asked before.
How should I, as DM, answer ...
- 1,961
8
votes
3
answers
349
views
What counts as a "specific goal, event, or activity" for the Divination spell?
The divination spell states:
Similar to augury but more powerful, a divination spell can provide you with a useful piece of advice in reply to a question concerning a specific goal, event, or ...
- 4,852
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there a spell that allows you to divine what happened "here"?
My Queen walks into a room full of bodies. One survivor, a small noble she's never met before, tells her a story about what happened to the prisoners she expected to find here. Fortunately, she's a ...
- 4,714
3
votes
2
answers
220
views
Can you hit an unlocated and unseen target by throwing a weapon at it after casting True Strike and Guided Shot?
I've recently been discussing a combo found in this chapter of Harry Potter and the Natural 20. If needed, ctrl+f for "I am not walking in that" for the start of the encounter. The relevant part is ...
- 6,294
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
When using the Augury spell, how good or bad does the outcome of the course of action have to be to justify a response of Weal / Woe?
My players are planning to use Augury to decide whether to enter a dungeon, and I'm trying to decide what the outcome of the spell should be.
I can see that some extremes should be obvious: for ...
- 1,135
3
votes
2
answers
314
views
Can casters sacrifice memorized spells/available spell slots to avoid detection?
If a spellcaster is trying to avoid being detected as a caster and is caught unprepared (e.g. nondetection is immediately unavailable), is there any way for them to sacrifice memorized spells or ...
- 6,747
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How does the random reading part of the Divination spell work?
The last section of the divination spell reads:
If you cast the spell two or more times before finishing your next long rest, there is a cumulative 25 percent chance for each casting after the ...
- 43
5
votes
2
answers
540
views
How do I find out who wrote a note?
So I'm playing in a campaign right now, and my party has just received a threatening letter that was left in their dining room stuck to the wall with a dagger. We don't know the writers actual name, ...
- 11.9k
10
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Are bricks considered rock? What about stone?
There are handful of divination spells that are blocked by barriers of a particular thickness and material, such as detect evil and good:
The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by ...
- 73.1k
-9
votes
2
answers
261
views
Can a question be mentally overwritten in Zone of Truth?
Zone of truth's spell description includes (emphasis mine):
An affected creature is aware of the spell and can thus avoid answering questions to which it would normally respond with a lie. Such a ...
user60644
33
votes
6
answers
19k
views
We know someone is scrying on us. Is there anything we can do about it?
It would be unusual, to me, if there were no spell in the world that could "feedback" (as my DM puts it) on the scryer. We're usually really creative about this sort of thing, but on this we have no ...
- 331
4
votes
1
answer
477
views
How do areas where construction has replaced nature affect the spell Commune with Nature's ability to give information on buildings?
One of the limitations of Commune With Nature is that
The spell doesn't function where nature has been replaced by construction, such as in dungeons and towns.
I am uncertain what that entails ...
- 2,328
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Can either the Nondetection or Mind Blank spells prevent information about oneself being divined from others through the Legend Lore spell?
Can either the Nondetection or Mind Blank spells prevent information about oneself being divined from others through the Legend Lore spell?
In this instance, the party was trying to legend lore the ...
- 2,328
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What's the best build for a mounted archer/caster?
My PC is an air genasi fighter 1 with ability scores of Str 12, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, and Cha 7. My plan is for my PC to become eventually a mounted archer and spellcaster that emphasizes ...
- 137
7
votes
1
answer
790
views
Can a familiar be used to satisfy the 30-foot requirement of the spell Locate Creature?
A wizard has seen through her familiar's eyes an NPC who was within 30 feet of the familiar, but more than 30 feet away from the wizard. Can the spell locate creature, cast by the aforementioned ...
- 10.5k
10
votes
1
answer
897
views
What would be the balance effects of adding extra Divination spells?
I am playing a Divination wizard at the moment and quite disappointed that there are only 17 Divination spells, so I thought I would look at some homebrew ones to talk to the DM about.
The question is,...
- 29.7k
4
votes
0
answers
151
views
What happens if two Divination Wizards try to affect a roll? [duplicate]
Does this interact like Lucky, wherein both Portent rolls cancel each other out and the original, untampered roll is used, or would the diviner that replaces the roll later, override the other that ...
- 1,775
5
votes
1
answer
319
views
Can the Divination spell be used by an NPC to check that PCs plan to hold up their end of a bargain?
Say that an NPC capable of casting the Divination spell has a hostage, and has promised to execute said hostage unless the PCs complete a specific task for them. Would it be valid for the NPC to cast ...
- 1,251
3
votes
1
answer
235
views
Can the Dispel Magic spell stop the effects of divination spells?
Alright, so my question, related to this one is: Could a player use Dispel Magic to end the effect of a divination spell, if detected?
- 452
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does the Detect Magic spell detect any external divination spells?
Suppose a spellcaster NPC is using a divination spell on the party to either spy on them or locate them such as Locate Creature or Clairvoyance or (especially) the Scrying spell.
Would a player ...
- 452
13
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can a creature tell when it has been affected by a Divination wizard's Portent?
Consider the following situation (from my perspective as the DM):
One of my PCs casts a spell on an NPC (or monster etc.) which forces the target to make, say, a Wisdom save, or else be frightened.
...
- 1,135
5
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Portent, as it relates to the Gambling downtime rules from Xanathar's Guide to Everything
The Gambling downtime rules in XGtE state that it takes the character a workweek (5 days) and a stake of between 10gp and 1000gp to partake in the gambling downtime activity.
The resolution of this ...
- 27.7k
9
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Will an Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location protect an invisible character from being observed by True Sight or Robe of Eyes?
Will an Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location protect an invisible character from being observed directly with divination magic?
I get that the Amulet would prevent the wearer from being ...
- 281
5
votes
2
answers
863
views
Can a creature with a Mind Blank spell active on itself target itself with Encode Thoughts?
Can a creature with an active mind blank spell target itself with encode thoughts?
My gut instinct was no. Upon further review, maybe?
For context:
I am playing a divination wizard in a West ...
- 2,025
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
For the Divination wizard's Portent feature, how do "glimpses of the future" manifest? [closed]
The Divination wizard's Portent feature description (PHB, p. 116) begins:
Starting at 2nd level when you choose this school, glimpses of the future begin to press in on your awareness.
Most of the ...
- 3
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does a failed Locate Creature foil Nystul's Magic Aura?
Context
An evil wizard has used True Polymorph to make one of their minions resemble the king. As a precaution against diviners, the wizard also casts Nystul/Arcanist's Magic Aura, "Mask", ...
- 6,291
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can I cast Nondetection and Divination spells on myself?
I have a simple question:
If I cast a nondetection spell on me can I also cast spells like detect magic on myself while I'm under the nondetection effect?
- 139
31
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Who is targeted when Scrying's target is ambiguous?
The 5th level spell Scrying allows you to attempt to magically spy on a creature. The caster doesn't even need to have met the creature to attempt this.
What happens when the target the caster has ...
- 19k
26
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Can the Locate Object spell be used to determine if an NPC has a heart?
My party (level 7; Rogue, Cleric, Fighter, Paladin, and Warlock) is investigating a demon portal, and we're trying to obtain as much info as possible before entering it. We learned that it is being ...
- 523
2
votes
2
answers
927
views
Does Mind Blank also protect your gear?
Does Mind Blank protect magic items or even normal gear that is on the Mind Blanked target from divination spells (including but not limited to Detect Magic, Locate Object, etc.)?
Another player and ...
- 595
15
votes
1
answer
16k
views
Does a target of the Scrying spell know they were targeted?
Does a target of the scrying spell know that they were the target of the spell, either as the spell is being cast or after the target makes their saving throw?
The text of the spell seems to leave it ...
- 395
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What happens if you scry a target that's invisible?
What happens if you scry a target with either scrying or greater scrying while the subject is under the effects of a (Greater) invisibility spell?
This is assuming the target fails her will save and ...
- 327
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Portent and spell preparation: which comes first?
Both the dice rolls for the 2nd-level School of Divination Wizard class feature Portent and a Wizard's spell preparation occur "when you finish a long rest". Which comes first - or can a Wizard PC ...
- 19k
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What are outcome-changing circumstances mentioned in Augury and Divination?
This is one of those naval-gazing questions that may have actual mechanical bearing. Both Augury and Divination predict the outcome of future events:
In the case of Augury
"the results of a ...
- 708
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How reliable is Druidcraft weather prediction?
Barring Control Weather or other unnaturally weather alteration, how reliable is the weather prediction part of Druidcraft cantrip?
You create a tiny, harmless sensory effect that predicts what the ...
- 32.2k
11
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How does Nondetection affect Clairvoyance and Scrying?
How does Nondetection protect from divination magic?
When someone casts Clairvoyance or Scrying on a place/creature other than the target and there is something/someone protected by Nondetection in ...
- 32.2k
7
votes
1
answer
833
views
Does Locate Object lock on a target?
The spell description reads:
Alternatively, the spell can locate the nearest object of a particular
kind, such as a certain kind of apparel, jewelry, furniture, tool, or
weapon. This spell can’...
- 389
10
votes
3
answers
666
views
Creating a Fortress that Allows Owner to Scry, but Blocks Others
I'm a GM designing the remote fortress of an ancient-but-still-living archmage (>=20th level?). The archmage lives in society at present, and only returns to his fortress a few times per year, or as ...
- 2,266
29
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Divination Wizard vs Closed Envelope
I am playing a level 6 Divination Wizard in a D&D 5e game. My character has been entrusted with an envelope by a person who's untrustworthy but not necessarily malevolent, and asked to deliver it, ...
- 450
17
votes
6
answers
5k
views
How does nondetection interact with School of Divination's Portent?
As the title suggests, me and some friends had a disussion on this. First, here is the RAW from PHB on Portent (PHB 116):
Starting at 2nd leel when you choose this school, glimpses of the future ...
- 4,807
4
votes
1
answer
329
views
Can Wands trigger the effect of "Insightful Divination"?
The feat Insightful Divination gives you a bonus on initiative whenever you use a divination spell. Does casting a spell via the use of a spell-trigger item, such as a wand or a scroll, count for the ...
- 7,778
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
There appears to be significant overlap between Divination and other schools. What truly defines a divination spell? [closed]
The more I look at spell schools, the more I notice that Divination seems to be severely underdeveloped and mechanically overspecialized, while also suffering from too much overlap with other schools, ...
- 571
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to handle Seer spells so they don't either waste time or make playing tedious?
Some of the fantasy magic systems we are/were playing provide spell casters with access to spells that provide the player with information about future events. Now, we know from many movies and ...
- 10.3k
41
votes
8
answers
27k
views
Do Nondetection and Invisibility protect you from True Seeing?
Nondetection says it hides the target from all divination spells. Invisibility hides you from normal sight. When combining both effects on one target, are they hidden from true seeing?
user27327
53
votes
12
answers
93k
views
How does the Divination wizard's Portent feature interact with Advantage and Disadvantage?
The School of Divination wizard's Portent feature says, in part (Player's Handbook, page 116):
You can replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can ...
- 5,338
25
votes
8
answers
3k
views
How can gambling work in a world where magical divination is possible?
In a DnD 3.5 universe, could a spell such as Divination or Commune allow the caster to cheat at betting on sporting events? (For example, by asking a question like "Will Stan Stormbow win in this ...
- 413