Our group just finished running through Keep of the Fallen Kings. In the Temple they have found three possible Earthcrowns, only one of which is the true crown. According to the write up the true crown doesn't identify as magical. So my question is how are Artifacts recognized if they don't detect as magical? Blind use could be one way, but with possible bad/fatal consequences.
If this question has been answered elsewhere please let me know where and delete this thread.
Well, for a spot of cash, Legend Lore would tell you if it was or wasn't said crown. It would only take 1 or 2 castings to identify the right crown (and thus only 1d4/2d4 x10 minutes to succeed).
Dunno if the PCs are high enough for that, but a scroll or two would help immensely.
Another method (though it could have some side effects, depending on the DM's wishes):
If the crown doesn't detect as magical, well, artifacts are exceedingly difficult (nearly impossible) to damage. So, for example, if you disintegrate the crowns and only one remains, then you know which was the artifact. Obviously, there are many other ways to do this as well, depending on player creativity and level.
Heh, yeah, melting them all down (or trying to) will generally at least point out the one that's really magical. Artifacts by definition have a "destruction method" that is the only way to destroy them short of deific intervention or a lucky/unlucky roll with mage's disjunction. Fire, cold, green beams of DOOM, nothing else will damage an artifact. Usually the destruction methods are nigh-impossible, too, like getting the God of Gambling to play a game with the Deck of Many Things and lose honestly (as an example, not sure if that's the actual destruction method).
like getting the God of Gambling to play a game with the Deck of Many Things and lose honestly (as an example, not sure if that's the actual destruction method).
It is now. I just need to figure out what artifact I need to attach it to. :->