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I'm trying to figure out how a Bookmark of Deception actually works, and how a party can circumvent or disable it.
The nondetection mechanics apply to attempts to Detect Magic on it, that much is clear.
The bookmark itself has an illusion aura, but the two spells it is based on are abjuration and transmutation. Does reading the book trigger a Will Save to disbelieve? And if so, would that merely let the reader perceive the real text of the book, or would it also allow locating and removing the bookmark?
If you manage to succeed your CL check to detect magic and spend three rounds, does that allow you to pinpoint the location of the bookmark and remove it?
Finally, I'm assuming a successful Dispel Magic would suppress the bookmark long enough to find it and remove it?
Essentially, you would need some spell that can pierce illusions, like true seeing, or succussfully roll high enough on the caster check to determine the nature of the bookmark.
Or removing the bookmark. That works too.
Wait? Do people not remove bookmarks when you start reading a book?
I'm assuming if people start reading the book they're going to remove the bookmark, which easily defeats it. But that's just me. And of course, that's only if they actually decide to read the book, which would be the harder part since it will just seem like a mundane text.
As a GM, I would say if players start to investigate the text at all they will likely inadvertently remove the bookmark and reveal it's nature.
When reading I often just shift a bookmark to a different page, but keep it in the book so that I don't lose it. I seldom remove it and set it aside.
"This bookmark alters the book that holds it so that it appears to be another book entirely, even upon a thorough reading. The apparent book is determined when the bookmark is crafted, and is usually an especially boring or commonplace book such as a legal or religious text. The bookmark also protects itself and the book with nondetection."
Nondetection says "The warded creature or object becomes difficult to detect by divination spells such as clairaudience/clairvoyance, locate object, and detect spells. Nondetection also prevents location by such magic items as crystal balls. If a divination is attempted against the warded creature or item, the caster of the divination must succeed on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against a DC of 11 + the caster level of the spellcaster who cast nondetection."
I think it's worth considering that Nondetection is a 3rd level spell, and the bookmark costs 1,500 gp. If it can be foiled by just taking it out - and if you would assume that players will idly do so as part of a basic Perception check - then this is an incredibly stupid use of time and resources.
It's positively ridiculous that such a thing doesn't give any description at all to "what if someone tries to remove it?" Does the spell stay in place even after the mark is removed? Does the bookmark fade and/or hide itself, or otherwise become difficult or impossible to remove?
These are questions to ask the GM, because the RAW is simply a big shrug. If you were to ask me, I'd say the bookmark becomes hidden when the book transforms its appearance. If you can perceive the original book, you can perceive and remove the bookmark; if you're still fooled by the illusion, the bookmark is invisible and cannot be found by your fingers.
then this is an incredibly stupid use of time and resources.
Yes I think so.
then this is an incredibly stupid use of time and resources.Yes I think so.
I'd argue that it's not a good idea to interpret any spell effect or magic item as "A big waste of time and money." If there's a way to read it in which it does something, assume that this is the correct way to read it - unless there's a better way to read it in which it still does something.
I'd argue that it's not a good idea to interpret any spell effect or magic item as "A big waste of time and money." If there's a way to read it in which it does something, assume that this is the correct way to read it - unless there's a better way to read it in which it still does something.then this is an incredibly stupid use of time and resources.Yes I think so.
The problem is that the rules for the item don't cover a lot of the circumstances which could come up and create problems. Unless I want to make up a bunch of rules the item as written is defeated by having it not be in the book. It doesn't even hide it's own existence.
There are tons of items that as written aren't very good, this is just one among many.
I make the small adjustment that the bookmark works until the book is closed and opened again without the bookmark (or it's used on another book). But it does function as written- the point is to make the book look like it's not worth reading, even if they flip through. The Magic Aura effect can also conceal spell traps in the book.