Scrying


3.5/d20/OGL


How would/are you use the spell scrying? From the spell description: Scrying - You can see and hear some creature, which may be at any distance. If the subject succeeds on a Will save, the scrying attempt simply fails.

Would you say that only the caster will see anything in the mirror, or would you let everybody that is present see what the caster see in the mirror?

I know I have final say over whatever the players will argue, and will probably rule that only the caster see anything in the mirror, everybody else just see their own reflections. But just would like to know what others would do.

Thanks
Oxi

Scarab Sages

I would agree with you and say that only the caster sees anything.


Well, if you're looking for a way to validate your ruling, then just look to the spell text:

"You can see and hear..."

The text explicitly says "You" as in the caster, not the caster and his friends, so a strict reading of the RAW would support your ruling.

I'm curious as to why this is an issue. Is the caster of the spell going to try and hide things from the players? Outright lie about what he sees, perhaps?


The situation was this: The players were gonna put some magic items on a flying castle to prevent it to be able to move within 50 miles of both their home city, and their dwarven allied city, when they activated the 2nd part of those items. First they were gonna travel to the dwarven city which was under siege, and enter it through one "back door" then move to the flying castle from there, and this was gonna be some underdark action I had planned. But suddenly they started to talk about scrying an npc they had met that they thought was in the city, and use teleport to both enter the city and move back to warn another city.

The thing is that the partys mystic theurge don't have scry, but one of the other cohorts has it. So they wanted to get a couple of scrolls of teleport, then the cohort would use scry with the other pc watching to get familiar with the area their npc friends was at so both could teleport a couple of bodies there.

The bottom line played out like this: The cohort failed one scry and didn't make the spellcheck for 1 of the teleport scrolls. Next scry went better and she made the spell check and they teleported right into a room with 2 invisible stalkers, since their npc friend was held captive in said flying castle (which really made things a pain for a party of 3 lv 10, 1 lv9 pc and 2 lv 7 cohorts). At the end of that battle 2 lv 7 warfoged fighter/jug arrived just as the party barbarian held the door shut. But then the ninja did a clever thing, he ghost steped through the door and decided to attack. Short story, he is dead now and the rest of the pary is hiding in the room by using rope trick. Too bad for them the spell only last 7 hours so they wont get any spells back before it end.

This can get ugly :-p

Oxi


However, isn't there a scene in the AoW where Lashonna casts a scrying spell for the party and they can all see the scene? That seems to be a bit of a precedent for mass viewings.


I haven't played through AoW but when you mention it I remember that there was some scrying on somebody on a ship. But it seems like scrying works different my world, than in the offical worlds (or maybe the person who wrote that adventure just don't have a clue about D&D :-p)

But still, can't get over the 2 invisible stalkers making soo much trouble for the party, will remember that a long time hehe.


It all boils down to how you want to work it. There are existing presidences for both accurances. Personally I've had it where the spell is cast. We then treat it more like a monitor that we're all standing around that we can all see whats going on. Hell we've even been allowed to use it to zoom in on certain things. Then same DM different game there was a little more literal and rigid translation of the rules for the spell. The main thing is consitancy throughout the campaign. Once you make the ruling stick with it till the end of that campaign.


I think I would have to say the two prime criteria are:

1) How much do you want them to get out of the spell, both short- and long-term?
2) How much abuse do you think they will make of its use?

The spell should be useful for the characters without being too disturbing to game balance. If your intent is that it be used sparingly for very limited information, then interpret or rule very strictly. As soon as they find out that the spell doesn't turn them into Big Brother, they'll only use it at need. If you're ok with them using it as a major information source from the first use on, then interpret or rule very loosely. You have to keep in mind what your intent of the game's aim is.

And, as said above, consistency is very important.


I have another question concerning the Scry spell. All the descriptions of the spell revolve around scrying a person, but what about locations? One of my players recently wanted to view a location he had visited before. I decided he couldn't do it since the spell didn't cover that, but it really nagged at me since it seems like a reasonable request.

Liberty's Edge

If you really want it to be everyone, then I suggest a slight alteration which allows the caster, and 1 character per caster level touched to view. Plus, it lets you give "evidence" to people you may have to report to. This allows for private viewings by just the caster, and party viewings.

Whichever way you go with this, I must echo the sentiment that you keep it consistent, changing the rules back and forth can become aggravating fast.


I knew I should have just started a new thread....

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