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OK, so yesterday I ran my group against a Barghest...well I found myself wondering...what the hell is the point of the spell Misdirection.
As they were in a dungeon type area I failed to see a point to this ability. I didn't see it as actually altering its physical appearance.
So what is the point of this spell?
So what is the point of this spell?
Misdirection seems to me a very useful spell if you are trying to hide something or make something undetectable.
Say an evil barghest is trying to convince your group to venture to a place of certain death where his followers/reinforcements are waiting. He changes to a helpless looking goblen and begins to talk to the PCs. He up a story and it sounds pretty convincing, pretty lucrative, not such a big problem with a huge reward.
They try to detect evil on the guy, nothing shows up, he's clean.
They try to discern lies on him to see if he's pulling their chain, nothing shows up.
The unwitting PC's venture forth with this little guy that they think is fine and checked out, but little do they know what they're getting into. At the most inopportune moment he changes back to his form and gets the jump on them as they are already in combat.
Could also be useful for hiding magical objects or markers.
EDIT: He could convince them to kill some innocent people so he can Feed on them and become a greater barghest! Lots of alignment changing bad news for the players.
In a dungeon setting it is of very little use.
But if I were an assassin about ready to walk into the Temple of Good, very useful indeed.
As a barghest, I can only think that while in wolf form you would want to hide amoung other wolves. It would keep the paladin from riding up to the pack and picking out the barghest from amoung the wolves.
Probabaly, not as good as a wolf in sheep's clothing but you could be barghest in wolf's clothing.
SO then it does nullify spells such as: Detect Evil?
Yes, it does, if you use it correctly. It is right there in the description (emphasis is mine).
Misdirection
School illusion (glamer): Level bard 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range close: (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one creature or object, up to a 10-ft. cube in size
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: none or Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance no
By means of this spell, you misdirect the information from divination spells that reveal auras (detect evil, detect magic, discern lies, and the like). On casting the spell, you choose another object within range. For the duration of the spell, the subject of misdirection is detected as if it were the other object. Neither the subject nor the other object gets a saving throw against this effect. Detection spells provide information based on the second object rather than on the actual target of the detection unless the caster of the detection succeeds on a Will save. For instance, you could make yourself detect as a tree if one were within range at casting: not evil, not lying, not magical, neutral in alignment, and so forth. This spell does not affect other types of divination magic (augury, detect thoughts, clairaudience/clairvoyance, and the like).
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SO then it does nullify spells such as: Detect Evil?Yes, it does, if you use it correctly. It is right there in the description (emphasis is mine).
Misdirection
School illusion (glamer): Level bard 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range close: (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one creature or object, up to a 10-ft. cube in size
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: none or Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance noBy means of this spell, you misdirect the information from divination spells that reveal auras (detect evil, detect magic, discern lies, and the like). On casting the spell, you choose another object within range. For the duration of the spell, the subject of misdirection is detected as if it were the other object. Neither the subject nor the other object gets a saving throw against this effect. Detection spells provide information based on the second object rather than on the actual target of the detection unless the caster of the detection succeeds on a Will save. For instance, you could make yourself detect as a tree if one were within range at casting: not evil, not lying, not magical, neutral in alignment, and so forth. This spell does not affect other types of divination magic (augury, detect thoughts, clairaudience/clairvoyance, and the like).
But to clarify it doesn't alter the physical appearance? So in the sample provided in the description the target doesn't look like a tree, but just as for spells he detects as one.
If i'm correct if someone was scrying the individual would he then appear as a tree to the scryer?
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But to clarify it doesn't alter the physical appearance? So in the sample provided in the description the target doesn't look like a tree, but just as for spells he detects as one.
If i'm correct if someone was scrying the individual would he then appear as a tree to the scryer?
Read the first line again: "you misdirect the information from divination spells that reveal auras." Scry does not reveal an aura, and so it would function normally. Someone attempting to detect evil via the scrying, however, would be subject to the misdirection and would detect the tree. And no, misdirection has absolutely no effect on physical appearance, but there's no reason it couldn't be combined with something like alter self by a cunning spellcaster.
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Got it. Thanks all for the clarification.
Seems like to really get the best use out of this spell would be to use it in addition to another spell. Something would alter the image of the target, well in the case of the Barghest.
For an Villian that is one of the core races the spell alone would be of good use to confuse the party. :D
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Got it. Thanks all for the clarification.
Seems like to really get the best use out of this spell would be to use it in addition to another spell. Something would alter the image of the target, well in the case of the Barghest.
For an Villian that is one of the core races the spell alone would be of good use to confuse the party. :D
You do know that all barghests can shapechange to look like either a goblin or a wolf, right? Granted, goblins are not exactly the most trusted of races, but a goblin who puts up a good sob story should be able to prevent most good-aligned groups from just slaying him outright.