Hi all, so my group has stumbled upon a couple of magic items we are trying to figure out how to find out there purposes. They say detect magic works but that read it only reveals aurora's and domains etc. How do you find out exactly what an item is and what it does? Thanks.
Sasha
Spellcraft skill.
Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic: 15 + item's caster level
If they're not artifacts, use the Spellcraft skill possibly augmented by the Identify spell.
EDIT: Ninja'd lots.
"Attempting to ascertain the properties of a magic item takes 3 rounds per item to be identified and you must be able to thoroughly examine the object."
You cast Detect Magic, then use Spellcraft to identify the properties.
Or you use Identify, and get a +10 bonus on the Spellcraft check.
The way it works is as follows:
1) Cast Detect Magic
3) On the third round, *accurately* identify the aura of the items using Knowledge(Arcana) (this is something that most people miss, but as per spell description this step is required before you can move to step 4).
4) Use Spellcraft to identify the properties of the item (DC=15+items CL)
That's the entire progression. Identify works just like Detect Magic, but you gain a +10 on the Spellcraft (but not the Knowledge) check. You can also determine if an item is magical if you beat the item's Appraise DC by 5 or more, though you do not determine the properties of the item through this method.
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Note, too, that you might want to take 10 on that spellcraft check. You can't retry for 24 hours, but with a decent spellcraft modifier you can easily spot which are the potions of cure light wounds :-) Anything complicated can wait until the next day (when you can prepare Identify to get an extra +10 on the check).