familiar casting detect magic to identify items

[x x 806]

I have a specialist wizard that does not have access yet to detect magic and identify at perso creation. We are not starting at first level so I have improved familiar with a familiar that can cast detect magic.

Can I do a spellcraft to identify items if the detect magic is cast by my familiar. Spellcraft say that I can identify object through the use of the spell but I am not sure if I push too much by saying the spell has to be cast by the one doing the skill check.

As an alternative can the Familiar show me how to cast detect magic which is a spell like for him?

If it does not work I will have to let my familiar make the check.

[Thanis Kartaleon]

The familiar shares your ranks (but uses its Ability modifiers) in all skills - using its own ranks if they are higher. Thus, if you have Spellcraft and Knowledge (Arcana), so does your familiar. It can simply use its spell-like ability and tell you what it sees.

[x x 806]

Thanis Kartaleon wrote:

The familiar shares your ranks (but uses its Ability modifiers) in all skills - using its own ranks if they are higher. Thus, if you have Spellcraft and Knowledge (Arcana), so does your familiar. It can simply use its spell-like ability and tell you what it sees.

That part I knew it. The familiar has 5 less that the wizard in spellcraft so I was hoping to use the wizard spellcraft

[Thanis Kartaleon]

You might be able to convince your GM to allow you to aid another on your familiar's check, so long as you two can converse with each other.

"Boss, it looks kinda… greenish with some black smoke and pink rings."

"Hmm. Could be necromancy, but the rings point to it being from the summoning subschool…"

[wraithstrike]

By the rules the caster doing the spellcrafting is the one(creature) that has to be using detect magic. Otherwise party members could do the same thing.

[Gauss]

Out of curiosity, if you are not first level why wouldn't you have access? Assuming Detect Magic was in an opposition school you could still purchase it and then memorize it (for 2 slots).

As far as the rules are concerned you must be the one to cast detect magic in order to make a Spellcraft or Arcana check. Thus, only your familiar can make the check.

- Gauss

[x x 806]

Gauss wrote:

Out of curiosity, if you are not first level why wouldn't you have access?

- Gauss

Just did not have the opportunity yet to buy it or have the material/time to scribe it.

[Brilliant Energy]

You're above 1st level but don't have the 17.5 Gold and 30 minutes to buy and inscribe perhaps the second most common Cantrip?

Don't know the particulars regarding the start of your campaign, it could be the "Starting-in-the-Slave-Pits" or "Washed-up-on-Deserted-Island" kinda thing, but otherwise a gracious DM might be convinced to say "Here, another Cantrip won't be game-breaking"...

Know I would.

[Gauss]

x x 806

Interesting, are you not getting any starting equipment? Buying extra spells is usually part of that. Is the GM requiring that you not purchase any extra spells?

As for the price it is only 7.5gp for a cantrip to pay a wizard to teach it to you (including the price to write it into your spellbook). 17.5gp if you learn it from a scroll (including the price to write it into your spellbook). :)

Time is 30minutes to scribe it and 1hour to study it for a total of 1.5 hours.

- Gauss