Blocking Divination Sensors

[Krith]

Curious if there's anything more on what the divination sensor can do or what it is. Here's the write up:

"Scrying: A scrying spell creates an invisible magical sensor that sends you information. Unless noted otherwise, the sensor has the same powers of sensory acuity that you possess. This level of acuity includes any spells or effects that target you, but not spells or effects that emanate from you. The sensor, however, is treated as a separate, independent sensory organ of yours, and thus functions normally even if you have been blinded or deafened, or otherwise suffered sensory impairment.

A creature can notice the sensor by making a Perception check with a DC 20 + the spell level. The sensor can be dispelled as if it were an active spell.

Lead sheeting or magical protection blocks a scrying spell, and you sense that the spell is blocked."

And the Scrying spell:

"you can see and hear the subject and its surroundings (approximately 10 feet in all directions of the subject). If the subject moves, the sensor follows at a speed of up to 150 feet."

If the sensor is treated as a separate, independent sensory organ, then anything that works on normal sensory abilities should work on the sensor, so is it as vulnerable to attacks as the caster's normal sensory organs? If there's dim lighting, can you hide from it with a stealth check? What about throwing a blanket over the sensor? Is the sensor incorporeal or does it have substance? If incorporeal, does ghost touch weapons effect it and if not can you put it in a jar? You can outrun it if you can move faster than 150'/round, but can you also just walk into a different room and shut the door, effectively locking it out? If the answer is it doesn't have any substance, does it still effectively count as an object for the purposes of spells like invisibility?

Also, the spell says it follows the target, but can it be controlled? Do you just see from one angle or can you move it around? If the spell sees 10' in each direction of the target, it sounds like it would need to be about 10' above the target. However, if it is always 10' above the target, what happens when the target is in a room with an 8' ceiling? The sensor would then be outside and the caster would just be staring at a roof or floor...

Sorry for the rant, but just curious if I'm missing some rules. Any rules sources that clarify would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Gilarius]

Take a look at Prying Eyes. That creates the sort of physical sensor that you are describing.

Since the other spells don't mention any physical object, while Prying Eyes does, the basic assumption should be that the normal sensor isn't physical and can't be blocked by shutting a door. Lead prevents a spell becoming established, and some spells specify which senses work through them, so sometimes making it dark will work.

I haven't read the divination school description lately so there might be some general text about scrying in that or the Scrying subschool.

And Mind Blank categorically blocks all divination spells.

[Krith]

Prying Eyes is a divination spell, but not a Divination (Scrying) spell so I'm not sure it would transfer that way, spell description wise.

The Divination description states:

"Many divination spells have cone-shaped areas. These move with you and extend in the direction you choose. The cone defines the area that you can sweep each round. If you study the same area for multiple rounds, you can often gain additional information, as noted in the descriptive text for the spell."

This sounds to me like it's specifically referring to non-scrying spells as they "move with YOU," though could otherwise be included in the "Many divination spells have cone-shaped areas."

[Gilarius]

Krith wrote:

Prying Eyes is a divination spell, but not a Divination (Scrying) spell so I'm not sure it would transfer that way, spell description wise.

The Divination description states:

snip for brevity

This sounds to me like it's specifically referring to non-scrying spells as they "move with YOU," though could otherwise be included in the "Many divination spells have cone-shaped areas."

Agreed.

'Scrying' simply says it creates a 'magical sensor', but that's all the decription you get; the '10ft around the target' I'd say would be like a person holding a candle - you simply see the area around them, like an emanation, rather than the idea that the sensor is 10ft above the target.

'Clairaudience/voyance' specifies that it makes an invisible sensor, but otherwise it is also a 'magical sensor'. If we go with the idea that if one spell specifies something, then other spells lack that, then 'Scrying's' sensor isn't invisible...

'Prying Eyes' lacks a subschool descriptor. It's definitely not a foresight spell, and it definitely spies on things so you can see them, but there are several spells without subschools...

Anyway, in the absense of conclusive rules proving the matter either way, I'll continue to make the assumption that there isn't a physical object for these spells.

A good question, Krith. Does anyone else have any ideas/evidence?