QUESTION: Has anyone house-ruled that you can use Spellcraft and Detect Magic to identify the spells on a person? How has that worked for you?
DETAILS:
The as-written rules are pretty black-and-white:
Under Spellcraft:
Identify a spell as it is being cast: DC = 15 + spell level
Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic: DC = 15 + item's caster level
Under Knowledge: Arcana:
Identify a spell effect that is in place: DC = 20 + spell level
So as the spell is being cast you need Spellcraft, if it's on an item it's Spellcraft again, but if it's a regular spell that's been cast on a person you need Knowledge: Arcana.
ISSUE #1:
- Why is identifying the magic on a magic item different from identifying the magic on a person?
ISSUE #2:
- Wizards have a base stat of INT so they have plenty of skill points to max out both skills.
- Ponder the poor arcane bloodline sorceress. She doesn't particularly need INT, but if she doesn't take it her 2 skill points per level will be entirely taken up for those two skills.
So I'm pondering modifying the as-written rules and letting Spellcraft and Detect Magic identify currently-active spells. We just had a fight where she spent 3 full rounds standing there staring at the BBEG to figure out his buffs so she could choose specific ones to Dispel, and it turned out she hadn't bought any Knowledge: Arcana so there were... bad feelings. And now she's (justifiably) displeased that every skill point she gets for the next few levels will have to go into Knowledge: Arcana and I'm inclined to agree with her.
Seems like an odd set of circumstances and I don't see a strong reason not to modify the rules so Spellcraft and Detect Magic work on people as well as things.
Differing opinions?
Spell craft gone in my game
Spell caster now use the following skills
Bard Perform
Cleric Knowledge Religion
Druid Knowledge Nature
Paladin Knowledge Religion
Ranger Knowledge Nature
Sorcer Knowledge Arcane
Wizard Knowledge Arcane
Oracle Knowledge Planes
Summoner Knowledge Planes
Witch Knowledge Planes
Inquistor Knowledge Religion
To ID spell now is DC 10 plus level spell.
+5 not same type energy Arcane / Divine
+5 the spell is not on your list.
To id an item it is base line 10 plus highest level spell
+5 not same type energy Arcane / Divine.
+5 the spell is not on your list.