Detect Magic on Hallow / Unhallowed areas

[LucyG92]

If a character casts Detect Magic inside a Hallowed or Unhallowed area, what skill/DC is used to understand the spell effect?

I initially thought Spellcraft should be used, but the table only lists 'Identify a spell as it is being cast'.

The Knowledge skill table has both:

Identify auras while using detect magic Arcana 15 + spell level

Identify a spell effect that is in place Arcana 20 + spell level

I think it's implying that if you're not using Detect Magic, you can otherwise still tell there is a magic effect with the second DC?

Am I right in thinking you cannot use Spellcraft to identify the Hallow/Unhallow spell and must use Knowledge Arcana in this situation?

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

To identify a spell effect in place you have to sense something somehow---either detect magic, or the spell linked to the hallow going off, or maybe special effects if the GM thinks those linger post-casting. Knowledge(arcana) does not by itself let you sense magical effects, only understand what you are otherwise sensing.

Assuming you have some evidence to go by, you are right that it's a Knowledge(arcana) check. Kinda weird that Spellcraft won't do it, but there you go.

[Scrapper]

This may be more in the realm of Detect Good/Evil and Knowledge: Religion

[LucyG92]

Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:

To identify a spell effect in place you have to sense something somehow---either detect magic, or the spell linked to the hallow going off, or maybe special effects if the GM thinks those linger post-casting. Knowledge(arcana) does not by itself let you sense magical effects, only understand what you are otherwise sensing.

Assuming you have some evidence to go by, you are right that it's a Knowledge(arcana) check. Kinda weird that Spellcraft won't do it, but there you go.

Ah okay, that does make more sense. Thanks!