Detection magic in Waterdeep

[ameinild]

Hi!

In the FR campaign guide on p. 199 it says: "detection and location magic no longer functions" (in Waterdeep). What does this mean?

Are there any rituals that do not work while in Waterdeep? What is "Detection and Location" magic? When I read the rituals, there are categories called "Scrying" and "Exploration", that I would assume fall under this, but I'm not sure... Please explain to me which of the following rituals work or don't work in Waterdeep:

Detect Object
Detect Secret Doors
Eye of Alarm (detects intruders)
Eye of Warning (detects intruders and scrying attempts)
Observe Creature (scrying, possible location)
View Location (scrying)
View Object (scrying)
Wizards Sight (scrying)

Thanx!

[shinobi_guyver]

It may be talking about rituals/spells within the Scrying category.

Perhaps the Player's Guide next month will expand on it or like many things, it is left entirely up to the DM.

[ameinild]

Yeah I have a feeling it's one of those "up to the DM" things - then it can't be very important and I'll just ignore it as I see no use for this...

[Syrsuro]

In one of the RPGA modules set in Waterdeep, it reads:

Also note the Spellplague rendered detection and location magic non-functional within the city

I would read this exactly as written. If you are using magic (power or ritual, but most likely ritual) to attempt to locate or detect something, it doesn't work.

Is there a particular power or ritual that you aren't sure whether or not would be affected?

That said: I find it unlikely that the boundary of the effect exactly matches the city walls and suspect that there may be regions in the city where it doesn't apply and/or regions immediately outside the city where it does. But as a DM those are mine to determine and the players to discover - if relevant.

Carl