D&D 5E Question for GMs... How "Secret" is Scrying?
If you have someone who might be scrying on them, have the potential targets generate a handful of d20 rolls at the start of the session. Use them when you need them. Do this for a couple of sessions, and they have no idea when the numbers are being used, or for what.
J-H
Hero
-Be invisible
-Have people the party is talking to use disguises or stay out of visual range of any sensor (they are in a hexcrawl so there's plenty of space for this, not like in a big city).
-Deceive the scryers with false information, perhaps by laying traps ("I'll bury the treausure here" when "treasure" really means "big pile of Alchemist's fire on a hair trigger")
-Use Mordenkainen's Sanctum (they do this when resting)
-Amulets of Protection against Detection and Location are merely uncommon, and there is an artificer in the 15th-level party. I'd have to run the numbers, but he can crank out enough for the whole party very quickly.
-Use Divine Intervention to request a smite on the scryer (the 15th level cleric has never used DI)
-Have people the party is talking to use disguises or stay out of visual range of any sensor (they are in a hexcrawl so there's plenty of space for this, not like in a big city).
-Deceive the scryers with false information, perhaps by laying traps ("I'll bury the treausure here" when "treasure" really means "big pile of Alchemist's fire on a hair trigger")
-Use Mordenkainen's Sanctum (they do this when resting)
-Amulets of Protection against Detection and Location are merely uncommon, and there is an artificer in the 15th-level party. I'd have to run the numbers, but he can crank out enough for the whole party very quickly.
-Use Divine Intervention to request a smite on the scryer (the 15th level cleric has never used DI)
Scott Christian
Hero
I feel like scrying is break time. Spend two or three minutes letting people use the bathroom, get food, etc. And write it down. Doing it on the fly leaves very little mystery, as the words coming out of your mouth are pure impromptu. (If it works for you, cool. But I have found the break method to be more effective for myself and other DMs I have played with. Heck, I stole the idea from another DM.)
If this method is used, you can use it as a painting. A still motion Impressionistic picture. You have time to think about how to weave in clues through symbolism, setting and colors.
or...
I used to just used to describe a short film that gave the pertinent information.
I think both work, it just depends on the style of players you have.
If this method is used, you can use it as a painting. A still motion Impressionistic picture. You have time to think about how to weave in clues through symbolism, setting and colors.
or...
I used to just used to describe a short film that gave the pertinent information.
I think both work, it just depends on the style of players you have.
jgsugden
Legend
When someone is scrying on the PCs, I give them a few opportunities:
1.) The saving throw. I will ask the relevant PC players to roll a d20. I will not tell them why, generally. Then I apply it as the correct saving throw.
2.) Success or fail, the PC does not inherently know there was a scrying attempt on them.
3.) There is the matter of the invisible sensor. That can be detected. If it is stationary, I require a perception check of 28 if it is stationary. If it is moving, 23. Success on these checks, which will generally be passive, will identify that something small and invisible is present, but not that it is a scrying sensor.
1.) The saving throw. I will ask the relevant PC players to roll a d20. I will not tell them why, generally. Then I apply it as the correct saving throw.
2.) Success or fail, the PC does not inherently know there was a scrying attempt on them.
3.) There is the matter of the invisible sensor. That can be detected. If it is stationary, I require a perception check of 28 if it is stationary. If it is moving, 23. Success on these checks, which will generally be passive, will identify that something small and invisible is present, but not that it is a scrying sensor.
Sword of Spirit
Legend
I don't even the tell the players unless they have some way of detecting the invisible sensor, and that's how I'd want it done as a player. I want to be immersed, and it's easier to do that when I also don't know about interesting things going on that my character doesn't. There are plenty of times when my knowledge of the game prohibits that, and I can role-play not knowing, but that's not as immersive as actually not knowing. Asking me to make a roll and not telling me what it's for is going to be a distraction as I try to figure out what it might be for whether I want to or not.
The main potential execption would be if I had an ability that should let me apply a bonus to this sort of save (I wouldn't't worry about Inspiration for that). In that case I'd likely want to tell the DM how to handle it when I got the ability. Like if it were an ability I could use each short rest, I'd probably tell him to go ahead and assume I would use it on secret saves. If it were something that drained a spell slot, I might tell him not to use it for secret saves.
The main potential execption would be if I had an ability that should let me apply a bonus to this sort of save (I wouldn't't worry about Inspiration for that). In that case I'd likely want to tell the DM how to handle it when I got the ability. Like if it were an ability I could use each short rest, I'd probably tell him to go ahead and assume I would use it on secret saves. If it were something that drained a spell slot, I might tell him not to use it for secret saves.
Since DMG requires ability to cast a spell to craft item, you'll want to use Xanthar when an artificer is in the party. Using those rules, he must find a recipe involving a CR4 to CR8 task -- you can gloss over it at their level -- and then... it's one amulet every 20h and 100 gp.
But besides Divine Intervention (and that's fun...) there are very few counterattacks or measures that let you identify who's doing the scrying.
emeraldbeacon
Adventurer
"As you complete the scrying ritual, you feel your awareness slipping away, hurtling across vast distances, until your senses snap into focus. You're in a small room, lit by a series of lanterns mounted to the wall. You see your target, standing before you, disrobed save for a towel around his waist. He approaches a mirror, before which lay a small bowl of water, and peers into it closely... then begins picking at his teeth."
LordEntrails
Hero
I roll secretly, but only if their is a reason for them to be suspect or checking for magic.
