D&D 5E (2024) Arcane Eye?

[Paul Farquhar]

trying to create a dungeon such that scouting magic does not work

If someone lives in a world with magic they are going to take steps to defend themselves from it.

 

[Distracted DM]

I'm not going to lose sleep over oddball internet interpretations.

No need to be rude just because you disagree.

 

[Lazybones]

I had a Knowledge cleric (5.0 version) in one of my games who used this spell fairly effectively. I didn't have a problem with it. We were using a VTT so I just revealed the areas he could see on the map.

In play, I used some of the rulings others have posted in this thread: doors effectively block it (1 inch is a fairly big gap for a door), and it applies the user's Perception (-5 in areas without light, due to Darkvision). At that level it's going to miss most traps, even though clerics often have decent Perception; an arcanist using this spell is probably going to have an even lower number. And I agree that you can't Investigate through it, so even if you do notice something off you probably won't be able to determine exactly how a trap/secret door works. And finally, if someone does detect it via Blindsight or other means, intelligent occupants of the dungeon would be put on alert, basically ruining any chance for the adventurers to take them by surprise.

I agree that a floating eye probably wouldn't be detectable by normal means (sound, scent), so it does have that advantage over an imp familiar trying to scout. I would require a Stealth check from the latter but not the former.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yeah using a shot of channel divinity is a little rough. If there are a ton of undead then maybe it'd feel more impactful but at it is I understand where you're coming from. But just remember that a closed door or two is all it takes!

Yeah not a spell slot and they refresh on short rest.

We are using a 5.5 mod for BG3. Knowledge cleric is playtest version. So OP and we are using X3 HP honor mode.

 

[Zardnaar]

I had a Knowledge cleric (5.0 version) in one of my games who used this spell fairly effectively. I didn't have a problem with it. We were using a VTT so I just revealed the areas he could see on the map.

In play, I used some of the rulings others have posted in this thread: doors effectively block it (1 inch is a fairly big gap for a door), and it applies the user's Perception (-5 in areas without light, due to Darkvision). At that level it's going to miss most traps, even though clerics often have decent Perception; an arcanist using this spell is probably going to have an even lower number. And I agree that you can't Investigate through it, so even if you do notice something off you probably won't be able to determine exactly how a trap/secret door works. And finally, if someone does detect it via Blindsight or other means, intelligent occupants of the dungeon would be put on alert, basically ruining any chance for the adventurers to take them by surprise.

I agree that a floating eye probably wouldn't be detectable by normal means (sound, scent), so it does have that advantage over an imp familiar trying to scout. I would require a Stealth check from the latter but not the former.

Well theres no invisible imp for starters.

 

[aco175]

I'm guessing that the PCs would know the difference between scouting a cave of basic goblins vs. the hidden tomb complex of the arch-lich, emperor, billionaire Smeckna in relation to being spotted and/or foiled using the spell. Even if the players themselves do not pick up on the levels of bad guy countermeasures.

 

[Tigris]

Well theres no invisible imp for starters.

Yes there is: Imp | D&D 2024 | Roll20 Compendium

 

[AlViking]

Yes there is: Imp | D&D 2024 | Roll20 Compendium

Hasn't ever come up for me, but the only ones that can summon an imp as a familiar that I know of is a Pact of the Chain warlock. Another one that hasn't ever come up, I'd be tempted to ban that particular option if it became an issue since there are plenty of other options. Of course, as I said above I'd discuss it with the player and see if there's another solution that won't bog down gameplay.

 

[Dessert Nomad]

I don't get this talk about bogging down gameplay. If you're having players meticulously map every room from a verbal description, then scouting ahead just moves the meticulous mapping to early on in the session instead of later, and has it all happen at once so it's probably faster. If you're not, then you can either just show the players the map, describe quickly what they find about the layout, or sketch a quick drawing of what they see ahead. Nothing in the spell obligates anyone to do more mapping than they normally do when exploring. In my experience, scouting ahead like that actually makes the adventure because the PCs can see the rooms and plot out what order to look into them in instead of re-repeating the layout each time they get to a new door or intersection and inevitably getting something wrong about it.

Arcane eye bogging down gameplay really sounds to me like another one of those problems that people create for themselves.

 

[AlViking]

If someone lives in a world with magic they are going to take steps to defend themselves from it.

Creatures that have blindsight or truesight can see them. Maybe a pet dragon or two flying around, at higher levels Shield Guardians might be standard guards for entrances to important places and so on.