Arcane Sight: See in the dark?

[bobjones1669]

I was wondering about Arcane Sight in 3.5. The spell description says you can see magic for 120'. It also says that if you have it in "line of sight" you can tell type of magic.

What about if it is only in line of effect? That is, down a hallway 110' but in the dark?

The reason i ask is if it doesn't let you see line of effect, i can think why it says specifically that line of sight gets extra information. Any help?

Thanks!

 

[Hypersmurf]

What about if it is only in line of effect? That is, down a hallway 110' but in the dark?

Then you don't get the extra information.

You 'sense' location and power, but the school information comes from some visual cue in the visible aura.

Remember, you don't even need line of effect for the location and power information - like detect magic, you can get that through certain thicknesses of solid objects.

-Hyp.

 

[allenw]

Then you don't get the extra information.

Remember, you don't even need line of effect for the location and power information - like detect magic, you can get that through certain thicknesses of solid objects.

-Hyp.

I think you're incorrect, and it's an important point. The relevant SRD spell text says:

. The effect is similar to that of a detect magic spell, but arcane sight does not require concentration and discerns aura location and power more quickly. You know the location and power of all magical auras within your sight. An aura’s power depends on a spell’s functioning level or an item’s caster level, as noted in the description of the detect magic spell. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Spellcraft skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura; DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + one-half caster level for a nonspell effect.)

Note that you only "know the location and power" of auras "within your sight." To me, this means that you need line-of-sight, and thus darkness will prevent such knowledge. Perhaps more importantly, it also means you can't use Arcane Sight to locate the square an Invisible opponent is in, even though you could with Detect Magic (if they stayed in your detection arc for three rounds).

 

[Vahktang]

I think you can find the location of an invisible person, but that person still has 100% concealment.
You know the square, but cannot pinpoint.
50% miss chance.
No magic missles.

More later,

Vahktang

 

[Hypersmurf]

Note that you only "know the location and power" of auras "within your sight."

You're right, which makes the second instance of "if the auras are in line of sight" rather superfluous.

It also means Detect Magic is much better at searching a room, since Arcane Sight won't pick up the Pearl of Power in the wizard's pocket or the Incense of Meditation in the secret compartment of the altar.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think you can find the location of an invisible person, but that person still has 100% concealment.
You know the square, but cannot pinpoint.

I ahve to agree with that too, because even though the creature is invisible, you still have line of sight to the aura of the glamer.

-Hyp.

 

[Dakkareth]

so you couldn't use a magic missile but a targeted dispel?

 

[Hypersmurf]

so you couldn't use a magic missile but a targeted dispel?

Hmm.

You couldn't target the creature with a targeted dispel.

But you could potentially target the individual spell.

-Hyp.