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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 447643" data-attributes="member: 6294">Can I ask why?  No, really - I'm interested.  Because my logic looks sound, to me, and I'm not sure why you disagree.Obscure Object specifically states it offers protection from a crystal ball.  The item named is italicised in the PHB, and is therefore a reference to the specific magical item in the DMG.The Crystal Ball description specifically states that it works like Scrying.  Scrying is italicised - again it's a specific reference to the spell/item.  Back to the PHB we go.The spell Scrying specifically allows you only to locate a creature.Therefore, to offer protection from a Crystal Ball (which works like Scrying, which only finds creatures), Obscure Object must be able to affect creatures.Or at least, that's how it seems to me.  Like I said, I could be missing something - but I need someone to tell me what that is, if I am <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />-------------------------------------If the above seems too much like lawyering, then I suggest that the easiest approach to the whole situation is to simply push up the Scry DCs by a hefty margin, and/or add an expensive material component to all versions of the Scry spell.Currently, a Wizard who has just become able to B-S-T (9th) can have 12 ranks in the Scry skill, plus Int, plus Skill Focus (if they really wanted to max out).  That's pretty close to automatic success on any creature on this plane.Even a minimal 4 ranks + Int is good enough to automatically find anyone you have some kind of link to, if the DM allows you to take 10.  It's far too easy.I'd suggest a flat increase of all the DCs, plus adding ways for characters to increase this even more (a la Monte Cook's Static Veil spell).  This limits the B-S-T approach to two situations:- very powerful casters with lots of ranks in Scry (unlike now, where any joker can do it); or- targets whom the caster has thoroughly researched by other means alreadyI particularly like the latter part of this option, since it means that organised, inventive PCs will be able to track down the things they need to do a B-S-T ... but they have to put a decent effort in first, not just memorise the appropriate spells ... and will also be able to give themselves a measure of defence against such attacks by spreading disinformation about themselves.Because the way things currently are, if I were a BBEG, I'd have a unit of B-S-T specialists that went out every night and smacked down the latest set of adventurers that seemed to be making a name for themselves.  And getting wiped out every time you reached 6th-7th level would make for boring campaigns <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Though there's an idea for a campaign there: a world where any kind of heroes get brutally murdered as soon as they make a name for themselves.  A world where there is no hope - unless the next group of heroes can be smart enough to avoid drawing attention.  Enter the PCs ...If they are warned going in of the BBEG's B-S-T approach, and thet know they have to protect themselves against it at all times, it could create an interesting 'feel' for a campaign.</blockquote>

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