Can you ID a cursed item? If so, how?

[Ferox4]

I'm about to drop a wicked cursed item into the party's midst and I am unclear on the mechanics of detecting curses. Identify gives you the single most basic function and would be too low of a spell to detect a curse anyway (or so I would think). And reading through the Cursed Items portion of the DMG there are specifics on certain items that tell you that they usually indicate the opposite when identified, thereby misleading the character (which is inherent in cursed items, I suppose).I am trying to get some backup info for when the unlucky PC who puts this thing on starts to whine and moan.

 

[kreynolds]

Indeed you are correct that Identify is not a powerful enough spell to reveal a cursed item. However, Analyze Dweomer is. Although, it is still a difficult spell to pull off. If you don't want your players to detect the curse, the DMG fully supports you. Some curses detect as benefits while other curses don't show up at all, no matter what you do. Don't worry. You are perfectly in the right.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

What the.....

Sean?

--Observant Spikey