D&D 5E Detect magic and Gargolye

[DaveDash]

At our table we rule that Detect Magic doesn't detect creatures (unless they're wearing something magical). Now as a ritual it's already quite a powerful spell (say goodbye to your magical traps), and there are other spells in the game that allow for the detection of creatures (Detect Evil and Good).

 

[PnPgamer]

This is a sticky wicket. As written, gargoyles are elementals...elementals, by definition [and ironically], are not creatures of the natural physical world. They are/come from a different realm of reality...and so, could be conceived of as "Magical"...like ye olde category of monster called "Magical Beast."

But this is not RAW.

Certain abilities, such as Detect Good/Evil (spell) would/should by defintion *ping* an elemental...visible, invisible, behind a door or hiding within range.

Detect Magic, by definition, reveals "creatures or objects which bear magic"...So the question becomes, in their [super-/preter-]natural state, do gargoyles "bear magic"?

If the gargoyles were not under the effects of some spell (such as hidden by an illusion), spell-like ability -which their False Appearance ability might or might not be defined as, according to the DM, and/or in possession of some magic item...in which case the ITEM would *ping* for detect magic...or are, themselves, in the process of working some magic, then I am left with little option but to say, No. They would not show up on a Detect Magic sweep.

I, personally, give my gargoyles the ability to appear as/shapeshift into any humanoid statue...so the players, upon hearing there is a statue with wings and horns and a bestial visage do not automatically attack it..."cuz, duuuh, gargoyle!" But this is a "natural" ability of the gargoyle, in my games, and so they have, literally, a False Appearance. Works quite well and so, given what's written in the 5e MM, I see no reason to alter it.

My verdict is your ruling is not inappropriate.

But it is also not...summarily...correct in all cases/at all tables, either. I can see/understand your Warlock's objection.

Bottom line, though, you're the DM. Gargoyles are an elemental monster, as written. Detect Magic, as written, does not reveal elementals. What you say goes.

IF elementals are considered beings "of [that bear] magic" that is something for you to define in world...and you have elected not to. So, the appropriate thing here is for the Warlock PC to say, in character, "Huh. I always thought elementals were magical creatures. Seems not. Note to self for future reference: Do some studying up on/ask my Patron about elemental creatures."

Magical bears infused with magic would bear magic in their bear arms and able to magically summon more bears with nonmagical bear arms, while also noting that those bear arms are very lethal by bearing huge claws and surviving a mauling performed by either sort of bear and their beared bear arms with bare bear claws is possible, it can be done just barely.

Sorry i lost myself there. I need to get my bearings straight.

 

[Rocksome]

If they gargoyles, were summoned or conjured, illusory, magically disguised, animated, poymorphed or under the effects of another type of of ongoing spell, I would say yes, they are detected.

But a generic gargoyle, just hangin' out and looking like a statue. No I wouldn't call that magic. I'd call that being made of stone and standing still.

If my players were suspicious of the statues, I probably wouldn't rule it as surprise, as they were alert and cautious, but if your player's are anything like mine they are suspicious of all statues. These days, (and my players are cool with this), if the character has never encountered such things before, we think it's fair to be surprised even if the player isn't. Our group is pretty good at "acting like you don't know" though.

 

[iserith]

A grp of players walk into a room and there are 4 statues. The warlock cast detect magic sees nothing. As they walk by two statues come to life and attack them ( 2 Gargoyles). Warlock out of game gets mad and says his detect magic should have seen them. I told him they are not magic they are elemental creatures detect magic wont see them. Was I in the wrong?

By the rules, no, I do not believe you were wrong. But that's cold comfort to players whose game experience is negatively impacted by the DM's ruling.

My take on this, lacking any additional context, is that the player's objection has less to do with how detect magic works and more with the perception of this situation being a "gotcha." A gargoyle can be a "gotcha" type creature if the DM hasn't sufficiently telegraphed their presence in the build-up to the scene in which they are encountered. The players get the feeling of having been blindsided as a result, having not been offered an opportunity to make meaningful decisions to avoid their fate.

Telegraphing is just a fancy term for the DM establishing clues either before the scene in question or during it. So if you had said previously in the adventure that "the wizard's tower is known to be guarded by demons of rock and stone..." then when the players encounter the statues, they might think the statues are more than they seem. Alternatively (or in addition to this), you could describe how there are four statues in the chamber, but one of the statues appears to have been removed from its pedestal and stands in the center of the room in a different posture than the others. Or the statues have dark brown stains on their mouths and claws. Something that indicates to the players that it might be worth exploring. Even if they don't figure it out and are jumped by the gargoyles, then at least they can reflect back on the fact that they did get a clue, but failed to put two and two together. This reduces the chances that the players perceive the DM as hitting them with "gotchas."

Something else to consider: What if you had said that detect magic revealed an aura around the gargoyles? Would this have materially changed the outcome of the encounter? Would not the gargoyles still have attacked, only without a surprise round perhaps? You might have gotten more or less the same result but without a player objection. Is it also possible that this warlock has Eldritch Sight and spams detect magic like crazy and you're getting a little tired of it?

 

[Staffan]

Magical bears infused with magic would bear magic in their bear arms and able to magically summon more bears with nonmagical bear arms, while also noting that those bear arms are very lethal by bearing huge claws and surviving a mauling performed by either sort of bear and their beared bear arms with bare bear claws is possible, it can be done just barely.

Sorry i lost myself there. I need to get my bearings straight.

I had half a mind to report this post for being unbearable, but I barely managed to stop myself.

 

[steeldragons]

-snip stuff-

Just want to go on record that I disagree with pretty much everything said in this post.

 

[Sunseeker]

At our table we rule that Detect Magic doesn't detect creatures (unless they're wearing something magical). Now as a ritual it's already quite a powerful spell (say goodbye to your magical traps), and there are other spells in the game that allow for the detection of creatures (Detect Evil and Good).

To be precise, Detect Alignment, at least the paladin version of it, will only detect celestial, fiends and undead. It will also tell you if an object is tainted with evil or blessed with goodness. Sure, you can know the statue has a heavy evil aura about it, but you won't know if someone tainted a normal statue evil, or if it is an evil creature appearing to be a statue.

 

[steeldragons]

To be precise, Detect Alignment, at least the paladin version of it, will only detect celestial, fiends and undead. It will also tell you if an object is tainted with evil or blessed with goodness. Sure, you can know the statue has a heavy evil aura about it, but you won't know if someone tainted a normal statue evil, or if it is an evil creature appearing to be a statue.

You're referring to the paladin's "Divine Sense" class ability? Yes, that, precisely, will not reveal an elemental but could give a hint by the "sensing" of evil...provided there's not some greater, overarching evil within range drowning out other evils...

 

[DaveDash]

To be precise, Detect Alignment, at least the paladin version of it, will only detect celestial, fiends and undead. It will also tell you if an object is tainted with evil or blessed with goodness. Sure, you can know the statue has a heavy evil aura about it, but you won't know if someone tainted a normal statue evil, or if it is an evil creature appearing to be a statue.

There's also a spell, detect evil and good, which picks up a bunch of creature types. Can't remember which ones, but it's the standard group that those kind of spells detect.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

I would say that you're correct that a Gargoyle isn't going to radiate magical auras.

However, I'd also argue that any character capable of casting detect magic would already know that. Depending on exactly what the player asked and the PCs were talking about, the DM might have been able to foresee what the player was trying to accomplish and let the player know that his or her character knows the world doesn't work the way the player seems to think it does.

Yep. So many people argue that the character shouldn't know what the player does, but few ever consider the opposite. Which they should, IMNSHO.