Detect Magic and Magical Traps

[Farland]

Hey, can detect magic find magical traps, or does it take a rogue searching?

What confuses me is this:

A successful Search check (DC 25 + spell level) made by a rogue (and only a rogue) detects a magic trap before it goes off. Other characters have no chance to find a magic trap with a Search check.

But it does say "with a search check," so maybe it is possible. Opinions?

 

[kreynolds]

Depending on the design of the trap and the limitations of detect magic, I would certainly think it's possible. Of course, this would also depend on whether or not the trap, as detailed, has an aura at all.

 

[robberbaron]

Certainly would show the position and school/power of the trap but not that is is actually a trap. The caster would know there is magic but not its purpose.

 

[The Blow Leprechaun]

Depending on the design of the trap and the limitations of detect magic, I would certainly think it's possible. Of course, this would also depend on whether or not the trap, as detailed, has an aura at all.

Especially since Detect Magic is an emanation, and as Hypersmurf pointed out to me in another thread, emanations do not penetrate total cover.

To me, this means that if the trap is somehow inside an object and enjoys total cover, detect magic will not reveal it. For example, if there's a plain mechanic arrow trap that fires magic arrows, detect magic might not tell you anything (as the magic arrows would be inside the walls).

This could piss off your players, though, so I'd do it to them first with a trap that doesn't totally kill them to make them aware of it.

 

[Nail]

Hey, can detect magic find magical traps, or does it take a rogue searching?

A rogue can use a Search check to find a trap, magical or not.

Detect Magic can determine if something is magical (barring Nondetection, or the like). It does not determine if that same something is a trap.

Generally speaking, the range at which Detect Magic can determine if something is magical is the same range at which a magical trap can trigger e.g. Symbol of Death. So really, you've set the trap off by the time you detect its magic. :\

 

[lukelightning]

Especially since Detect Magic is an emanation, and as Hypersmurf pointed out to me in another thread, emanations do not penetrate total cover.

The detect spells can penetrate a certain thickness of material; from the SRD:

The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.

 

[mvincent]

From the 3.5 FAQ (if desired):
"Detect magic locates magical traps, but it can’t identify
anything more than the location and strength of the aura
revealed (and, with a successful Spellcraft check, the school of
magic involved). Thus, technically the spell doesn’t actually
reveal the fact that the magical trap is, in fact, a trap."

 

[Felon]

From the 3.5 FAQ (if desired):
"Detect magic locates magical traps, but it can’t identify
anything more than the location and strength of the aura
revealed (and, with a successful Spellcraft check, the school of
magic involved). Thus, technically the spell doesn’t actually
reveal the fact that the magical trap is, in fact, a trap."

LOL, right, that glowing spot on the wall, door, or chest lid could be a glyph of healing and happy bunny summoning...

So, the answer here really is, the detect magic doesn't identify a magical trap as a trap. It just spots it and then common sense takes over.

 

[Farland]

Perfect answers. Thank you very much.