Detect magic, Stupid question(?)

[owlish]

If you use detect magic (the spell) can you, then roll a spellcraft chack or
a knowledge arcana check and understand exactly what spell is?
For example, for a spell that is on a chest, door, object etc. ???
This subject came up last night, when the wizard was looking a magical trap,
and insisted that he could do so...

 

[Darkness]

Yes. Spellcraft check, DC 20 + spell level. (PHB, p.82)

 

[owlish]

Yes but this is if the spell is in effect, the problem is if you can do that
when the spell isn't in effect. If it is In effect then lets say .. the trap for
example must have been activated...!
What i whant to say is if you can identify the spell before you see the effects...

 

[UltimaGabe]

If the spell hasn't gone off, and there are no visible effects of the spell in question, then there's no way to determine what spell it is. You can determine the school of magic with Detect Magic, and relatively how powerful it is, but as far as I know, you can't determine the exact spell.

 

[azmodean]

I said yes, but then checked the Spellcraft entry and changed my answer to no.

They won't be able to make a spellcraft check to determine the exact spell until the trap goes off.