Detect Magic vs. Greater Wild Shape: Rules backup needed...

[Dark Dragon]

Hi,

I've read the Doppelganger thread and somewhere was mentioned that Detect Magic would detect active supernatural abilities as Wild Shape and Greater Wild Shape. Last session the DM and I went through the books but we couldn't find a clear ruling.

Did we get different 3.5 books here in Europe or is the rule just hidden in a good place?

Thanks for helping!

The Dark Dragon (about to research a Find the Path-spell for rules).

 

[kreynolds]

Well, wild shape is a supernatural ability that duplicates the polymorph spell (which is not instantaneous), so I would assume that detect magic would reveal an aura of magic, but I could be wrong.

 

[Dark Dragon]

Yep, that was our approach to the problem. But a supernatural ability is sometimes related to a spell (as wildshape to Polymorph), sometimes not (like DR, a dragon's breath, a cleric's aura,...).

Hm, perhaps it is the easiest way to check if a Su-ability duplicates a spell effect. If it does, it can be detected with Detect Magic.
Thanks for the idea, kreynolds.

 

[kreynolds]

Hm, perhaps it is the easiest way to check if a Su-ability duplicates a spell effect. If it does, it can be detected with Detect Magic.

It doesn't necessarily have to duplicate a spell-effect to be detected with detect magic. Supernatural abilities use magic. So, while active, supernatural abilities are detectable with magic. If I have detect magic going, and a dragon breathes within the range of my spell, then I'll see the aura.

Basically, the only reason I mentioned greater wild shape referring to the polymorph spell is because the spell has a duration.

Now, if after using greater wild shape (or just wild shape, for that matter) to shift into a tiger is an instantaneous thing, then it probably wouldn't detect after the fact. But, if using wild shape to shift into a tiger means that the abililty is constantly active, which I believe it does (but again, I could be wrong), then detect magic would reveal an aura.