Detect magic vs. spell based invisibility.

[Heroditis]

Ok, I have a question that I am sure has come up here before (but I'm not sure how to find a thread on it without just going through them one by one). One of our players has had detect magic permenantly cast on him. How would you adjudicate a creature with invisibility cast on them entering the player's field of vision. Does the invisible creature radiate an aura of magic outlining them ala Dust of Appearance? Or is there a general aura that the player then has to spend a round concetrating on to pin point? Something in the middle? Any and all opinions and experience are appreciated (including links to old threads on this if appropriate).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Detect magic is quite explicit on how it works.

In the first round, all you can do is tell the presence or absence of magic within the detect magic cone. Looking at somone invisible at this stage, all you'd know is that there's something magic in front of you.

GM:"Yes, there is magic in front of you"

In the second round, all you can do is tell how many auras there are, and the strength of the strongest one. If there's a single invisible guy standing in front of you, the GM would say

GM: "There is a single faint aura"

In the third round, you get the locations and strengths of all of the auras, as well as spellcraft checks to establish the school of each aura.

GM: "The faint aura is in this 5 foot square, and give me a spellcraft roll"

Player:"20"

GM: "It's illusion magic."

At this stage, (on the third round of concentrating) all you've found out is which square the invisible foe is in. He still gets a 50% concealment against you, and he's still invisible.

 

[Seravin]

Detect magic is quite explicit on how it works.

In the first round, all you can do is tell the presence or absence of magic within the detect magic cone. Looking at somone invisible at this stage, all you'd know is that there's something magic in front of you.

GM:"Yes, there is magic in front of you"

In the second round, all you can do is tell how many auras there are, and the strength of the strongest one. If there's a single invisible guy standing in front of you, the GM would say

GM: "There is a single faint aura"

In the third round, you get the locations and strengths of all of the auras, as well as spellcraft checks to establish the school of each aura.

GM: "The faint aura is in this 5 foot square, and give me a spellcraft roll"

Player:"20"

GM: "It's illusion magic."

At this stage, (on the third round of concentrating) all you've found out is which square the invisible foe is in. He still gets a 50% concealment against you, and he's still invisible.

And that all presupposes that the invisible creature doesn't move in that period of time. Otherwise after one or two rounds of concentrating on an area the DM may go "Oops. The magic is now gone and there's nothing in range now."
The player can then scan a new area, but he has to go through all three rounds again to figure out where the aura of magic might be.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Also, even though it's permenant, the user must specifically concentrate to get anything (and thus not be able to take any other actions).

 

[iceifur]

Of course, if you're a 10th-level Spirit Shaman (CD), you can get your spirit guide to do the concentrating for you, allowing you to do that voodoo that you do so well.

-B-