Find The Path guidelines

[Scion]

I really dont see any difference here.

There is 'no difference' between a place that has a certain name because of who owns it 'bobs tavern' and its permanent address '#1 bobs lane'.

It is not defining it by something inside of it, the spell doesnt care about whether or not sherlock holmes is there (which is also why the platinum wouldnt work). However, the specific place in the title is more than exact enough to get a placement of.

It is defined by effective ownership, not whoever is currently walking around the place. One of the two is much more permanent.

As in, anything that has a long time of existance I would consider to be a proper way to name something. However, objects dont count, so you couldnt use the platinum pieces, or something like 'the closest door with a horseshoe above it'.

Still, whether you call for '17 baker street' or 'sherlock holmes house' they are both calling for the exact same location. Personally, I would feel that the address is actually much 'less' likely to work, as it is based on something written on the side of the house, but since it has been defined that way for a period of time it would now work.

 

[Philip]

"The home of Sherlock Holmes" specifies something inside the location. If not for the contents (Sherlock), that designation wouldn't apply. So if this were the only way you knew to describe the destination, the spell wouldn't work. (To look at it another way: the spell lacks the power to do divination about people or objects, so it has no idea who or what a "sherlock holmes" is. Since it doesn't have that information, it can't base a decision on it.)

I think this is a weird way of looking at it. 'Lacking power to do divination about people'?

About the case of Abraxus' Lair, suppose there really is a Red Dragon named Abraxus who has established his lair in a cave at the edge of a forest, with a city nearby.

Does Abraxus' Lair count as a location if:

- There is a sign on the road pointing west and reading 'Warning: Abraxus Lair'?
- If it marked as "Abraxus' Lair" on an old treasure map?
- If the said treasure map indicates the location falsely?
- If it is well known fact among the people of the city that Abraxus has his lair there?
- If the tribe of pixies living nearby refer to it as Abraxus' Lair?
- If a pair of adventurers who have visited his lair and are currently talking about it on the first layer of the Abyss, and are calling it Abraxus' Lair?
- If the same pair of adventurers mistakenly call it Abrixus' Lair?
- If only Abraxus knows the location of his lair, and he brags about the huge treasure there to another dragon?
- Abraxus has posted a large sign "Abraxus' Lair" at the cave entrance to his lair, but nobody that can read has seen it?
- Abraxus has posted the same sign, only know on a false location?
- If Abraxus has been dead for 10 years, and the last mention of his lair has been years ago?

In short, when does a physical spot become 'a location' for Find the Path in your definition? What is needed to do that?

 

[Galfridus]

This discussion about what constitutes a named place mirrors the discussion I had with some local gamers about the problem. What I decided for the time being is to say that the act of naming a place (i.e, giving it a name that is a proper noun -- "Bob's House" vs. "Bob's house") contains the power that allows Find The Path to be used.

Secondly, in order for that power to be used by the caster, the name must be learned from a source that accurately knew of it's location. Thus, under this guideline:

- There is a sign on the road pointing west and reading 'Warning: Abraxus Lair'?
- If it marked as "Abraxus' Lair" on an old treasure map?

Yes, if the sign/map is accurate (made by someone who knew where the lair was).

- If the said treasure map indicates the location falsely?

No.

- If it is well known fact among the people of the city that Abraxus has his lair there?

If the people of the city refer to it as "Abraxus's Lair" as a proper name, and if the caster has talked to them, then yes. If the caster is a continent away and picking the name on a guess, then no.

- If the tribe of pixies living nearby refer to it as Abraxus' Lair?

Same answer.

- If a pair of adventurers who have visited his lair and are currently talking about it on the first layer of the Abyss, and are calling it Abraxus' Lair?
- If the same pair of adventurers mistakenly call it Abrixus' Lair?

If the caster has learned the name through those adventurers, whatever name they used works.

- If only Abraxus knows the location of his lair, and he brags about the huge treasure there to another dragon?

If he doesn't call it by a proper name, then no. If he does, then only if the name is learned through someone who heard it so named.

- Abraxus has posted a large sign "Abraxus' Lair" at the cave entrance to his lair, but nobody that can read has seen it?
- Abraxus has posted the same sign, only know on a false location?

No in both cases -- if no one has seen it, the name remains unknown.

- If Abraxus has been dead for 10 years, and the last mention of his lair has been years ago?

If the name was granted by people who knew where the lair was, and the name has been passed down, yes.

P.S. I also allow "entrance/exit" to place I am current in or just outside as an alternate target for the spell.

 

[Voadam]

You must specify a locale by some property of the locale, not by what it contains. Also, if there are multiple locales that fit the description, you need to specify which, even if you only want the nearest one.

You can't find "water" in the desert, because water isn't a place. Finding "the nearest oasis" works fine, because an oasis is a location.

"The current location of [Artifact]" is clearly not allowed, because it depends on what is in the location. However, if legend says that the artifact is hidden in the crater of the world's biggest volcano (or whatever), you can find the path to "the world's biggest volcano" and hope the legend is correct.

Things like "the lair of the dragon Abraxas" are less clear-cut, but I usually don't allow them. You're not really looking for a particular cave in the forest; what you're really asking for is the location of the dragon, and that's not allowed. However, if someone who had seen the lair could plot it on a map for you-- or even accurately describe where it is-- you'd be all set.

But Abraxis' lair refers to one cave. Whether Abraxus is there or not seems irrelevant, if he is not there the spell would still seem to lead you to this one cave.

 

[Liquidsabre]

But Abraxis' lair refers to one cave. Whether Abraxus is there or not seems irrelevant, if he is not there the spell would still seem to lead you to this one cave.

That's right. The spell works if the name of the location is not dependent on it's contents (i.e. it won't matter whether Abraxis lives at this cave or is long since dead, the name is still known as Abraxis' Lair). AuraSeer nailed this one, best way I've seen an explanation for this spell put yet.

 

[Scion]

AuraSeer nailed this one, best way I've seen an explanation for this spell put yet.

AuraSeer said it would fail to work no matter what in that case, so if he 'nailed it' then what you just said goes against it.

Naming someones house and useing it as a destination is exactly the same as giving the address, one would be easier to find on a map, but for a divination it might just be easier for it to find by the person who owns it (or claims residence, whatever).

 

[AuraSeer]

The issue is whether you are able to define the place by something other than its contents (whether current contents, usual contents, or whatever).

If you have an address, a map, or a set of verbal directions, that specifies a place on the planet. Regardless of who lives there or what objects are in it, the directions or address will take you to the same place.

But if the only think you know about the place is that it usually contains Bob and his furniture, you're out of luck, because find the path ignores contents. It's clearly not easier for this diviniation to find in that manner, because the spell description specifically says it doesn't work