Find the Path Spell Question

[elbandit]

Howdy!

Would the spell "Find the Path" show you the way to a specfic named bad guy's lair?

I ask because my party is being hunted by an evil sorcerer and it would be great to be able to take the attack to him instead of playing target all the time. Any suggestions?

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, I think it'd work. Assuming his lair is on the same plane. And you can get there before the 10 min/level expires.

 

[Jdvn1]

It's... kind of a broken spell.

 

[Ferox4]

It's... kind of a broken spell.

At least for a 6th level spell it is.

 

[Vlos]

Find the Path - wording the question.

Need to ask as I always have problems with this spell. It states in the spell description that it finds the path with respect to locations and not objects or creatures at the local.

So the question asked was:

Would the spell "Find the Path" show you the way to a specfic named bad guy's lair?

Is that not asking to find a location based on whats at it? Is not the location defined by the BEG living there? In the PHB, it states that it cannot find the way to "a forest where a green dragon lives", is that not the same as a BEG's lair? The room (or local) is defined by the BEG where he lives?

Now I could see it worded as "find the deepest room in the dungeon", but that may not be the BEG lair.

I ask this because I always have problems determining what this can or can't do.

Spell SRD:

The recipient of this spell can find the shortest, most direct physical route to a specified destination, be it the way into or out of a locale. The locale can be outdoors, underground, or even inside a maze spell. Find the path works with respect to locations, not objects or creatures at a locale. The location must be on the same plane as you are at the time of casting.
The spell enables the subject to sense the correct direction that will eventually lead it to its destination, indicating at appropriate times the exact path to follow or physical actions to take. For example, the spell enables the subject to sense trip wires or the proper word to bypass a glyph of warding. The spell ends when the destination is reached or the duration expires, whichever comes first. Find the path can be used to remove the subject and its companions from the effect of a maze spell in a single round.

 

[Len]

I don't think the limitation "not objects or creatures at a locale" means you can't find where someone lives, it means you can't find where someone is now. "The King's palace" specifies a unique location. "Wherever the King is now" does not.

 

[Voadam]

Is that not asking to find a location based on whats at it? Is not the location defined by the BEG living there? In the PHB, it states that it cannot find the way to "a forest where a green dragon lives", is that not the same as a BEG's lair? The room (or local) is defined by the BEG where he lives?

A forest where a green dragon lives is not a specific place as there are many forests that hold dragons.

The forest where the dragon Verminar lives is a specific place, assuming he doesn't have multiple forests he calls home ( a summer forest home and a winter forest home as he migrates).

 

[Sandain]

I do not think the spell is at all limited by its duration. For example my PC's were in the Astral plane and cast Find the Path to locate the Fortress of Ruun'Khazi. The path said basically south-down 15 degrees. When the spell expired the PC's just kept going that same direction for another 4 days.

My problem with the spell is that my PC's always use it and bypass most encounters, so they end up fighting the BBEG with sub par equipment and levels.

 

[Shellman]

I do not think the spell is at all limited by its duration. For example my PC's were in the Astral plane and cast Find the Path to locate the Fortress of Ruun'Khazi. The path said basically south-down 15 degrees. When the spell expired the PC's just kept going that same direction for another 4 days.

My problem with the spell is that my PC's always use it and bypass most encounters, so they end up fighting the BBEG with sub par equipment and levels.

Can I make a suggestion?

Since the spell basically identifies the shortest most direct route to a location, your encounter don't have to be off the beaten path. Place them on the direct route to the Big Bad Guy.

On the other hand, if your PC's are always facing the BBEG with with sub par equipment and levels, they should eventually come to realize that bypassing every encounter is hindering there progress. Sometimes the shortcut doesn't always yield the best results. If the PC's don't figure it out, place a couple in game hints or suggestions.

Casting "Ruin the Adventure" makes for boring gaming in my opinion. Plus it makes all that work the DM has done pointless in the end. Our DM requires the caster to have some sort of specific knowledge about the location for the spell to do anything for the party.