How to challenge PC with arcane eye & arcane sight

[rom90125]

Our high-level wizard has made arcane sight permanent by casting a permanency spell on herself. In addition, she also casts arcane eye to scout out the areas/rooms so the party can be better prepared for upcoming encounters.

Because the PCs use these tactics constantly, the more intelligent foes will be aware of these tactics and act accordingly. But what is a good counter tactic against Arcane Eye/Arcane Sight?

My first thought is to prepare a non-magical trap to snare the PCs, or even prepare an ambush. Unless the attackers are not wearing magic items, however, the arcane sight would spot the magical auras from the hidden attacker's magic items...

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[hong]

A barbarian with Str 36 and Power Attack. He don't care if you see him!

 

[Sound of Azure]

Permanancy is highly susceptible to dispelling, especially as the character gets higher in level and their enemies also get higher in level.

 

[MarkB]

Our high-level wizard has made arcane sight permanent by casting a permanency spell on herself. In addition, she also casts arcane eye to scout out the areas/rooms so the party can be better prepared for upcoming encounters.

Because the PCs use these tactics constantly, the more intelligent foes will be aware of these tactics and act accordingly. But what is a good counter tactic against Arcane Eye/Arcane Sight?

My first thought is to prepare a non-magical trap to snare the PCs, or even prepare an ambush. Unless the attackers are not wearing magic items, however, the arcane sight would spot the magical auras from the hidden attacker's magic items...

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Proactive opponents. Sending an Arcane Eye out to look for the next encounter is useless if the next encounter comes to you instead.

 

[shilsen]

Don't forget that Arcane Eye can also warn enemies that you're coming. Since it's a spell of the Scrying subschool, the sensor can be noticed with a DC 20 Int check by anyone with Int 12 or higher.

 

[Dark Dragon]

Let the foes hide in small tunnels, simple huts or houses, camouflaged holes in the ground or in muddy pools.
Use non-magical disguises as peasants, travellers, farmers,...
The foes should gather informations about the party: Their spells, strengths, allies, equipment, likely travel routes, bases and the like.
Dispel or disjunct the Permanency! Concentrate the attacks on the spell casters!

Sounds harsh, but evil foes normally don't fight with honor.

EDIT: Nystul's Magical Aura can hide an item's aura, and it is a 1st level spell!

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Mass Nystal's Magic Aura... make the entire area appear to have a magical aura, masking any hidden combatants

or:

"Scry-Jack"
This spell redirected scry attempts to view/hear/feel an illusion created in advance. Scrying on the illusion is *not* interacting with it
[possible HR, altho I know I have seen this spell under another name in print somewhere]

or:

---

 

[DreadArchon]

Are you sure this effect applies to Arcane Eye?
Arcane Eye "It sees exactly as you would see if you were there."
I read this as the Eye has the same normal vision types that you have, not that enhanced visual effects apply to it. But I tend to be a bit stricter on this.

Why? His vision is augmented. This isn't "60-foot cone" like Detect Magic is, it actually modifies your vision. By this logic, what's your "normal, not enhanced" vision? Does a Dwarf get to use Darkvision? Does a Human Horizon Walker get to use Darkvision? Does a mage who just cast Darkvision get to use Darkvision? If not, how the heck do you justify that last part, do your scrying sensors generate antimagic fields to which they are immune or something? And if 60-foot Darkvision does work, why doesn't 120-foot Magevision?

It's not so much strict as it is confusing.

To the OP: You're aware that the Arcane Eye can't pass through a door or even a curtain, right? It's solid, it needs holes at least 1 inch in diameter to travel.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Dread Archon...

Cause 'Magevision' isn't a form of sight....Darkvision is a form of sight and does not require LOS.

I guess the question here is 'does Arcane Eye provide LOS for the purpose of other spells?"
{Arcane Sight " If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight..."}

If Arcane Eye does not provide LOS for other spell effects... then the Arcane Sight {which requires LOS to the aura in question} will not work through it.

 

[DreadArchon]

Cause 'Magevision' isn't a form of sight....Darkvision is a form of sight and does not require LOS. If Arcane Eye does not provide LOS for other spell effects... then the Arcane Sight {which requires LOS to the aura in question} will not work through it.

But "Magevision" is a form of sight. Unlike Detect Magic, which is projecting a 60-foot cone to "ping" things, Arcane Sight only targets you. It's modifying your vision to be able to see octarine (not literally, but analogously), and your Arcane Eye sees "exactly as you would see if you were there."

I think you may have confused Line of Sight with Line of Effect. Arcane Eye doesn't provide Line of Effect--you can't Detect Magic through it, as Detect Magic is still going from your head to the 60 feet in front of it--but it does provide Line of Sight, or (by definition) you wouldn't be seeing with it.