D&D 4E Magical Senses in 4E

[Traycor]

In novels (even in D&D novels) mages, clerics, and other spellcasters can often sense the power emanating from magical creatures they encounter. This is usually described as a reflex action that the characters were not concentrating on. I find it silly that the rules don't reflect this.

When a wizard comes within range of a monster or NPC with spellcasting/spell abilities the PC should be able to make a reflexive (unconscious) spellcraft check to sense the magical power in that being. This should also convey to some degree the power of the source. If Elminster walked up to a lvl 1 wizard, the PC would feel immense arcane power rolling out from the old man like a wave.

Clerics should be the same way when they come in range of demons, undead, or priests of religions that are opposed to their own. They should get a reflexive check to "sense" the presence of this foul force. A cleric should know instinctively that undead are on the other side of the wall (or at the very least, that a dark evil is contained within).

To a lesser extent, even Martial characters should have this power. A fighter should be able to look at the lvl 3 barbarian on the other side of the room and realize by the way the barbarian carries himself and stands that he can handle himself in a fight. In real life, an experienced combatant can do this, so why can’t our heroic characters do the same?

 

[Victim]

Arcane Sight (which can be made permanent) can do this currently to an extent. It's handy, but can make DMing a hassle since exotic senses vastly increase the flow of information to the PCs since they'll use them all the time.

 

[Traycor]

Yes, many of these things could be accomplished with Arcane sight, detect magic, detect evil, detect undead, etc...

But these are abilities that must be memorized and are used up. In the case of permenancy, it requires high lvl magic. A lvl 1 cleric should be able to sense the presence of undead, and permenancy magic is FAR beyond the reach of a lvl 1 char.

This goes for other classes too. I think a druid should be able to sense undead. (Or perhaps make their animal companions able to sense them, and convey this information to the Druid through an empathic link.)

 

[Scribble]

Yes, many of these things could be accomplished with Arcane sight, detect magic, detect evil, detect undead, etc...

But these are abilities that must be memorized and are used up. In the case of permenancy, it requires high lvl magic. A lvl 1 cleric should be able to sense the presence of undead, and permenancy magic is FAR beyond the reach of a lvl 1 char.

This goes for other classes too. I think a druid should be able to sense undead. (Or perhaps make their animal companions able to sense them, and convey this information to the Druid through an empathic link.)

I did this pretty routinely with my games.. Just used appropriately matched skills, or stat checks to get the effect...

"Does he seem like a powerful wizard?"

"Make a spellcraft roll.."

Maybe not a specific "spidey sense" sort of thing... But similar...

How do they handle it in Star wars? (at least in the movie force people could sense force people...)

 

[The Souljourner]

I love the idea of spellcasters being able to sense other spell casters a la the Force. I put that into my own custom campaign setting... same goes for fighter types... if you've been fighting all your life, you can tell by the way someone moves how good they are (at least in all good fiction).

I doubt they'll implement something like that, but it would be cool if they did. I'd make it a caster level check (or BAB check for fighter types) to get an idea of the caster level/BAB of a target (with appropriate skills/abilities to hide your power). It's a neat mechanic, and handy for a DM to let the players know when they probably *shouldn't* try to tackle the mysterious stranger in the alley.

-Nate

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

How do they handle it in Star wars? (at least in the movie force people could sense force people...)

In SW SE, there are two uses of the Use the Force skill, which can be used at will, called Search Your Feelings and Sense Force.

The first is a full-round action to, basically, cast an augury spell. It answers the question, "Will this action have favorable or unfavorable consequences to me in the next 10 minutes?"

The second is a trained-only aspect which allows you to automatically sense disturbances in the Force (like, for instance, automatically sensing a dark side-infused cave when within 1km). It can also be used a full-round action to determine whether there are any Force-users within 100km: DC 15 for direction, distance, and whether or not you've met them before. This use can be opposed by a target's UtF check if they want to remain hidden.

 

[Traycor]

The second is a trained-only aspect which allows you to automatically sense disturbances in the Force (like, for instance, automatically sensing a dark side-infused cave when within 1km). It can also be used a full-round action to determine whether there are any Force-users within 100km: DC 15 for direction, distance, and whether or not you've met them before. This use can be opposed by a target's UtF check if they want to remain hidden.

I like where they are going with the force senses, but I don't like the idea of needing to use a full round action. I imagine it being more like a spot check. You don't need to declare that your character is "spotting" in order to get an opposed roll against the bugbear that is sneaking up on you.

It should be the same way with a wizard that passes by an old witch on the street. He should get a Spellcraft check (opposed by her own if she is suppressing her power) to spot/sense her magical powers.

 

[Scribble]

I like where they are going with the force senses, but I don't like the idea of needing to use a full round action. I imagine it being more like a spot check. You don't need to declare that your character is "spotting" in order to get an opposed roll against the bugbear that is sneaking up on you.

It should be the same way with a wizard that passes by an old witch on the street. He should get a Spellcraft check (opposed by her own if she is suppressing her power) to spot/sense her magical powers.

Maybe they wanted to account for the time it takes to stop everything and dramatically announce.. "I feel a great disturbance in the force..."

 

[Traycor]

Maybe they wanted to account for the time it takes to stop everything and dramatically announce.. "I feel a great disturbance in the force..."

LOL
New rule: you can sense as a free action, but in order to declare what you have felt you must spend a full round action dramatically announcing what you feel. This must be done in an ominous fashion.
"I feel a great arcanus in this old crone..."

 

[Scribble]

LOL
New rule: you can sense as a free action, but in order to declare what you have felt you must spend a full round action dramatically announcing what you feel. This must be done in an ominous fashion.
"I feel a great arcanus in this old crone..."

Let it be so.