Magical Tracking

MarauderX · Nov 13, 2003

Say that you don't have a ranger around, and know one you know is particularly good at tracking. Is there a spell or two that could help you out? Could you use locate spells if you are trying to find someone instead of a particular thing? Are there limits on the ranges?

And does this make any ranger feel incredibly inadequate?

Thanks in advance -

~MX

Altamont Ravenard · Nov 14, 2003

SRD 3.5 said:
Locate Object
Divination
Level: Brd 2, Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 2, Travel 2
Components: V, S, F/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area: Circle, centered on you, with a radius of 400 ft. + 40 ft./level
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object. You can search for general items, in which case you locate the nearest one of its kind if more than one is within range. Attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails. You cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that particular item firsthand (not through divination).
The spell is blocked by even a thin sheet of lead. Creatures cannot be found by this spell. Polymorph any object fools it.
Arcane Focus: A forked twig.

Locate Creature
Divination
Level: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 10 min./level
This spell functions like locate object, except this spell locates a known or familiar creature.
You slowly turn and sense when you are facing in the direction of the creature to be located, provided it is within range. You also know in which direction the creature is moving, if any.
The spell can locate a creature of a specific kind or a specific creature known to you. It cannot find a creature of a certain type. To find a kind of creature, you must have seen such a creature up close (within 30 feet) at least once.
Running water blocks the spell. It cannot detect objects. It can be fooled by mislead, nondetection, and polymorph spells.
Material Component: A bit of fur from a bloodhound.

The limit with the Locate spells is basically range. A thousand feet is not that far away, whereas a good Ranger can track creatures many miles away (provided the creature uses land movement). Also, locate spells don't last that long and are easily fooled.

AR

MarauderX · Nov 14, 2003

Thanks Altamont. I was wondering because there aren't any spells that are reliable over any distance that I have seen. Which means if a pack of thieves ran off with a wizard's artifact of some sort, he would be out of luck and have to outsource the work to RangerX to track them down, with a posse in tow for muscle. Not the greatest method IMO when there should be a magical means to pick up tracks, similar to what RangerX would do.

Altamont Ravenard · Nov 14, 2003

What you're looking for then is

Scrying
Divination (Scrying)
Level: Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M/DF, F
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: See text
Effect Magical sensor
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You can see and hear some creature, which may be at any distance. If the subject succeeds on a Will save, the scrying attempt simply fails. The difficulty of the save depends on how well you know the subject and what sort of physical connection (if any) you have to that creature. Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, it gets a +5 bonus on its Will save.
Knowledge Will Save Modifier
None1 +10
Secondhand (you have heard of the subject) +5
Firsthand (you have met the subject) +0
Familiar (you know the subject well) –5
1 You must have some sort of connection to a creature you have no knowledge of.
Connection Will Save Modifier
Likeness or picture –2
Possession or garment –4
Body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, etc. –10
If the save fails, you can see (but not hear) the subject and the subject’s immediate surroundings (approximately 10 feet in all directions of the subject). If the subject moves, the sensor follows at a speed of up to 150 feet.
As with all divination (scrying) spells, the sensor has your full visual acuity, including any magical effects. In addition, the following spells have a 5% chance per caster level of operating through the sensor: detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, detect magic, and message.
If the save succeeds, you can’t attempt to scry on that subject again for at least 24 hours.
Arcane Material Component: The eye of a hawk, an eagle, or a roc, plus nitric acid, copper, and zinc.
Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard Focus: A mirror of finely wrought and highly polished silver costing not less than 1,000 gp. The mirror must be at least 2 feet by 4 feet.
Cleric Focus: A holy water font costing not less than 100 gp.
Druid Focus: A natural pool of water.

It doesn't let you track, per se, but it's show you the general area of where the object is hidden.

AR

MarauderX · Nov 14, 2003

Thanks again AR.

Yeah, still not really 'tracking' per the definition, and is easily overcome via anti-scrying magic.

Gregor · Nov 14, 2003

I think there is a spell in Magic of Faerun that improves your tracking...I could be wrong though. Lemme check when I get home from work. But you could also cast "Wieldskill" ... I'll check that one out as well.

Cheers,

Caliban · Nov 14, 2003

MarauderX said:
Say that you don't have a ranger around, and know one you know is particularly good at tracking. Is there a spell or two that could help you out? Could you use locate spells if you are trying to find someone instead of a particular thing? Are there limits on the ranges?

And does this make any ranger feel incredibly inadequate?

Thanks in advance -

~MX

Here's the ultimate divination for finding someone:

Discern Location

Divination

[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Level: [/font]Clr 8, Knowledge 8, Sor/Wiz 8
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Components: [/font]V, S, DF
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Casting Time: [/font]10 minutes
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Range: [/font]Unlimited
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Target: [/font]One creature or object
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Duration: [/font]Instantaneous
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Saving Throw: [/font]None
[font=TimesNewRoman,Bold]Spell Resistance: [/font]No

A

[font=TimesNewRoman,Italic]discern location [/font]spell is among the most powerful means of locating creatures or objects. Nothing short of a [font=TimesNewRoman,Italic]mind blank [/font]spell or the direct intervention of a deity keeps you from learning the exact location of a single individual or object. [font=TimesNewRoman,Italic]Discern location [/font]circumvents normal means of protection from scrying or location. The spell reveals the name of the creature or object’s location (place, name, business name, building name, or the like), community, county (or similar political division), country, continent, and the plane of existence where the target lies.

To find a creature with the spell, you must have seen the creature or have some item that once belonged to it. To find an object, you must have touched it at least once.