Need something nasty to do to a scryer

[allenw]

And of course, the basic scry spell takes what - an hour to cast?

Indeed it does. Note since Crystal Balls just let you use the Scry spell, and devices take the same time to activate as the analogous spell unless otherwise specified, it takes an hour of gazing into a crystal abll to use it, and it only lasts a few minutes per use.
However, by 15th level, Greater Scrying is available. Even then, though, there's nothing in any of the Scrying spells that says that anyone but the caster can see what the sensor sees, so no telling 3.0 Summoned Monsters to go teleport to and get the guy "in the mirror". (In 3.5 summoned monsters can't teleport, so the issue doesn't come up).

 

[Darklone]

Hmm. But you can teleport summoned monsters, right ?

 

[rushlight]

IMC, the party scried on an epic-level demi-lich. The demi-lich had developed an epic spell that allows him to cast Finger of Death back through a scry portal when detected.

The wizard doing the scry got a nasty surprise, but he survived the encounter. It did disuade him from scrying on that guy, though...

I might mention that the demi-lich and the wizard had a history together, and scry played a role in that...

 

[Barcode]

It might help a bit more if we get examples of how exactly this player is abusing the Scry ability. I don't see a problem with this, the PC can cast scry plenty O'times and get alot of nothing most of the time. I'd really like to see the Dm for the most part respond and otherwise ignore said PC (as far as scrying goes). Teach this player a lesson, nothing worng with high level play, what a hoser.

Well, I have given them a one year interlude between phases of the campaign, during which their enemies are regrouping and preparing their revenges. The Bard is spending eight hours a day for a year trying to scry on everyone who hates him, including liches, uber-thieves, Great Hunters, theocratic heads of state, etc... It is not feasible that these people be eternally sequestered, and there should be some consequence for messing with the powerful in this way.

 

[Darklone]

Scrying other people for 8 hours a day? That's a hobby...

And he thinks this will not cause some major buttkicking trouble?

 

[Eldragon]

Heres a line from the scrying spell description: "If the save succeeds, you can’t attempt to scry on that subject again for at least 24 hours."

However, over a year long period constant scrying is still a problem.

I think this particularly voyeristic PC has a sound strategy during his year-long interlude. However so many scry attempts will only lead to the enemy to know they are being watched. The enemies will certainly learn they are being regularly scried upon, and make take steps to show the bard only what they WANT him to see.

It can be interpreted that in 3.5 a subject always knows they are being scryed upon. Any time a character succeeds a saving throw, the character knows a magical effect is taking hold of him/her. IMC people without much knowledge about magic do no know a scrying attempt is taking place. They jsut feel a tingle, as per the rules. However high level spell-casters know that scrying spells exist, know they have enemies that are capable of scrying so they deduce that there is a high probability they are being scried upon.

Here is what I have done to scry-happy PCs (in 7 easy phases):

1 - BBEG learns PCs are using Scry spells.

2 - BBEG immediately sets up an Extended Nondetection.

3 - BBEG hires a local NPC who looks vaguely like him. Enemy then uses illusion spells or more mundane means to make the hireling to look just like him. BBEG casts and Extended Misdirection on Hireling. All scrying spells are now directed towards the hireling. If PC passes his will save, then Nondetection takes over which the PC will just interprit as a Passed will save on the part of BBEG.

4 - BBEG finds perfect place to set up ambush. Intentionally unique local, so that the PC can easily teleport to BBEG's location.

5 - Illusionary Walls are set up to separate the Fake BBEG and the real one. Now when the PCs scry on BBEG, they see the FAKE BBEG in a very unique location.

6 - BBEG sets up ambush on the opposite side of the Illusionary wall. Certain death ensues to anyone who teleports into the location. Monsters, Traps, spells, etc...

7 - BBEG goes about his business, plotting world domination.

 

[shilsen]

Well, I have given them a one year interlude between phases of the campaign, during which their enemies are regrouping and preparing their revenges. The Bard is spending eight hours a day for a year trying to scry on everyone who hates him, including liches, uber-thieves, Great Hunters, theocratic heads of state, etc... It is not feasible that these people be eternally sequestered, and there should be some consequence for messing with the powerful in this way.

He's a 15th lvl bard scrying on liches, theocratic heads of state, etc. on a daily basis? And why isn't his PC dead by now?

 

[Barcode]

He's a 15th lvl bard scrying on liches, theocratic heads of state, etc. on a daily basis? And why isn't his PC dead by now?

That is actually kind of the point of the post. Ideas for consequences. "You scry on the Lich? Well, then you're dead." is not really my style.

Or maybe I should just teleport a couple of Pit Fiends in on him while he is sitting on the crapper? Doesn't make for a good game, in my experience.

 

[Spatula]

That is actually kind of the point of the post. Ideas for consequences. "You scry on the Lich? Well, then you're dead." is not really my style.

Direct consequences are hard to come by. Scrying on powerful spellcasters is generally not a good idea though. A smart lich would probably be mind blanked, or at least have detect scrying up. With detect scrying, the lich has a good chance of getting an image of the bard - at that point, the lich can scry HIM back. And teleport to the bard's location. Or continually hit the bard with the Nightmare spell.

 

[Liquidsabre]

I suggest the first month or so to go smoothly with interesting tidbits of info coming in, the next 2-3 months the bard meets with some resistence (in-place-spells, darkness, reactive casting, etc.), during the 5th month or so he realizes the bad guys are on to him and are looking to take him out (via his family, friends, and businesses).

Does the Bard have a home where he scry's in safety? Evicted. Casting time 1 hour? The bard finds there is always something distracting and breaking his spell's concentration: hired thugs throwing rocks through windows, random innocent visitors, and strange invitations that can't be refused from royalty to visit them at their summer cottage where they'll never have a moments rest between dinner parties and amusements for the next month or two.

If the bard persists and scrying have the Lich dominate the poor bard and have him hang out and scry on his buds to funnel info to their enemies. I suggest either a simple Geas or Domination would be effective where the Bard is made to stop or better yet, to hang around his friends (or as a point of irony scry) and gather info on his friends and funnel this to their enemies. The Lich could even make a profit from the Bard's activites. (drawing the Bard closer allowing the Bard access to some info, but dangerously close as he has an obvious weakness that grows with every domination cast on him by the Lich - say thanks to an evil artifact perhaps). Even better is to follow the Dominations with some kind of a mind wipe effect as well (isn't there a spell that does it? Ah well, that is what research is for...), you don't even have to tell the bard this but you can leave horrifying hints at lapses in memory. (a frightening mystery that might even pick the player's interest)

This all could provide possibly valuable info that may lead to the downfall of the Lich at the same time a precarious and dangerous line the bard could tread.

There are all sorts of ways to, ahem, "mess" with this wily Bard scrier. These are just a few, have fun!