Nondetection (or similar) on a Galleon.

[Kristivas]

Basically what the title says. Is there a way to cast nondetection or a similar spell on a Galleon, and is it able to be made permanent?

The target of nondetection is "creature or object touched", but I don't think that object can be a colossal-sized vessel. Can it? I may very well be overthinking this.

 

[Celebrim]

Often object is explicitly defined in the rules by giving maximum volume or weight. In this case, object seems to be left up to the DM to determine, which raises questions like, "Is a castle an object? If it is, is it 'in your possession' as long as you are the lawful owner, or must you physically carry something for it to be 'in your possession'?"

What I've ruled in the past:

a) A castle is an object, because D&D is typically not generous enough with defensive magic.
b) To be in your possession, you must be carrying it.
c) Warding a castle or conveyance does not in itself ward the occupants.
d) A castle or conveyance could be made into an item that warded both itself and its occupants via Create Wondrous Item and appropriately sunk costs in XP, gp, and time.

If you need a maximum size for an object, I suggest the size limits of Mage's Private Sanctum - 1 30' cube per caster level. Thus a 5th level caster could ward an object 150' long, 30' high, and 30' wide. A typically 17th century galleon weighing about 150 tons could probably be warded by an 8th level caster under those rules - lower if you were generous regarding the volume contained by the mast and riggings. If you do restrict the size of the object, I suggest there is no reason to not also let the object ward anything it contains. And, since I rather like that idea now that I'm thinking about it, I'm likely to adopt that in the future.

 

[SolitonMan]

Back in Dungeon magazine #100 was an adventure called "Beast of Burden," in which a druid used Pass Without Trace on a colossal creature that carried a marauding army on its back. If a 1st-level spell could mask a colossal creature, I don't see why a 3rd-level spell couldn't mask a colossal object. And I don't think it's too unreasonable to apply the protection to passengers. It's not Mind Blank after all, anyone with an appropriately high level and/or a good dice roll could still discern the ship (and its occupants).

 

[Ahnehnois]

Stormwrack has Sails of Displacement (120,000 gp). It's a different spell, but the purpose is not entirely similar and both are 3rd level spells. I'd say that's a reasonable baseline.

 

[delericho]

While the ship itself probably is a single object, a ship also carries a huge number of other objects that are separate (spare rigging, sails, provisions, all the galley equipment, etc, etc). Additionally, I would rule that protecting the ship does not automatically protect the people in the ship - they would need a separate casting of the spell. (Of course, whether a person seeking the ship would think to try tracking the crew, or even know specifically who is on board is another matter...)

I'm not aware of any specific items for this purpose (other than those sails of displacement), but I would be inclined to introduce an item of that sort. And as Ahnehnois suggests, a price of 120,000gp for a wheel of nondetection, or similar, seems reasonable. (And in that case, given the huge cost, I would rule that it does affect the ship and everyone, and everything, on board as well.)

 

[Kristivas]

Appreciate all of the advice. If the group goes with the cheap option, I'll go with the ship only. If they go the expensive route, then I'll let it encompass those items and objects within.