Destil
Explorer
I liked the idea of the scry skill in 3.0, but the implementation was fairly off. The 3.5 will save version of the spell isn't any real improvement in my eyes. This is my attempt to patch up the rules of the skill, though I wonder if it's too complex for normal play:
Scry
Int, Exclusive
You are can manipulate of scrying sensors. There are three general types of scrying sensors:
Visible – This is plainly visible as a physical object. It can be noticed by anyone with a spot check. Anyone within 100’ of a visible sensor can sense it with a spot check. DC 15 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Non-opposed scry checks made with a visible sensor have a +15 bonus.
Hidden – These sensors are hard to detect, but not invisible. They appear as something like an eye shaped could in the sky or ripple in a stream. They can be detected by anyone within 30’, but only with a (possibly untrained) scry check. Creatures with a higher base will save than scry ranks use this instead, modified by intelligence instead of wisdom. DC 15 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Scry checks made with a hidden sensor have no bonus or penalty. Any spell that doesn’t specify a type of magical sensor uses a hidden sensor.
Intangible – These sensors are only detectable through the force of a trained will. They are only detectable with a trained scry check by creatures that are within the area being actively viewed. DC 20 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Non-opposed scry checks made with an intangible sensor have a -15 penalty.
If you detect a scrying sensor you can attempt to force your will against that of the scryer. This is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity, you can only attempt this once per spell, you must be within 100’ of the sensor. You make opposed scrying rolls they add the level of the spell used to their roll. If you win you can choose to dispel their sensor, if you win by 10 or more you can not only dispel the spell, but also gain ‘secondhand knowledge’ of the caster for scrying them yourself.
Scrying
Divination
Level: Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F, M/DF, F (See text)
Casting Time: See text
Range: See text
Effect: Magical sensor
Duration: 1 min / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You can hear or see some creature, who may be at any distance. You must succeed at a scry check to do so. The base scrying DC depends on your knowledge of the creature:
DC Knowledge
15 Familiar (you know the creature well)
25 Firsthand (you have met the subject)
35 Secondhand (you have heard of the subject)
45 None*
*You must have some connection to a creature you have no knowledge of
Bonus Connection
+2 Likeness or Picture
+4 Possession
+8 Body part, lock of hair, etc.*
-10 Creature is undead or a construct (unknown to you)
-5 Creature is on a coexistent plane
-10 Creature is on another, accessible plane
-15 Creature is on another plane, not immediately accessible from your current plane (via. planeshift)
-20 Creature is on a plane with extremely limited access (4th level of Pandemonium, prison demiplane, an extradimensional or nondimenstional space etc.)
-10 Creature under the effect of alter self or similar magic
*Used as a material component and is consumed on casting
The amount of time spent casting this spell affects your initial scrying check (but not further checks once the sensor has been established). Likewise the spell can be specially cast without a surface to view the image on (changing the focus component). The following modifiers only apply to the initial scrying check:
Bonus Circumstance
+5 One hour casting time
+0 Ten minutes casting time
-10 One minute casting time
-20 One round casting time
-10 No focus to view the target creature in (image appears only in caster’s mind, must have alternate focus, see components)
Upon a successful check the spell creates a magical sensor near the creature, it forms at a distance of twice it’s face from it: generally enough so the creature occupies most of your field of vision through the sensor (you see an area roughly equal to it’s face), though it appears closer if this would place it in a solid object. The sensor remains ‘anchored’ to the target of the spell and moves with them. You can create a visible or hidden sensor with this spell (see the scry skill). The sensor sees as well as you do.
While the spell is in effect you can do the following with a scry check as a standard action. If you fail the scry check generally nothing happens. If you fail by 5 or more the sensor collapses and the spell ends.
DC Task
10 Pull sensor back / bring sensor in / rotate sensor
15 Bring location into focus / out of focus
20 Project image of creature scryed
25 Bring creatures out of focus / into focus
30 Move sensor freely
Cast a spell through the sensor
10 Read magic, comprehend languages, tongues or darkvision
15 Detect magic, detect chaos, detect good, detect evil, detect law, message
25 See invisibility
Pull sensor back / bring sensor in / rotate sensor: You can bring the sensor towards or away from the creature up to 30’ per check (you view an area roughly equal to one half the distance between the sensor and the creature). You can not see anything if the sensor is within a solid object. Rotation is ninety degrees in any direction per check.
Bring location into focus / out of focus: Initially only the creature and any other living creatures or plant life within your field of view appear to you, their surroundings are hazy and indistinct (as are undead and constructs). By bringing the surroundings into focus you make them visible. For the purpose of teleporting you must the location must be in focus and studied for ten full rounds (a full round action each round that initially provokes an attack of opportunity) in order to have seen it once.
Project image of creature scryed: If not using a focus that allows you a surface to view the image you can project an illusion of the image into space for others to observe.
Bring creatures out of focus / into focus: Doing this causes all living creatures to become hazy and indistinct, though constructs and undead remain. With only the location in focus it can be studied it for teleporting in one round.
Special: If you successfully scry an undead or construct this is reversed, the location is the only thing in focus when you first cast the spell.
Move Sensor Freely: For the remainder of the duration you can move the sensor as per the spell arcane eye (though it still functions in all other ways as a Scrying sensor).
Cast a spell through sensor: You can cast the following spells through the sensor with a successful check. If you fail your scry check the spell is wasted.
Arcane Material Components: The eye or a hawk, an eagle, or even a roc.
Arcane Focus: A large mirror of finely wrought and highly polished silver costing no less than 1000 gp and at least two feet by four feet. Or a clear diamond worth at least 500 gp held to your temple by a headband or circlet.
Clerical Focus: A holy water fount worth at least 100 gp. Or a small, blank silver-bound prayer book worth at least 50 gp.
Druid Focus: A natural pool of water. Or a prism of natural rock crystal worth at least 20gp.
Scrying, Greater
Divination
Level: Brd 6, Clr 7, Drd 7, Sor/Wiz 7
Duration: 1 hour / level
As scrying, except as follows: you gain a +20 to your all non-opposed scrying checks; the duration is longer; and may cast true seeing through the sensor with a scrying check at DC 50; and you may create an intangible scrying sensor.
Detect Scrying
Divination
Level: Bard 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One action
Range: 120 ft.
Area: 120-ft.-raidus emanation centered on you
Saving Throw: No
Spell Resistance: None
You gain a +20 bonus to all scry checks to detect being scryed for the duration of the spell.
You likewise gain a +10 bonus to opposed scrying checks. You may make any number of attempts to force your will against a scrying sensor (each a standard action). If you win you automatically gain ‘secondhand’ information on the scryer and know their direction and distance you (to within one tenth of the distance), or their exact location if within the spell’s area of effect.
Material Component: A small piece of mirror and a miniature brass hearing trumpet..
Scry
Int, Exclusive
You are can manipulate of scrying sensors. There are three general types of scrying sensors:
Visible – This is plainly visible as a physical object. It can be noticed by anyone with a spot check. Anyone within 100’ of a visible sensor can sense it with a spot check. DC 15 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Non-opposed scry checks made with a visible sensor have a +15 bonus.
Hidden – These sensors are hard to detect, but not invisible. They appear as something like an eye shaped could in the sky or ripple in a stream. They can be detected by anyone within 30’, but only with a (possibly untrained) scry check. Creatures with a higher base will save than scry ranks use this instead, modified by intelligence instead of wisdom. DC 15 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Scry checks made with a hidden sensor have no bonus or penalty. Any spell that doesn’t specify a type of magical sensor uses a hidden sensor.
Intangible – These sensors are only detectable through the force of a trained will. They are only detectable with a trained scry check by creatures that are within the area being actively viewed. DC 20 + spell level of the scrying spell used. Non-opposed scry checks made with an intangible sensor have a -15 penalty.
If you detect a scrying sensor you can attempt to force your will against that of the scryer. This is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity, you can only attempt this once per spell, you must be within 100’ of the sensor. You make opposed scrying rolls they add the level of the spell used to their roll. If you win you can choose to dispel their sensor, if you win by 10 or more you can not only dispel the spell, but also gain ‘secondhand knowledge’ of the caster for scrying them yourself.
Scrying
Divination
Level: Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F, M/DF, F (See text)
Casting Time: See text
Range: See text
Effect: Magical sensor
Duration: 1 min / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You can hear or see some creature, who may be at any distance. You must succeed at a scry check to do so. The base scrying DC depends on your knowledge of the creature:
DC Knowledge
15 Familiar (you know the creature well)
25 Firsthand (you have met the subject)
35 Secondhand (you have heard of the subject)
45 None*
*You must have some connection to a creature you have no knowledge of
Bonus Connection
+2 Likeness or Picture
+4 Possession
+8 Body part, lock of hair, etc.*
-10 Creature is undead or a construct (unknown to you)
-5 Creature is on a coexistent plane
-10 Creature is on another, accessible plane
-15 Creature is on another plane, not immediately accessible from your current plane (via. planeshift)
-20 Creature is on a plane with extremely limited access (4th level of Pandemonium, prison demiplane, an extradimensional or nondimenstional space etc.)
-10 Creature under the effect of alter self or similar magic
*Used as a material component and is consumed on casting
The amount of time spent casting this spell affects your initial scrying check (but not further checks once the sensor has been established). Likewise the spell can be specially cast without a surface to view the image on (changing the focus component). The following modifiers only apply to the initial scrying check:
Bonus Circumstance
+5 One hour casting time
+0 Ten minutes casting time
-10 One minute casting time
-20 One round casting time
-10 No focus to view the target creature in (image appears only in caster’s mind, must have alternate focus, see components)
Upon a successful check the spell creates a magical sensor near the creature, it forms at a distance of twice it’s face from it: generally enough so the creature occupies most of your field of vision through the sensor (you see an area roughly equal to it’s face), though it appears closer if this would place it in a solid object. The sensor remains ‘anchored’ to the target of the spell and moves with them. You can create a visible or hidden sensor with this spell (see the scry skill). The sensor sees as well as you do.
While the spell is in effect you can do the following with a scry check as a standard action. If you fail the scry check generally nothing happens. If you fail by 5 or more the sensor collapses and the spell ends.
DC Task
10 Pull sensor back / bring sensor in / rotate sensor
15 Bring location into focus / out of focus
20 Project image of creature scryed
25 Bring creatures out of focus / into focus
30 Move sensor freely
Cast a spell through the sensor
10 Read magic, comprehend languages, tongues or darkvision
15 Detect magic, detect chaos, detect good, detect evil, detect law, message
25 See invisibility
Pull sensor back / bring sensor in / rotate sensor: You can bring the sensor towards or away from the creature up to 30’ per check (you view an area roughly equal to one half the distance between the sensor and the creature). You can not see anything if the sensor is within a solid object. Rotation is ninety degrees in any direction per check.
Bring location into focus / out of focus: Initially only the creature and any other living creatures or plant life within your field of view appear to you, their surroundings are hazy and indistinct (as are undead and constructs). By bringing the surroundings into focus you make them visible. For the purpose of teleporting you must the location must be in focus and studied for ten full rounds (a full round action each round that initially provokes an attack of opportunity) in order to have seen it once.
Project image of creature scryed: If not using a focus that allows you a surface to view the image you can project an illusion of the image into space for others to observe.
Bring creatures out of focus / into focus: Doing this causes all living creatures to become hazy and indistinct, though constructs and undead remain. With only the location in focus it can be studied it for teleporting in one round.
Special: If you successfully scry an undead or construct this is reversed, the location is the only thing in focus when you first cast the spell.
Move Sensor Freely: For the remainder of the duration you can move the sensor as per the spell arcane eye (though it still functions in all other ways as a Scrying sensor).
Cast a spell through sensor: You can cast the following spells through the sensor with a successful check. If you fail your scry check the spell is wasted.
Arcane Material Components: The eye or a hawk, an eagle, or even a roc.
Arcane Focus: A large mirror of finely wrought and highly polished silver costing no less than 1000 gp and at least two feet by four feet. Or a clear diamond worth at least 500 gp held to your temple by a headband or circlet.
Clerical Focus: A holy water fount worth at least 100 gp. Or a small, blank silver-bound prayer book worth at least 50 gp.
Druid Focus: A natural pool of water. Or a prism of natural rock crystal worth at least 20gp.
Scrying, Greater
Divination
Level: Brd 6, Clr 7, Drd 7, Sor/Wiz 7
Duration: 1 hour / level
As scrying, except as follows: you gain a +20 to your all non-opposed scrying checks; the duration is longer; and may cast true seeing through the sensor with a scrying check at DC 50; and you may create an intangible scrying sensor.
Detect Scrying
Divination
Level: Bard 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One action
Range: 120 ft.
Area: 120-ft.-raidus emanation centered on you
Saving Throw: No
Spell Resistance: None
You gain a +20 bonus to all scry checks to detect being scryed for the duration of the spell.
You likewise gain a +10 bonus to opposed scrying checks. You may make any number of attempts to force your will against a scrying sensor (each a standard action). If you win you automatically gain ‘secondhand’ information on the scryer and know their direction and distance you (to within one tenth of the distance), or their exact location if within the spell’s area of effect.
Material Component: A small piece of mirror and a miniature brass hearing trumpet..
