scrying someone who may be dead

[moritheil]

Hmm, a new way of finding Mimics.

-- N

Just use Message.

 

[Nail]

Given examples like that, I'd say it's reasonable (tho' not explicit RAW) to say spell casters know why their spell didn't work.

IF you buy that, then scrying is a great way of finding out if someone is dead or not.

 

[seans23]

There's no explicity statement in RAW to the effect, no. IMO, if your spell fails, you know why it failed. If the opposite were true, then consider the ramifications. You wear armor and cast a fireball spell at an opponent with SR located in an AMF. If the spell fails, did it fail due to SR, the AMF, or your arcane spell failure chance? Do you find it a little unreasonable that a spellcaster could not tell why? If you agree that the spellcaster should be able to tell why, then the same reasoning applies to scrying.

In that situation, you're visibly looking at the opponent in question, so it makes sense that you would have a chance of knowing why your spell failed. In the case of scry, you're just looking into a crystal ball, holy font, pool of water, or mirror. You try to scry and you fail, so you see nothing but your own reflection.

I'm pretty sure Bad Paper knows what he (or his cleric companion) should do next, if he's really interested in the fate of his enemy.

 

[Bad Paper]

I'm pretty sure Bad Paper knows what he (or his cleric companion) should do next, if he's really interested in the fate of his enemy.

aha! You have given it away, and it has nothing to do with Commune. Lesson: when you can't Scry on someone, trick your DM on EN World.

 

[seans23]

aha! You have given it away, and it has nothing to do with Commune. Lesson: when you can't Scry on someone, trick your DM on EN World.

Tharizdun is laughing at you RIGHT NOW