Spell-Like Abilities Question

[Ogrork the Mighty]

One of our players has a spell called sense heretic (Spell Compendium, p. 182). The spell automatically detects the presence of evil creatures with the ability to cast divine spells within 100 feet.

The question is: do spell-like abilities count for purposes of this spell?

Part of me says yes and part of me says no. They work "just like spells" but they aren't really spells and the creatures using them aren't really "spellcasters." I also note that a SpA only requires a standard action to activate, whereas the spell equivalent could be 1 round or longer casting times (just to show that there is a potential difference between a SpA "spell" and the regular spell it's based on).


From the SRD:

Spell-Like: Spell-like abilities are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, material, focus, or XP components). They go away in an antimagic field and are subject to spell resistance if the spell the ability resembles or duplicates would be subject to spell resistance.

A spell-like ability usually has a limit on how often it can be used. A spell-like ability that can be used at will has no use limit. Using a spell-like ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise, and doing so while threatened provokes attacks of opportunity. It is possible to make a Concentration check to use a spell-like ability defensively and avoid provoking an attack of opportunity, just as when casting a spell. A spell-like ability can be disrupted just as a spell can be. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled.

For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature’s caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice. The saving throw (if any) against a spell-like ability is 10 + the level of the spell the ability resembles or duplicates + the creature’s Cha modifier.

Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.

 

[moritheil]

One of our players has a spell called sense heretic (Spell Compendium, p. 182). The spell automatically detects the presence of evil creatures with the ability to cast divine spells within 100 feet.

The question is: do spell-like abilities count for purposes of this spell?

Your answer is right here:

A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.[/I]

So a balor (capable of casting blasphemy) qualifies. A babau (dispel magic, greater teleport, darkness, see invisible) does not. This seems reasonable.

Incidentally, rather than the SLA text I'd have posted the SC text, as that is what will tell the reader how strictly it hones in on divine spells as opposed to divine SLAs.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Incidentally, rather than the SLA text I'd have posted the SC text, as that is what will tell the reader how strictly it hones in on divine spells as opposed to divine SLAs.

I did post the SC text; it's the second sentence in my OP.

Your reference simply says what the effects of the SPA are (the same as the arcane or divine version of the spell). But that doesn't address the method of activating the effect.

"A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions"

^^^ This must refer to the effects, rather than the delivery method. Because otherwise SPA would have the same components, casting time, etc., as the spell.

I'm just wondering b/c, in my mind, the "ability to cast divine spells" doesn't seem to equate to having a SPA that has the same effect as a divine spell.

 

[moritheil]

You posted:

The spell automatically detects the presence of evil creatures with the ability to cast divine spells within 100 feet.

Is that the exact wording? To me that just looks like a description of what it does.

 

[blargney the second]

For flavour text purposes, I'd treat SLAs as different from spells for the purposes of this spell. It sounds like it specifically wants to find evil priests (ie a heretic).

 

[moritheil]

For flavour text purposes, I'd treat SLAs as different from spells for the purposes of this spell. It sounds like it specifically wants to find evil priests (ie a heretic).

I usually try to determine that intent from the specific wording of the spell text. The thing is, do you think that a Hound Archon's ability to emulate aid is not divinely related? And if that is divinely connected, why would its counterpart - a demon - not have a divine aspect to its blasphemy spells?

The underlying question the OP seems to be asking is, "What is the source of SLAs?"

 

[Slaved]

Spell-Like abilities are not Spells. Sense Heretic will not detect someone just because they have Spell-Like abilities which emulate Divine Spells.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

You posted:


Is that the exact wording? To me that just looks like a description of what it does.

Yeah, pretty much:

"If an evil creature that has the ability to cast divine spells comes within 100 feet of the item, the item begins to glow with a faint blue radiance."

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Spell-Like abilities are not Spells. Sense Heretic will not detect someone just because they have Spell-Like abilities which emulate Divine Spells.

That's the question that it's boiling down to.

 

[Slaved]

That's the question that it's boiling down to.

Easy! They are not Spells and they are not Cast. The spell simply ignores them.