(Su) abilities and Detect/Dispel Magic

[shilsen]

1) Does a detect magic spell detect supernatural abilities? For example, would a creature polymorphed through an innate supernatural ability detect as magical? What about instantaneous supernatural abilities? Do they have a lingering aura?

2) Can a supernatural ability be dispelled? While the description of (Su) abilities says that they are not subject to dispelling, I seem to remember errata or an FAQ ruling which said that supernatural abilities which have a duration other than instantaneous can be dispelled.

Thanks in advance.

 

[youspoonybard]

About #2:

That was in the latest Sage FAQ update...but it's really confusing. He did clarify that Su abilities can't be dispelled...but then he went on to say if they had a duration, they could be...but not through dispel magic(?), then he gave an example using dispel evil, which specifically states that it can't dispel anything dispel magic can't...

Yup yup.

 

[shilsen]

About #2:

That was in the latest Sage FAQ update...but it's really confusing. He did clarify that Su abilities can't be dispelled...but then he went on to say if they had a duration, they could be...but not through dispel magic(?), then he gave an example using dispel evil, which specifically states that it can't dispel anything dispel magic can't...

Yup yup.

Thanks. I reread it, and it's just as you said. Yup yup all right

 

[shilsen]

What about question 1? Anyone?

 

[rtricher]

What about question 1? Anyone?

I'd say no you can't tell because it's supernatural it's part of the character/monster it''d be like saying superman had an aura of magic around him all the time.

I'd also say no to the second question but that's just me.

 

[shilsen]

I'd say no you can't tell because it's supernatural it's part of the character/monster it''d be like saying superman had an aura of magic around him all the time.

That's a good argument for the ruling, but what about supernatural abilities that aren't just part of the character/monster. Such as a vampire's dominate ability, for example, which is Su, not Sp. A dominated target is currently under the equivalent of a dominate person spell. Should he give off an enchantment aura as he would if similarly dominated by a wizard's spell?

 

[Voadam]

One interpretation is the spell only covers what it explicitly states it does, spells and items according to the chart. Another interpretation is that it says it detects auras so since supernatural abilities are magical they can therefore be detected as magic and a DM should make a call to the nearest analogous spell i.e. vamp dominate is as the dominate spell, its gaseous form is as the spell, calling bats is like summon swarm, etc. DR, ER, and SR are tricky to gauge then and raise the issue of do drow/demons/dragons/etc. always detect as magic? How strong?

 

[hong]

You can't use detect magic to detect the _ability_ to create a supernatural effect. That would be silly, like saying you can use detect magic to detect that someone can cast spells. However, you should be able to use detect magic to detect an _ongoing_ supernatural effect, like if someone has been dominated by a vampire.