Remove in Game Scrying Tool

[Daimondheart]

Ordinarily I don't mind these tools and even find them useful sometimes; however, I lately I've been sliding more towards the belief that it's either useless or abused. Pretty much every time I check it, it's rather obvious that more than half the people on the server have themselves set to be hidden the majority of the time. And that's even when the server's population is in the single digit range.

Then at one point I was traveling with a party and was asked to remove myself from search. When I asked why, it was because the player had seen another high level player in the area that's apparently known for abusing the scry tool for PVP. This isn't the first it has been asked/suggested to me either.

So as things currently stand with the server, I think we would be better off without the tool as the majority of the players don't really want to use it anyway. Better to simply remove it entirely so people won't worry over it anymore and restore some sense of realism. If people want to meet up, they can always send tells to each other or even use the sending spells if they want to keep it in character.

[Phantom Lamb]

I personally like the tool. I use it for what it's meant to be used for, and I would not like to see it go.

[Cornuto]

Just turn it off if you don't want to use it.

[cmosier]

I use it to find people to RP with. I rarely go hidden in hopes somebody might come and RP with me.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

I tend to keep it on as a player, unless I'm involved with some RP that doesn't need someone wandering in on it. And that's usually what I view it as, as a pseudo invitation to RP.

However, if someone is abusing it, you had best tell a DM about it. Using it to PvP isn't allowed.

[Laurk]

I use it to try and find people. Seeing as you can turn it off if you want to, id prefer people do that instead of depriving those who use it of its function.

[cmosier]

Isn't there a spell that allows you to find people? I know there used to be.

[OnyxTigress]

Locate person.

[Lotus]

Just turn it off if you don't want to use it.

This. It's an OOC, RP-finding tool. If you don't want to participate, you don't have to.

[cmosier]

Doesn't Locate Person find you regardless?

[Saulus]

Widely used feature, not going to be disabling it.

[Mishtakob]

Yes, there is Locate Creature. It is blocked by using another spell, Nondetection. The difference is that in pen-and-paper the spell is 'Long Range' (400+40 ft/lvl) and lasts for 10 minutes per level, while on the server it gives you the area the creature is in instantaneously, for most areas. However, I'd say the specifications of the pen-and-paper version do still apply. As in,

The spell can locate a creature of a specific kind or a specific creature known to you. It cannot find a creature of a certain type. To find a kind of creature, you must have seen such a creature up close (within 30 feet) at least once.
The spell is blocked by even a thin sheet of lead. Running water blocks the spell. It can be fooled by mislead, nondetection, and polymorph spells.

In other words, much like the player-finder tool, it is there to be an option for extending on the options of roleplaying, rather than griefing or other form of harassment. As for the request of turning off your own searchable function, see it more of a way to say "I'm busy right now and may not be open to RP in this area," knowing that certain players do seek RP based on it.