Scrying a friend in need

[richardleitch5]

The rules for this has changed a lot from the first time i read about it so i have a few questions.

before only a few clerics was alowed to try but there dont seem to be any rule about it this time so can "any" Cleric, Druid, Mage scry now?

also what is the DMs thoughts about scrying for a friend whos been missing for a few days, would it be acceptable to poke the player and find out where the PC is and if the PC is "dead" would this be considerd an OOC rez and PUNISHED for rule braking?

at this time one of my PCs wishes to scry for a lost friend but the PC in question said he was dead, the plan to go fish hes corps out is on hold untill a DM is about to oversee it but it would still be nice to know abotu this.

[Urithrand]

AFAIK Sundren follows the PnP rules for scrying. Check the PHB if you have a copy to hand, I don't atm cause I'm at work.

[GodBeastX]

Just search scry srd on google. All the information is there.

[Nil]

The rules are unclear as to whether a corpse counts as a creature or object. If it does, then a druid with 4th level spells (or 7th for greater) can do this with only a pool of water?

We can more or less do this on our own then (since ooc, we know the corpse is at Kelemvor's temple)?

[The Almight Red]

Out of curiosity, since Scrying or Greater Scrying is not a spell in NWN2, I assume that we have to pretend they have it anyway? If that's the case, do we get to pretend people have Nondetection as well, to force those caster checks?

[BattlePixie]

scrying is not a spell in NWN but locate creature is (which will locate any live PC as long as they are in a place you have been too)

[The Almight Red]

Yes. But it doesn't stop people from still RPing Scry, since the DMs have given the go ahead with the SRD d20 website. So, some clarification of things would prove useful.

[BattlePixie]

agreed

[Elusa]

As far as I can tell from reading the PHB and SRD, scrying does not work on a corpse. A corpse is treated differently from inanimate objects and living creatures for the purposes of spell effects. Personally, I don't think scrying should be allowed on corpses due to the potential for metagaming abuse, regardless of PnP rules.

[Tome]

Anyone with access to Locate Person can use the spell. This includes UMD people who cast the spell from a scroll.

Locate Creature has the potential for some serious abuse in the server. However, some adjustments are necessary. In PnP the spell cannot cross natural bodies of water, like streams, and does not tell you the specific location of a person but rather turns you in the direction of where to go to get to them, as well as what direction they are moving at the time the spell is cast. It also has a maximum radius of 1200 feet for a lvl 20 character with full CL. That's not even 1/4 of a mile. Sundren is SEVERAL miles long.

The spell has been expanded upon in Sundren generally and given greater range and with the water rule generally ignored, but I've seen many players compensate for this by giving it other weaknesses. Some say you cannot locate people in shielded areas, like certain temples or the Enclave. Others say you cannot use the spell on someone you do not have familiarity with (such as a friend) or someone that you do not have a personal item of. Other say that the spell has a chance of failure like many divination spells (on a particular note: a certain pc said this makes for a good excuse of failing to locate pcs that are not logged on at the time. Kudos to the one that said that. You know who you are). All of these examples are good ones to balance out a spell that would otherwise have ludicrous tracking ability.

As far as locating the 'dead', that comes down more to personal outlook. The DM staff accepts no degree of meta or rule abuse and I am no exception. However, using a spell to locate someone that you regularly keep in contact with and has been 'missing for days' is MORE than a legitimate rp action and set of reasoning. Also, I (and many others) tend to play off a pc as not being dead until they're perma'd. Otherwise, they are just wounded severely, hanging on by a thread, etc. You'll STILL need a rez spell to save em, but they are viable targets for Locate Person and I would not 'penalize' you or toss the meta-flag out for that. This mindset varies from pc to pc though and if you are in a DM event, that DM kinda has the say on it (though many of us are far more open to ideas and other viewpoints than some assume lol).

Let your conscience and creativity be the judge in the end. If either are bugging you about an action taken in game, there's a decent chance it should not be done.

[The Almight Red]

Still, this doesn't address the issue of Scrying. GBX has pointed to the SRD d20 website for the rules for Scrying, but these don't necessarily directly coincide with NWN2, due to the natural limitations of mechanics. Some clarification could be useful.

Because people have desired to use Scrying in particular. Not Locate Creature, but some have literally said they're trying to Scry.

[Nil]

Anyone with access to Locate Person can use the spell. This includes UMD people who cast the spell from a scroll.

Okay, this is good to know since Druids and Clerics cannot cast Locate Creature (but they can cast scrying). I guess I take a (UMD-related) stab. Gods help us all.

[Aniril_Telin]

Bumping this with another interpretation.

Locate creature acts almost exactly like the Scrying spell, to include being Divination and level 4 for wiz/sorc. I would suggest adding this to cleric/Druid lists and if possible renaming it to Scrying. Since it does not function as locate creature, however it does react almost identically to Scry. The RP exception would be the location of casting the spell, requiring a large Mirror for Arcane, a pool of holy water for Clerics, and a pool of natural water for druids. Also, much like the invisibility spell, there is a chance of the person being scryed upon to be aware of the action if their int is 12+ I believe non-detection should block the spell however.