My party has one magic user, but doesn't have detect Magic prepared...But has good arcana, religion & history.
So was trying to figure out if the player makes a good perception check or investigation of an area where a magical affect is currently in affect, should I allow a follow up check using arcana, religion or history and if they succeed they discover the magical affect
I'm just unsure if such a change is unbalanced within the gaming mechanics
On it's face the idea that you are presenting won't harm your game. There may be problems down the road if this turns into a longer campaign and PC levels hit Tiers 2 & 3. The precedent that you set now, will be come how your table operates going forward.
I might suggest that you look at why the check has to be made at all. If there is something in your game that requires a specific spell, why isn't there a spell scroll available for the PCs to find and use? If you have a lock or gate that requires a key, make the key findable or discoverable, otherwise allow the obstacle to be circumvented by physical means. Barring that you cannot plant a scroll on their person 'cause you cut session right at the part mentioned, what happens when the trapfinder Barbarian walks into the magical effect? If the effect is drastic enough to cause a TPK or one-shot a PC, maybe look at toning that down a bit.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
You haven't said what type of magic user this character is so I'd say:
If they are a cleric or druid then they have the option of preparing it and you don;t need to do anything, it's just down to themt o rememebr they have it but you could always give them a little reminder the spell exists. If they are a wizard then they just need the spell in their spell book to cast it ritually so you don;t need to do anything. If they are a bard, sorcerer or warlock then I might just be inclined ot give them detect magic spell as a bonus spell or have them find a wand of magic detection to allow them to cast it.
My party has one magic user, but doesn't have detect Magic prepared...But has good arcana, religion & history.
So was trying to figure out if the player makes a good perception check or investigation of an area where a magical affect is currently in affect, should I allow a follow up check using arcana, religion or history and if they succeed they discover the magical affect
I'm just unsure if such a change is unbalanced within the gaming mechanics
If the magical effect is visible (or has visible side effects), you can use arcana to recognize it, or possibly investigation to find things (such as runes), but having the skill doesn't grant you additional sensory abilities. Many but not all lasting magical effects have visible components. You could certainly decide that all magic has detectable effects with a sufficiently good roll.
On the other hand, though, it's not your fault they don't have detect magic prepared, that's a decision they made for themselves.
My party has one magic user, but doesn't have detect Magic prepared...But has good arcana, religion & history.
So was trying to figure out if the player makes a good perception check or investigation of an area where a magical affect is currently in affect, should I allow a follow up check using arcana, religion or history and if they succeed they discover the magical affect
I'm just unsure if such a change is unbalanced within the gaming mechanics
On it's face the idea that you are presenting won't harm your game. There may be problems down the road if this turns into a longer campaign and PC levels hit Tiers 2 & 3. The precedent that you set now, will be come how your table operates going forward.
I might suggest that you look at why the check has to be made at all. If there is something in your game that requires a specific spell, why isn't there a spell scroll available for the PCs to find and use? If you have a lock or gate that requires a key, make the key findable or discoverable, otherwise allow the obstacle to be circumvented by physical means. Barring that you cannot plant a scroll on their person 'cause you cut session right at the part mentioned, what happens when the
trapfinderBarbarian walks into the magical effect? If the effect is drastic enough to cause a TPK or one-shot a PC, maybe look at toning that down a bit.“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
You haven't said what type of magic user this character is so I'd say:
If they are a cleric or druid then they have the option of preparing it and you don;t need to do anything, it's just down to themt o rememebr they have it but you could always give them a little reminder the spell exists. If they are a wizard then they just need the spell in their spell book to cast it ritually so you don;t need to do anything. If they are a bard, sorcerer or warlock then I might just be inclined ot give them detect magic spell as a bonus spell or have them find a wand of magic detection to allow them to cast it.
Otherwise there are some alternate rules in the DMG, an aritcle about it can be found here: https://www.hipstersanddragons.com/identifying-magic-items-5e/
If the magical effect is visible (or has visible side effects), you can use arcana to recognize it, or possibly investigation to find things (such as runes), but having the skill doesn't grant you additional sensory abilities. Many but not all lasting magical effects have visible components. You could certainly decide that all magic has detectable effects with a sufficiently good roll.
On the other hand, though, it's not your fault they don't have detect magic prepared, that's a decision they made for themselves.