You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, which is modified by how well you know the target and the sort of physical connection you have to it. If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
Knowledge |
Save Modifier |
---|---|
Secondhand (you have heard of the target) | +5 |
Firsthand (you have met the target) | 0 |
Familiar (you know the target well) | -5 |
Connection | Save Modifier |
---|---|
Likeness or picture | -2 |
Possession or garment | -4 |
Body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, or the like | -10 |
On a successful save, the target isn't affected, and you can't use this spell against it again for 24 hours.
On a failed save, the spell creates an invisible sensor within 10 feet of the target. You can see and hear through the sensor as if you were there. The sensor moves with the target, remaining within 10 feet of it for the duration. A creature that can see invisible objects sees the sensor as a luminous orb about the size of your fist.
Instead of targeting a creature, you can choose a location you have seen before as the target of this spell. When you do, the sensor appears at that location and doesn't move.
* - (a focus worth at least 1,000 gp, such as a crystal ball, a silver mirror, or a font filled with holy water)
You mean like a crystal ball?
Or, sending stones?
Hag magic is weird.
It might have manifested a free-floating sensor, that can see everything in the room, like a Wizard’s would. It’s just as likely that the sensor appeared inside the eyeball of the target, because an eyeball was used as spell components, and can only see exactly what he is looking at.
Do the casting time of ten minutes and the duration of ten minutes happen simultaneously, or do you spend 10 minutes preparing, and another 10 watching?
It has never made sense to me why this isn't a ritual spell. It seems like the perfect spell for that aesthetic.
Can it used to spy on someone who has a personal possession of yours?
I don't see why not. You would just see the dead body and any thing within the 10ft of your spell. It would be cool to have the players scry the henchman only to see a grave marker or a patch of packed dirt in a field. It would sorta explain scrying the undead. Some examples of scrying include scrying a place. It would totally be up to the DM. I think it could work.
I think many spirits may reside in the outer planes.
The spells modifiers could use some fleshing out. Target save and caster attack are implied, but could use annotation on the chart. Also implied is that the target can know but may not know they are being scryed. Meaning there may be some kind of perceptions, senses or familiar feelings involved for those that realize they are being scryed.
it would be the +10
It already takes 10 minutes to cast anyway. If it was available to ritual cast, it would be redundant.
Why can’t sorcerers learn this spell?
A: WOTC doesn't like sorcerers
B: It might be too strong with Heightened Spell or Twinned Spell, since it technically qualifies to be Twinned
That said if you play an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer you can absolutely learn this with their spell list and also not need 1000 gp to cast it.
If you cast the spell on a location rather than an individual, would individuals in the scried-upon location get a save, or not?
So having a food for thought moment over the "possession or garment" section of the spell. I know how the spell supposed to work but here's my mulling if interested.
Example:
Target of Spell (Target) purchases a handkerchief from random merchant NPC. Our PC (PC) then steals the handkerchief from Target. PC casts Scrying on Target while in possession of the handkerchief.
Question:
Does the "Possession or garment" section apply or does the handkerchief belong to the merchant NPC since he/she spent the most time "owning" the item. If the argument is made to the effect that the handkerchief belongs to Target since s/he was latest owner then, using the same thought process PC is now the latest owner given that PC stole it from Target.
So, if a necromancer has set up a clone. Will my scrying work on said clone after original caster is
dead and original body is destroyed? Do I get a bonus if I use some blood from slain body one?
I would say a clone is basically a copy. Since a person is there memories, personality and DNA. Then that blood from the old will be just as good.
I would rule it as anyone that ever possessed that handkerchief would get the modifier if scried on using the handkerchief. That way it's all encompassing, clear and there's no argument like the case above. I would rule possess as "with intent of keeping", so if you're just transporting/passing an item, you wouldn't "posses" it.
It says a "particular creature you choose" so technically one could scry on, say, a wizard's familiar or a ranger's pet, yes? Because I think that'd be a great use for this spell it as a bear or cat will likely have a much lower Wis save mod than a PC. Also, I imagine it would be much easier to collect some fur off a creature as opposed to a lock of hair from a person. The NPC would just have to go up and "pet" whatever creature they want to spy on. And really, how often is a PC going to be suspicious if some NPC wants to pet their cute animal companion?
There is, it's called the spell glyph of warding
Why doesn't the Scrying Spell have the Scrying Spell Tag?