Detect Magic Failure
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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Detect Magic Failure
We had a question come up in our last session. The Detect Magic Spell has no "Lost, corruption, etc." results on it's casting table. 1-11 is simply a failure. So my question is: Unless the caster really wants to try to get a better result using spell burn, what is the point of rolling for this spell?
If the caster has plenty of time to sit there and cast the spell, why not just give the player the maximum result they would have received if they had rolled a 20? I could see having to roll in the middle of combat and such, but besides that, why even roll?
I just housed ruled so far that wizards are wizards, and as such, given enough time they are able to determine if an item is magical along with it's properties.
How is everybody else handing this? Am I missing something? Seems a little too easy to me. I am considering making a roll of "1" a "lost" result for this spell as well.
If the caster has plenty of time to sit there and cast the spell, why not just give the player the maximum result they would have received if they had rolled a 20? I could see having to roll in the middle of combat and such, but besides that, why even roll?
I just housed ruled so far that wizards are wizards, and as such, given enough time they are able to determine if an item is magical along with it's properties.
How is everybody else handing this? Am I missing something? Seems a little too easy to me. I am considering making a roll of "1" a "lost" result for this spell as well.
- GnomeBoy
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
That may be the point; if you're a spellcaster, you can figure out the nature of magical things -- given time. It's what your class is about, yeah? If a Wizard has an afternoon to figure out what something is, just go with their highest possible roll. If they are doing something on the fly in a dungeon or wherever, then they have to roll and may fail...Sundweller wrote:Seems a little too easy to me.
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Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
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Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
GnomeBoy wrote:That may be the point; if you're a spellcaster, you can figure out the nature of magical things -- given time. It's what your class is about, yeah? If a Wizard has an afternoon to figure out what something is, just go with their highest possible roll. If they are doing something on the fly in a dungeon or wherever, then they have to roll and may fail...Sundweller wrote:Seems a little too easy to me.
I agree. That's what I was thinking as well.
Was just curious if that's how everybody else was doing it as well...
- Raven_Crowking
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
* As per cleric spell of same name. Because the wizard version of the spell is a different spell level, the wizard receives a -2 penalty to spell checks when casting it. For example, binding is a level 2 cleric spell but a level 3 wizard spell; therefore, when rolling on the spell table, the wizard applies a -2 penalty to spell checks. On a result of natural 1, the wizard suffers a 50% chance of major corruption or misfire, rolling on the generic tables as appropriate. - DCC Core Rulebook, p. 127.
Seems to cover it.
Seems to cover it.
SoBH pbp:
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
I guess that pretty much does cover it, except that Detect Magic is a level one spell for BOTH wizards and clerics, so does that penalty still apply? Is it a penalty because they are different levels? Or is it because it is a Cleric Spell (which makes no sense to me anyway...)?Raven_Crowking wrote:* As per cleric spell of same name. Because the wizard version of the spell is a different spell level, the wizard receives a -2 penalty to spell checks when casting it. For example, binding is a level 2 cleric spell but a level 3 wizard spell; therefore, when rolling on the spell table, the wizard applies a -2 penalty to spell checks. On a result of natural 1, the wizard suffers a 50% chance of major corruption or misfire, rolling on the generic tables as appropriate. - DCC Core Rulebook, p. 127.
Seems to cover it.
- Raven_Crowking
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
Up to the judge, I guess. As I run the game, the penalty applies.
SoBH pbp:
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
Yeah, thinking I will do the same. Thanks for the input!Raven_Crowking wrote:Up to the judge, I guess. As I run the game, the penalty applies.
- Raven_Crowking
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
Any time. The -2 helps to balance not losing the spell on a 2-11.
SoBH pbp:
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Re: Detect Magic Failure
I ruled that wizards lose the spell on a 1-11.
- Ravenheart87
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
Me too. In the hands of the wizard it's a wizard spell and works like every other spell. He's still not going to cast it as a cleric.oncelor wrote:I ruled that wizards lose the spell on a 1-11.
Vorpal Mace: a humble rpg blog with some DCC-related stuff.
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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Re: Detect Magic Failure
I think I am going to go that route as well. It just makes sense and flows better with all of the other wizards spellcasting.Ravenheart87 wrote:Me too. In the hands of the wizard it's a wizard spell and works like every other spell. He's still not going to cast it as a cleric.oncelor wrote:I ruled that wizards lose the spell on a 1-11.