Going Through the Spells: Detect Magic

Art by Publisher’s Choice Quality Stock Art ©Rick Hershey Fat Goblin Games

Detect Magic is one of the most used utility type spells. Gold and gems are great, but let's face it, we're going into tombs to grab the magical trinkets hidden behind secret doors, protected by deadly traps, and worn by those who have no interest in giving them up. It's straight forward.

Old School Essentials Mechanics
Duration: 2 turns

Range: 60'

Enchanted objects, areas, or creatures are caused to glow. Both permanent and temporary enchantments are revealed.

Another unspecified glow effect. Again, no real specification if everyone sees the glow or only the caster. Again, with these types of spells I default that only the caster can see the glow.

I am curious  why Detect Evil last for 6 turns and have a range of 120'. Is evil easier to detect than magic?

Here's the aspect of the spell I don't understand and that's the crossover. I mean it might be ticky tacky, but why would a cleric have the spell to detect magic? I understand there are magic items only clerics can use and if a cleric worships a god of magic, but it seems out of the cleric's realm. I'd love to hear what others think about this.

AD&D Mechanics

Duration: 1 turn

Range: 3"

- The cleric detects magical radiations in a path 1" wide, and up to 3" long, in the direction he or she is facing.

- The caster can turn 60 degrees per round. 

- Note that stone walls of 1' thickness, solid metal of but 1/12" thickness, or 3' or more of solid wood will block the spell. 

Wow okay. I need a carpenter to help with all these measurements. It's a shitty description. The entire description focuses on stupid thickness and how it won't work. Focus more on how the spell works. End of complaint. Nope I lied. How many times in an adventure are the thicknesses of walls given? Thickness of a metal chest? I mean 1/12" thickness, really dude?  

And the whole flashlight vision thing make no sense. So the cleric becomes a lighthouse and spins in a circle to attempt to detect magic? 

The most important absence is no information about how the cleric detects the magic. I guess rely on the old tried and true, glow trick. 

I wouldn't use this spell as written. Not at all. The Old School Essentials version is easier to use. You don't even need a ruler. 

However, it does specifically states that only the cleric detects the magic. Bravo. 

Our special guest star system tonight is OSRIC. The mother of the OSR systems! 

OSRIC Mechanics

Duration: 1 turn

Range: Caster

- Creates a tunnel of magical vision in the path of 10' wide and 30' long in which the cleric see the aura of any magical item as a glowing blue nimbus.

- The spell is blocked by solid wood 3' thick, by stone 1' thick, and by solid metal 1" thick. 

- The cleric can only scan 60 degree arc during the course of a round. Turning more quickly does not allow magic auras enough time to form in the cleric's vision.

The description on how the spell works is better in this version. I'm not a fan of measuring the thicknesses. If you can't see it, the cleric can't detect the magic. Boom.

That concludes the third entry into this series. Thanks to everyone who's participated with comments and taken the time to read the posts. It has been an education by taking a closer look at these spells. 

The New Year Spending Begins

Yesterday on the 2nd I ordered the White Box from Brave Halfling Publishing. For $25.95 its a very good price, but with the additional $10 shipping it is about what I would pay. I know in the past shipping costs have tipped the scale whether I would buy an item or not. This time I thought the value of the product was worth the shipping.

Today, I was browsing on the OSR storefront on Lulu and bought three items. I got a copy of OSRIC (the economy version), Monsters of Myth and Michael Curtis's Stonehell Dungeon. I continue educating myself with the different systems, this time OSRIC. As far as Stonehell Dungeon is concerned, I've been a big fan of Michael's blog so I figured it was a sure thing. The benefit of getting guilt free Christmas money that allows you to splurge on a few items.

I'll also throw out another plug for Rob's Suppliment VI The Majestic Wilderlands. If you haven't got a copy of this yet please do so. I am bias, but I believe its a great product for a great price.

2010 is starting out strong with my OSR purchases. I'm looking forward to all the independent products promised in resolutions blogs. I'm going to hold you to them people. I hope to squirt out a couple products here and there myself to pay for my compulsive gaming purchases. Here's to 2010 and to making it a golden year for gaming.