Spotting a scrying sensor?

[Plane Sailing]

In 3.5 are there any rules for spotting a scrying sensor? I was just reading the 3.5 scry spell and it seems as if either the target saves and you don't scry them or fails the save and you scry them... what is the chance of the target or someone nearby noticing the scrying sensor?

Aha, hidden away on p173 under the information about divination spells in general. DC20 Int check. Wonder why it was hidden there instead of in the spell description where the rules would be most useful?

Cheers

 

[shilsen]

a) Because there's more than one spell which uses a scrying sensor, so it saves space to not repeat it every time.

b) Because it keeps us at this forum in business.

Take your pick

 

[Tessarael]

Unfortunately, this fails to explain the line in the Spymaster Scrying Defense ability, "a spymaster adds her class level to Will saves against Divination (scrying) spells , as well as to
Spot checks made to noticed the sensors created by such spells."

In Song and Silence, it was a DC 20 Spot check. Were they intending to keep this? Did they mean instead it gave a bonus to the INT check?

Bad author *spank spank*. Overall, Complete Adventurer looks good, but one or two things like this are frustrating for someone who wants to use the class. Particularly as the mechanics in this case did work in Song and Silence.

 

[shilsen]

Unfortunately, this fails to explain the line in the Spymaster Scrying Defense ability, "a spymaster adds her class level to Will saves against Divination (scrying) spells , as well as to
Spot checks made to noticed the sensors created by such spells."

In Song and Silence, it was a DC 20 Spot check. Were they intending to keep this? Did they mean instead it gave a bonus to the INT check?

I'd use it as a bonus to the Int check. I assume it's just a case of the person changing the class to 3.5 forgetting or not noticing that the rule for noticing a sensor has changed.

 

[jodyjohnson]

For Spot I'd make it a check to see an invisible immobile fine object. The spot DC would be well above DC40 due to size and distance (distance varies).

The Int check to detect would be easier for most short of the higher levels.

 

[Tessarael]

I'd use it as a bonus to the Int check. I assume it's just a case of the person changing the class to 3.5 forgetting or not noticing that the rule for noticing a sensor has changed.

Well, in Song & Silence, they had an explicit rule for spotting scrying sensors in the Spymaster description (DC 20 Spot check - it was a special Spymaster ability). I haven't seen anything anywhere else that allowed a spot check for scrying sensors (other than Prying Eyes, where they have an explicit Hide check).

 

[shilsen]

Well, in Song & Silence, they had an explicit rule for spotting scrying sensors in the Spymaster description (DC 20 Spot check - it was a special Spymaster ability). I haven't seen anything anywhere else that allowed a spot check for scrying sensors (other than Prying Eyes, where they have an explicit Hide check).

Good point. Since the ability is a bonus now, I think it would be appropriate to use it as a bonus on the normal action (which, in this case, is an Int check to note the sensor).