D&D 5E Staff of Swarming Insects

[Balfore]

Being able to see out and being heavily obscured to others...
What senses can see into the Swarm?

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[Caliban]

Being able to see out and being heavily obscured to others...
What senses can see into the Swarm?

Blindsight, Tremorsense.

 

[Balfore]

Thanks buddy.
That makes it to only a couple PCs can see the target

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[jaelis]

Wonder how it would work if you cast clairvoyance or arcane eye and put the sensor at the center of the swarm. Technically you could then see the caster.

 

[Balfore]

Still wouldn't be able to target them with a spell or melee, right?

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[jaelis]

Well, the bugs don't provide cover. And you only take penalties when you can't see the target. So technically I think it would work. But I'm not quite sure if I would allow it or not. If you say the spells give you mental knowledge of where the sensor is (which seems kind of reasonable), then why wouldn't you know where the caster is?

 

[Balfore]

The bugs make you heavily obscured

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[jaelis]

True I'm assuming if the sensor is right on top of the caster then you can see him, because there aren't any bugs in the way. But maybe you say that the bugs are so thick you can't see the caster even if you're right on top of him.

 

[Balfore]

I would say that both rely on seeing, and either way, you would still have disadvantage to see, using perception.
Clairvoyence uses your sight.
And the arcane eye still 'sees'.
Neither see thru magic.

"While holding the staff, you can use an action and expend 1 charge to cause a swarm of harmless flying insects to spread out in a 30-foot radius from you. The insects remain for 10 minutes, making the area heavily obscured for creatures other than you. The swarm moves with you, remaining centered on you. "

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[Caliban]

Unless you want to get really picky about the use of the word "Creatures", I agree with Balfore - the insects are just that thick in the air. Everything is heavily obscured, except for the caster. (Either you are seeing through the insect's eyes or they are magically moving out of the way of whatever you are looking at. Or it's just magic.)