View Single Post
Old 10-19-2022, 08:19 PM   #1
Shostak
 
Shostak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
Default Talent/Spell of the Week: Spellsniffer

This extremely powerful IQ 17 Thrown spell gives its subject the combined benefits of Detect and Analyze Magic out to a range of five hexes for as long as the spell is continued. For each spell, magic item, or enchantment in that area, the subject first rolls 3/IQ to detect it, and then, assuming that roll was successful, rolls 4/IQ to analyze it. With a casting cost a mere half that of Analyze Magic and the potential to simultaneously detect and analyze everything in an area of a whopping 91 hexes, this spell gives an astounding amount of benefit for the investment. For a mere 7 ST to cast and maintain it over the course of 35 seconds, Spellsniffer has the potential to rip away a myriad of Conceal spells to lay bare the nature of multitude of spells and enchantments. At IQ 17, the wizard will detect successfully 95 percent of the time, and any magic detected with be analyzed with about an 85 percent success rate.

In my experience, wizards lucky enough to reach IQ 17 rarely go long without learning this spell; it's just too practical and economical to neglect. Spellsniffer is so powerful, I've decided it is on my list of spells to disallow in future games without serious nerfing.

Conversation starters:
  • How often do you see Spellsniffer being used in your games?
  • Other than Conceal, what countermeasures against Spellsniffer have been developed in your corner of Cidri?
  • Do you use Spellsniffer as-is, or have you nerfed it (and if so, how)?
  • How has Spellsniffer gone spectacularly wrong in your games?
__________________
* * * *
Anthony Shostak
myriangia.wordpress.com
Shostak is offline   Reply With Quote