Scrying

Scrying
Spell Information
Spell level :	Innate level: 4, Bard: 3, Cleric: 5, Druid: 4, Sorcerer/Wizard: 4, Other: Cleric with Fate, Planning, or Travel domain 2
School :	Divination
Descriptor(s) :	Scrying
Components :	Verbal and Somatic
Range :	Personal
Target/Area :	A scrying sensor
Duration :	30 seconds / level
Save :	Will special
Spell resistance :	Yes

Description

You create an invisible magical sensor (as a familiar) that sends you visual information. You must create the scrying sensor at your location, but can possess it to then travel outside your line of sight without hindrance. A scrying sensor travels at 30 feet per round (300 feet per minute) if viewing an area ahead as a human would or 10 feet per round (100 feet per minute) in Search mode. It sees exactly as you would see if you were there ((uses Caster's Spot and Spellcraft, and a few other sensory skills)).

The sensor can travel in any direction as long as the spell lasts. Solid barriers block its passage, but it can pass through a hole or space as small as 1 inch in diameter. The sensor can Blink ((Creature feat)) to any location within 60 ft. that it has clear line-of-sight to. The eye can’t enter another plane of existence, even through a gate or similar magical portal, nor can it travel through open doors or transitions. The sensor is immune to most effects but has 10 HP and takes damage normally from all sources. If the sensor is destroyed for any reason, the caster takes 2 Con Drain that lasts through rests until cured.

Every creature that enters audible range of the sensor is permitted a Will-save. If the subject succeeds on a Will save or Spell-Resistance check, the scrying sensor is recalled to the caster, and any attempt to scry near that subject again until the next reset will automatically recall the sensor. Saving throws are made silently. If a saving throw against the spell's DC succeeds then the sensor is recalled to the caster. Saving throws are performed every round, for every non-friendly creature in close proxmity to the sensor that has neither saved nor failed the save against the individual casting. Non-Detection and Mind Blank on a nearby subject will automatically save against and recall the sensor when the check is made. Party members are considered willing and will bypass the recall rolls.

You must concentrate to use an scrying sensor. If you do not concentrate, the sensor is inert until you again concentrate, and the sensor must be nearby the caster to be possessed again.

Scrying may be detected with Detect Scrying, in which case the sensor may be detected and the Detecting character may perform a spellcraft check against the spell's DC to identify the caster. If successful, both parties are informed and the eavesdropping party will have auto-consented to PvP.

Gameplay Notes

This spell takes one minute to cast (10 total castings).

Detect Scrying will spot and potentially ID the sensor at 30% larger radius than Local-Say.

The Blink ability of the Scrying Sensor is located under Feats, and must be manually allocated each casting.

Having a scrying sensor active while near a target that succeeds it's save can spam the combat-log of the caster. A target with Detect Scrying will also be spammed.

Scrying with a low save DC can be used to detect and identify hidden characters through contrapositive detection methods. The revealed name is an OOC notice and should not be metagamed.

Bugs

Scrying sensors can cast Touch Spells (As familiars), but have Spell Failure and should not be capable of it.

The duration is listed as 1/2 Minute/level, but is actually a fixed CL 10 due to multi-round casting bug.

The Scrying DC used to be shown on completion of the cast, but no longer does. (since Feb 2022)

As with all multi-round casts, any change-of-state of the caster can interrupt and ruin the cast (such as joining/leaving a party, opening the Server-Scry window, or moving), forcing the completion by single casts.

[Updated to reflect Apr.29 2022 changes]