analyze dweomer vs identify [Archive] - Wizards Community

analyze dweomer vs identify [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Esswer
06-17-04, 08:38 AM The Identify spell identifies (!) a magical item for all enchantments including combat plusses, words of activation, charges and so on.

Analyze Dweomer can identify several items or creatures and takes much shorter time to cast, but it is limited in other ways, e.g. attended items get saving throws, and it still doesn't identify artifacts.

For a 6th level spell, I think it is very underpowered comparing it to identify. Is there a trick to the spell ?
Perpetual Wizard
06-17-04, 09:29 AM Not that I know of. It just gives you complete information about an item.

Identify is very limited, but between it and a detailed inspection by detect magic you can usually get a good idea what an item's powers are.

I think AD is a bit underpowered for a 6th level spell myself, but it has always been a good way to relieve the players of some gold if they want to know the specifics about their items.

Themz the breaks.
Beamup
06-17-04, 09:30 AM Analyze Dweomer has these advantages:

- Casting time
- No material component
- Works on multiple items per casting
- Can work (sometimes) on other people's equipment
- Identifies active spells as well as items

It's much more versatile, identifies many things identify can't, and is far more convenient to use.
Perpetual Wizard
06-17-04, 09:34 AM Well said.
meabolex
06-17-04, 09:40 AM Compare Greater Arcane Sight with Analyze Dweomer. I'd say Analyze Dweomer tells you more, but there's that save you have to put up with. A sorcerer would probably take AD because of the utility, but a wizard could prepare the GAS if he needed it. There's also the targetting issue (you need a target or targets for AD), the focus (which is expensive), and a limit of only 1 creature/object a round. AD is definitely one of the more useful 6th level spells if used properly.

IMC, cursed items can be a real pain. Fortunately:
from SRD's discussion of cursed items:
Analyze dweomer reveals the true nature of a cursed item.
That makes AD ultra-useful in the later levels.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Esswer 06-17-04, 08:38 AM	The Identify spell identifies (!) a magical item for all enchantments including combat plusses, words of activation, charges and so on. Analyze Dweomer can identify several items or creatures and takes much shorter time to cast, but it is limited in other ways, e.g. attended items get saving throws, and it still doesn't identify artifacts. For a 6th level spell, I think it is very underpowered comparing it to identify. Is there a trick to the spell ?
Perpetual Wizard 06-17-04, 09:29 AM	Not that I know of. It just gives you complete information about an item. Identify is very limited, but between it and a detailed inspection by detect magic you can usually get a good idea what an item's powers are. I think AD is a bit underpowered for a 6th level spell myself, but it has always been a good way to relieve the players of some gold if they want to know the specifics about their items. Themz the breaks.
Beamup 06-17-04, 09:30 AM	Analyze Dweomer has these advantages: - Casting time - No material component - Works on multiple items per casting - Can work (sometimes) on other people's equipment - Identifies active spells as well as items It's much more versatile, identifies many things identify can't, and is far more convenient to use.
Perpetual Wizard 06-17-04, 09:34 AM	Well said.
meabolex 06-17-04, 09:40 AM	Compare Greater Arcane Sight with Analyze Dweomer. I'd say Analyze Dweomer tells you more, but there's that save you have to put up with. A sorcerer would probably take AD because of the utility, but a wizard could prepare the GAS if he needed it. There's also the targetting issue (you need a target or targets for AD), the focus (which is expensive), and a limit of only 1 creature/object a round. AD is definitely one of the more useful 6th level spells if used properly. IMC, cursed items can be a real pain. Fortunately: from SRD's discussion of cursed items: Analyze dweomer reveals the true nature of a cursed item. That makes AD ultra-useful in the later levels.