Identify Magic Items with Spellcraft? (MIC) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Identify Magic Items with Spellcraft? (MIC) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zaister
03-12-07, 06:57 PM In the back of the Magic Item Compendium, Chapter 6, "Using Magic Items", p.217, there's a list of how to find out information about magic items. Under Skill Checks/Spellcraft the book lists that a character that uses detect magic and beats the Spellcraft DC to determine the school by 10 or more can "magically divine the item's functions, its means of activation and the number of charges remaining."

Is this a completely new rule introduced in this book or was this stated in some other rulebook before?

The book als say you can "identfiy" an item by using "Use Magic Device" and beating the DC by 5 or more. This also seems like a new rule to me.

Does this make identify redundant? Do you think it is balanced?
WinterPsionic
03-12-07, 07:01 PM I had heard the former part before, regarding Detect Magic and spellcraft to determine some of the "minor qualities", I'm not sure about the UMD though, I suppose with enough ranks it could make since depending on the cost and CL of the item in question. I wasn't aware either came out with the same effect as an identify spell though...
Part-Human2
03-13-07, 12:30 AM It's the Magical Appraisal skill trick in Complete Scoundrel but that requires 5 ranks in Appraisal, 5 in Know (Arcana) and 12 Spellcraft.

Also looks like the Epic use of the skill Spellcraft. Spellcraft

The character can identify properties of a magic item.
Task DC
Identify basic property of magic item 50 + caster level
Identify all properties of magic item 70 + caster level
Quick identification of alchemical substances and potions 50

Identify Basic Property of Magic Item: This use of the skill requires one round of inspection, and functions exactly as if the character had cast an identify spell on the item. A character can’t attempt this on the same item more than once.

Identify All Properties of Magic Item: This requires one minute of inspection, and reveals all properties of a single magic item (including command words and charges remaining). A character can’t attempt this on the same item more than once. If an item has different caster levels for different properties, use the highest caster level.

Quick Identification: A character can identify a substance or potion in the field as a full-round action, without an alchemical lab or any cost. The character can’t retry this check (or take 20); if he or she fails, the character must identify the substance in an alchemical lab, as normal.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zaister 03-12-07, 06:57 PM	In the back of the Magic Item Compendium, Chapter 6, "Using Magic Items", p.217, there's a list of how to find out information about magic items. Under Skill Checks/Spellcraft the book lists that a character that uses detect magic and beats the Spellcraft DC to determine the school by 10 or more can "magically divine the item's functions, its means of activation and the number of charges remaining." Is this a completely new rule introduced in this book or was this stated in some other rulebook before? The book als say you can "identfiy" an item by using "Use Magic Device" and beating the DC by 5 or more. This also seems like a new rule to me. Does this make identify redundant? Do you think it is balanced?
WinterPsionic 03-12-07, 07:01 PM	I had heard the former part before, regarding Detect Magic and spellcraft to determine some of the "minor qualities", I'm not sure about the UMD though, I suppose with enough ranks it could make since depending on the cost and CL of the item in question. I wasn't aware either came out with the same effect as an identify spell though...
Part-Human2 03-13-07, 12:30 AM	It's the Magical Appraisal skill trick in Complete Scoundrel but that requires 5 ranks in Appraisal, 5 in Know (Arcana) and 12 Spellcraft. Also looks like the Epic use of the skill Spellcraft. Spellcraft The character can identify properties of a magic item. Task DC Identify basic property of magic item 50 + caster level Identify all properties of magic item 70 + caster level Quick identification of alchemical substances and potions 50 Identify Basic Property of Magic Item: This use of the skill requires one round of inspection, and functions exactly as if the character had cast an identify spell on the item. A character can’t attempt this on the same item more than once. Identify All Properties of Magic Item: This requires one minute of inspection, and reveals all properties of a single magic item (including command words and charges remaining). A character can’t attempt this on the same item more than once. If an item has different caster levels for different properties, use the highest caster level. Quick Identification: A character can identify a substance or potion in the field as a full-round action, without an alchemical lab or any cost. The character can’t retry this check (or take 20); if he or she fails, the character must identify the substance in an alchemical lab, as normal.