Detect Spells & Lingering Aura - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Detect Spells & Lingering Aura

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
toriant
Mar 26, 2013 10:07:01 When do you start to leave a lingering aura as creature? The spell description mentions dissipating spells and destroyed creatures/items, but I suspect that you can be traced, even if you just passed through. So you can use the spells also to track something, if the duration is within the timeframe. (The actual example is a paladin using Detect Evil to track a recent murder.)
Is this assumption backed up somewhere?

Thanks again in advance.
#2
Omen_of_Peace
Mar 26, 2013 20:39:11 No, you don't leave a trail of magic (resp. evil) when you have an active spell on you (resp. when you are evil).

To be able to use lingering auras to track, you'd have to have stuff expiring every other round on your target...
#3
toriant
Mar 27, 2013 10:17:38 But if there is a possibility to tell, that an evil creature has been defeated there, when does it start to leave an aura?
It seems hardly justifiable that a demon could stay in one place for a year and not leave an aura when leaving voluntarily, but a demon that has been there for an hour and then defeated is trackable for an hour or several days.
#4
Omen_of_Peace
Mar 27, 2013 13:39:04 The lingering aura starts the moment the evil creature dies.

Justification = it's Magic.
Seriously, though, not all the rules are "justifiable" (I have imagination, so I could say it's the essence of evil contained in the creature or item that slowly evaporates after it is destroyed... but that's just me). If you wish to change them at your table, feel free to do so.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 toriant Mar 26, 2013 10:07:01	When do you start to leave a lingering aura as creature? The spell description mentions dissipating spells and destroyed creatures/items, but I suspect that you can be traced, even if you just passed through. So you can use the spells also to track something, if the duration is within the timeframe. (The actual example is a paladin using Detect Evil to track a recent murder.) Is this assumption backed up somewhere? Thanks again in advance.
#2 Omen_of_Peace Mar 26, 2013 20:39:11	No, you don't leave a trail of magic (resp. evil) when you have an active spell on you (resp. when you are evil). To be able to use lingering auras to track, you'd have to have stuff expiring every other round on your target...
#3 toriant Mar 27, 2013 10:17:38	But if there is a possibility to tell, that an evil creature has been defeated there, when does it start to leave an aura? It seems hardly justifiable that a demon could stay in one place for a year and not leave an aura when leaving voluntarily, but a demon that has been there for an hour and then defeated is trackable for an hour or several days.
#4 Omen_of_Peace Mar 27, 2013 13:39:04	The lingering aura starts the moment the evil creature dies. Justification = it's Magic. Seriously, though, not all the rules are "justifiable" (I have imagination, so I could say it's the essence of evil contained in the creature or item that slowly evaporates after it is destroyed... but that's just me). If you wish to change them at your table, feel free to do so.