AD&D 2nd Edition

Everything I have for Second Edition

Tag Archives: Divination


Foresight

Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 2d4 rds + 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 1 rd
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

This spell grants the caster a powerful 6th sense in relation to himself or another. Although cast upon himself, the wizard can specify that he or another is the beneficiary of the spell. Once the spell is cast, the wizard receives instantaneous warnings of impending danger or harm to the object of the spell. Thus, if he were the object of the spell, the wizard would be warned in advance if a thief were about to attempt to backstab him, or if a creature were about to leap out from an unexpected direction, or if an attacker were specifically targeting him with a spell or missile weapon. When the warnings are about him personally, the wizard cannot be surprised and always knows the direction from which any attack on him is made. In addition, the spell gives the wizard a general idea of what action he might take to best protect himself-duck, jump right, close his eyes, etc-and give him a defensive bonus of 2 to his Armor Class. When another person is the object of the spell, the wizard receives warnings about that person. He must still communicate this to the other person to negate any surprise. Shouting a warning, yanking the person back, and even telepathically communicating through a crystal ball can all be accomplished before the trap is sprung, if the wizard does not hesitate. However, the object of the spell does not gain the defensive bonus to his Armor Class. The material component for this spell is a hummingbird’s feather.

Screen

Range: 0
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hr/level
Casting Time: 1 turn
Area of Effect: 30 ft cube/level
Saving Throw: Special

This spell combines several elements to create a powerful protection from scrying and direct observation. when the spell is cast, the wizard dictates what will and will not be observed in the area of effect. The illusion created must be stated in general terms. Thus, the caster could specify the illusion of him and another playing chess for the duration of the spell, but he could not have the illusionary chess players take a break, make dinner, and then resume their game. He could have a crossroads appear quiet and empty even while an army is actually passing through the area. He could specify that no one be seen (including passing strangers), that his troops be undetected, or even that every fifty man or unit should be visible. Once the conditions are set, they cannot be changed. Attempts to scry the area automatically detect the image stated by the caster with no saving throw allowed. Sight and sound are appropriate to the illusion created. A band of men standing in a meadow could be concealed as an empty meadow with birds chirping, etc. Direct observation may allow a saving throw (as per a normal illusion), if there is cause to disbelieve what is seen. Certainly onlookers in the area would become suspicious if the column of a marching army disappeared at one point to reappear at another! Even entering the area does not cancel the illusion or necessarily allow a saving throw, assuming the hidden beings take care to stay out of the way of those affected by the illusion.

Vision

Range: 0 
Components: V, S, M 
Duration: Special 
Casting Time: 7
Area of Effect: The caster 
Saving Throw: None

When a wizard wishes to gain supernatural guidance, he casts a vision spell, calling upon whatever power he desires aid from and asking a question that will be answered with a vision. Two six-sided dice are rolled. If they total 2 to 6, the power is annoyed and refuses to answer the question; instead, the power causes the wizard to perform some service (by an ultrapowerful geas or quest). If the dice total 7 to 9, the power is indifferent and give some minor vision, though it may be unrelated to the question. If the dice total 10 or better, the power grants the vision. The material component of the spell is the sacrifice of something valued by the spellcaster or by the power supplicated. The more precious the sacrifice, the better the chance of spell success. A very precious item grants a bonus of +1 to the dice roll, an extremely precious item adds +2, and a priceless item adds +3.

True Seeing

Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: Line of sight, max. 60 ft
Saving Throw: None

When the wizard employs this spell, he confers upon the recipient the ability to see all things as they actually are. The spell penetrates normal and magical darkness. Secret doors become plain. The exact location of displaced things is obvious. Invisible things become visible. Illusions and apparitions are seen through. Polymorphed, changed, or enchanted objects are apparent. (The real form appears translucently superimposed on the apparent form: A gold dragon polymorphed to human form would appear human with a ghostly dragon looming over the human form.) Unlike the clerical version of this spell, the recipient cannot determine alignment. The recipient can focus his vision to see into the Ethereal Plane or the bordering areas of adjacent planes. The range of vision conferred is 60 feet. True seeing does not penetrate solid objects; it in no way confers X-ray vision or its equivalent. Furthermore, the spell effects cannot be enhanced with magic. The spell requires an ointment for the eyes that is made form a very rare mushroom powder, saffron, and fat. It costs no less than 300 gp per use and must be aged for 1d6 months.

Legend Lore

Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

The legend lore spell is used to determine legendary information regarding a known person, place, or thing. If the person or thing is at hand, or if the wizard is in the place in question, the likelihood of the spell producing results is far greater and the casting time is only 1d4 turns. If only detailed information on the person, place, or thing is known, casting time is 1d10 days. If only rumors are known, casting time is 2d6 weeks. During the casting, the wizard cannot engage in activities other than the routine: eating, sleeping, etc. When completed, the divination reveals if legendary material is available. It often reveals where this material is-by place name, thyme, or riddle. It sometimes gives certain information regarding the person, place, or thing (when the object of the legend lore is at hand), but this data is always in some cryptic form (rhyme, riddle, anagram, cipher, sign, etc). Naturally, a legend lore spell reveals information only if the person, place, or thing is noteworthy or legendary. For example, suppose Delsenora came across an extremely well-made sword. It radiates magic, but when she used an identify spell, she could not learn any information. Even giving it to a trusted fighter didn’t work, as the sword did not reveal any special powers. Finally, she casts a legend lore spell, hoping to gain more information. Since the sword is at hand, she completes the spell in 3 turns. In her mind comes the message, “once this was the sword of he who waits till Albion’s time of greatest peril, when unto his hand it shall fly again. Fair was the hand that gave me and fair was the hand that reclaimed me.” Clearly, Delsenora realizes, this must be a very powerful item, since her spell gave only a cryptic answer. But who is he who waits? And where is Albion? For more information, Delsenora is going to have to cast more spells. But now the process will take much longer, since she has only the vaguest of clues to follow. The legend lore spell is cast with incense and strips of ivory formed into a rectangle, but some item of value to the caster must be sacrificed in addition-a potion, magical scroll, magical item, etc.

False Vision

Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1d4 rds + 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: 30 ft radius
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast, the wizard is able to confound any attempt to scry (by means of either a spell or a magical device) any point within the area of effect of the spell. To use the spell, he must be aware of the scrying attempt, although knowledge of the scryer or the scryer’s location is not necessary. Upon casting the spell, the caster and all he desires within the radius of the spell become undetectable to the scrying. Furthermore, the caster is able to send whatever message he desires, including vision and sound, according to the medium of the scrying method. To do this, the caster must concentrate on the message he is sending. Once concentration is broken, no further images can be sent, although the caster remains undetectable for the duration of the spell. The material component for this spell is the ground dust of an emerald worth at least 500 gp, which is sprinkled into the air when the spell is cast.

Contact Other Plane

Range: 0
Components: V
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 1 turn
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast, the wizard sends his mind to another plane of existence in order to receive advice and information from powers there. As these powers resent such contact, only brief answers are given. (The DM answers all questions with “yes”, “no”, “maybe”, “never”, “irrelevant”, etc.) Any questions asked are answered by the power during the spell’s duration. The character con contact an elemental plane or some plane farther removed. For every two levels of experience of the wizard, one question may be asked. Contact with minds far removed from the plane of the wizard increases the probability of the spellcaster going insane or dying, but the chance of the power knowing the answer, as well as the probability of the being telling the correct answer, are likewise increased by moving to distant planes. Once the Outer Planes are reached, the Intelligence of the power contacted determines the effects. The accompanying random table is subject to DM changes, development of extraplanar NPC beings, and so on. If insanity occurs, it strikes as soon as the first questions is asked. This condition lasts for one week for each removal of the plane contacted (see the DMG or the PLANESCAPE Campaign Setting boxed set), to a maximum of 10 weeks. There is a 1% chance per plane that the wizard dies before recovering, unless a remove curse spell is cast upon him. A surviving wizard can recall the answer to the question. On rare occasions, this divination may be blocked by the action of certain lesser or greater powers.

Plane Chance of Insanity*    Chance of Knowledge    Chance of Veracity**
Elemental Plane 20% 55% (90%) 62% (75%)
Inner Plane 25% 60% 65%
Astral Plane 30% 65% 67%
Outer Plane, Int 19      35% 70% 70%
Outer Plane, Int 20 40% 75% 73%
Outer Plane, Int 21 45% 80% 75%
Outer Plane, Int 22 50% 85% 78%
Outer Plane, Int 23 55% 90% 81%
Outer Plane, Int 24 60% 95% 85%
Outer Plane, Int 25 65% 98% 90%

* For every point of Intelligence of 15, the wizard reduces the chance of insanity by 5%.

** If the being does not know an answer, and the chance of veracity is not made, the being will emphatically give an incorrect answer. If the chance of veracity is made, the being will answer “unknown”. Percentages in parentheses are for questions that pertain to the appropriate elemental plane.

Optional Rule
The DM may allow a specific Outer Plane to be contacted (see the PLANESCAPE Campaign Setting boxed set). In this case, the difference in alignment between the caster and the plane contacted alters the maximum Intelligence that can be contacted-each difference in moral or ethical example, an 18t level lawful good caster could contact Mount Celestia (a lawful good plane) on the “Intelligence 20” line, or Elysium ( a neutral good plane) on the “Intelligence 19” line.

Magic Mirror

Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 1 hour
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell, the wizard changes a normal mirror into a scrying device similar to a crystal ball. The details of the use of such a scrying device are found in the DMG (in Appendix 3: Magical Item Description, under the description for the crystal ball). The mirror used must be of finely wrought and highly polished silver and cost not less than 1,000 gp. This mirror is not harmed by casting the spell, but the other material components – the eye of a hawk, an eagle, or even a roc, and nitric acid, copper, and zinc – are used up. The following spells can be cast through a magic mirror: comprehend languages, read magic, tongues, and infravision. The following spells have a 5% chance per level of the caster of operating correctly: detect magic, detect good or evil, and message. The base chances for the subject to detect any crystal ball-like spell are listed in the DMG (again, in Appendix 3: Magical Item Description, under the description for the crystal ball).

Detect Scrying

Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1d6 turns + 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: 120 ft radius
Saving Throw: Special

By means of this spell, the wizard immediately become aware of any attempt to observe him by means of clairvoyance, clairaudience, or magic mirror. This also reveals the use of crystal balls or other magical scrying devices, provided the attempt is within the area of effect of the spell. Since the spell is centered on the spellcaster, it moves with him, enabling him to “sweep” areas for the duration of the spell. When a scrying attempt is detected, the scryer must immediately roll a saving throw. If this is failed, the identity and general location of the scryer immediately become known to the wizard who cast this spell. The general location is a direction and significant landmark close to the scryer. Thus, the caster might learn, “The wizard Sniggel spies on us from east, under the stairs,” or, “You are watched by Asquil in the city of Samarquol.” The material components for this spell are a small piece of mirror and a miniature brass hearing trumpet.

Clairvoyance

Range: Unlimited
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: Line of sight
Saving Throw: None

Similar to the clairaudience spell, the clairvoyance spell empowers the wizard to see in his mind whatever is within sight range from the spell locale chosen. Distance from the wizard is not a factor, but the locale must be known – familiar or obvious. Furthermore, light is a factor, as the spell does not enable the use of infravision or magical enhancements. If the area is magically dark, only darkness is seen; if naturally pitch dark, only a 10 foot radius from the center of the spell’s area of effect can be seen. Otherwise, the seeing extends to the normal vision range according to the prevailing light. Lead sheeting or magical protection foils a clairvoyance spell, and the wizard has some indication that it is so blocked. The spell creature an invisible sensor, similar to that created by a crystal ball, that can be dispelled. The spell functions only on the wizard’s current plane of existence. The material component is a pinch of powdered pineal gland.