Magic Auras

Detect magic—and, more generally, the notion of “magic auras”—works differently in Worlds of Adventure than it does in many other versions of D&D.

Detect magic detects the presence of active, ongoing spell effects (or the effects of spell-like powers and other things which are “like spells”). This is a narrower category than “everything which is in any way ‘magic’, or thought of as “magic’”! It does not include “magic items” (unless they are currently under the effects of a spell or spell-like effect, or generating such an effect) nor any other objects, etc., that are merely capable of producing spell effects in the right circumstances.

Some examples:

A wand of fire has no magic aura if it’s simply lying on a desk, or being wielded by a mage, though a magic aura briefly manifests while the wand is being used to conjure a wall of fire; the wall of fire itself also has an aura (because it’s an ongoing spell effect). A mage could cast light on the wand, causing it to glow; a magic aura would then be detected around the wand (owing to the light spell).

A cloak of elvenkind has no magic aura; its useful properties are not due to any spell effect. Neither does a sword +1 have a magic aura, nor even a flaming sword +1—though the latter would have a magic aura once its flaming property were activated! A pair of wings of flying have no aura while inactive, but once activated, manifest an aura—their power comes from active magic (which animates the wings, lightens their wearer, and enables him to control the wings with his mind and reflexes).

Neither a fire elemental nor a golem have any sort of magic aura (though if the fire elemental were summoned by a summon monster spell or similar, the spell’s aura would be detectable).

Instantaneous effects leave no permanent magic auras (though a lingering aura may be detectable for some time after the spell’s casting, as with any other spell or effect; see the Lingering Aura section of the spell description). Thus, a creature turned to stone by a flesh to stone spell has no aura; nor does a cursed creature (for curses are instantaneous effects). Likewise, material or objects brought into being by a creation spell (such as the wall conjured by a wall of iron spell) have no aura, as they—once created—are simply physical objects, and require no magic to sustain their existence.

The effects of some alchemical items produce magic auras (typically, those that replicate or closely resemble the effects of spells), though the item itself (the potion or oil, etc.) generally has no aura (as no spell effect is actually produced until the potion is drunk, the oil applied, etc.).

Enchantment magic produces a magic aura on the enchanted creature; though remember that it’s possible to hide magic auras (using spells such as misdirection or similar)!

Determining the strength and location of (and any additional information about) the magic aura of a spell effect on an object or creature requires seeing the object or creature clearly, and seeing the aura of a “free-standing” spell effect requires being able to see the space the effect occupies or affects. Thus, detect magic cannot foil invisibility (the magic auras of any spell effects on the invisible creature or object are, also, invisible); nor does it allow the user to see most illusions for what they are, since it uses the caster’s normal senses (which are fooled by the illusion magic). A creature or object that is hidden by mundane means is just as hidden from detect magic; auras do not “glow” brightly and thus give away their positions. (However, the presence of a magic aura on a hidden, invisible, obscured, or otherwise un-perceived object or creature is still detectable; as is the aura’s strength, if it’s the strongest aura in the detect magic spell’s area of effect.)

(Note that the above considerations apply to dispelling magic as well as detecting it; see dispel magic? for details.)