Campaign Design - Spells: Detect Dimensional Disturbance

Detect Dimensional Disturbance (adapted from Shamans: Call of the Wild)
Divination

Level: Cleric/Favored Soul 2, Sorcerer/Wizard 3, Spirit 2
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 60 feet
Target, Effect, or Area: Quarter circle, extending from you to the extreme of the range

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute per caster level (D)

Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You detect whether something has disturbed the barriers between the Three Worlds and the rest. The effects that this spell detects include (but are not limited to) the spells astral projection, commune, contact other plane, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, planar ally (and all its variants), planar binding (and all its variants), teleport (and all its variants), and all summon spells as well as spells with the summoning descriptor. In addition, all spells with the shadow descriptor are detected by this spell. Supernatural and spell-like abilities that emulate these spells, like the ability to materialize from the Spirit Realm, the ethereal, or astral planes of incorporeal undead and spirits, also become evident to the caster. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.

1^st Round: Presence or absence of dimensional disturbances.

2^nd Round: Number of different dimensional disturbances and the power of the most potent dimensional disturbance.

3^rd Round: The strength and location of each dimensional disturbance. If the dimensional disturbances are in line of sight, you can make Spellcraft skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. Make one check per aura; DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + half caster level for a nonspell effect.

Dimensionally disturbed areas, multiple types of dimensional disturbances, or strong local dimensional emanations may distort or conceal weaker dimensional disturbances.

Disturbance Strength: A disturbance’s power depends on a spell’s functioning spell level or an item’s caster level. If a dimensional disturbance falls into more than one category, detect dimensional disturbance indicates the stronger of the two.

	Disturbance Power
Spell or Object	Faint	Moderate	Strong	Overwhelming
Functioning spell (spell level)	3rd or lower	4th - 6th	7th - 9th	10th+ (deity-level)
Magic item (caster level)	5th or lower	6th - 11th	12th - 20th	21st+ (artifact)

Lingering Aura: The aura of a dimensional disturbance lingers after its original source dissipates (in the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a magic item). If detect dimensional disturbance is cast and directed at such a location, the spell indicates an dimensional disturbance strength of dim (even weaker than a faint aura). How long the disturbance lingers at this dim level depends on its original power:

Original Strength	Duration of Lingering Aura
Faint	1d6 rounds
Moderate	1d6 minutes
Strong	1d6 × 10 minutes
Overwhelming	1d6 days

Outsiders and elementals are not dimensional disturbances in themselves, but if they are summoned, the conjuration spell registers.

Each round, you can turn to detect dimensional disturbances in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.

Detect dimensional disturbance can be made permanent with a permanency spell.

Home     Three Worlds     Spell List