Locate Object (Reversible)

(See also: Locate Spells)

This spell aids in locating a known or familiar object. The wizard casts the spell, slowly turns, and senses when he is facing in the direction of the object to be located, provided the object is within range (i.e., 60 yards for 3rd-level wizards, 80 yards for 4th, 100 yards for 5th, etc.). The spell can locate such objects as apparel, jewelry, furniture, tools, weapons, or even a ladder or stairway. Note that attempting to find a specific item, such as jewelry or a crown, requires an accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual, the spell does not work. Desired but unique objects cannot be located by this spell unless they are known by the caster. The spell is blocked by lead. Creatures cannot be found by this spell.

The material component is a forked twig.

The reversal, obscure object, hides an object from location by spell, crystal ball, or similar means for eight hours. Creatures cannot be affected by this spell. The material component is a chameleon skin.

Sage Advice

Dragon Magazine #243

Q. Back in issue 237, you wrote that a wall of force spell blocks divination spells that don’t render things visible. Does this mean that a wall of force blocks spells such as locate object? What about detect magic, which makes magical auras visible?

A. Actually, locate object falls into the same category as effects as clairvoyance and clairaudience; it bypasses the wall entirely. Detect magic allows the caster to detect magical auras. In many campaigns, the spell makes auras visible, but that’s window dressing, not part of the spell description. A detect magic spell’s area of effect will not extend through a wall of force any more than it can extend through a metal wall (though the spell will reveal the wall’s magical aura). On the other hand, spells such as detect invisibility and true seeing make things visible so long as they are within range and in the caster’s line of sight. Technically, these two spells also have areas of effect, but a wall of force is transparent to them.