RPG: Manor’s Mindsight Spell
Originally part of the Landforger Project on Fidonet. Written for AD&D, but with little modification will work in DND D20
Manor’s Mindsight
Alteration
Level: 5
Range: special
Duration: 1 Turn/lvl.
Area of Effect: Creature Touched
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 6
Save: None
By means of this spell, a wizard gains the ability to “see” everything within a range of 20′ plus 10/ per two levels of the caster, regardless of intervening objects of any sort. No actual sensory organs are needed for the spell to function, and thus the mage may be blindfolded or in a completely dark room while using the mindsight spell. Furthermore, everything within the radius of the spell is perceived simultaneously; hence there is no need for the mage to look up or down to “see” objects above or below him.
Mind sight does not light a darkened area, though, so the mage would still perceive a dark room as a dark room, not a lighted one. The mage may overcome this obstacle by using the mindsight spell in conjunction with a darksense, infravision, or ultravision spell.
When using Manor’s Mindsight, a mage may not perceive illusions or phantasms for what they really are (unless his intelligence would normally allow him to distinguish between the illusion and reality), nor may he distinguish between magical objects and non-magical items, or make distinctions of alignment. Similarly, the mage cannot see traps, tricks, pits, magical symbols, or other invisible or magically concealed items or objects, unless he would be able to detect such items normally. A mage may surmount the problem by casting spells such as detect invisible, detect evil, detect magic, etc. previous to the actual casting of mindsight. These spells may be used with mindsight even if the radius of such spells are not equal to the radius of the mindsight spell.
The mage maintain the mindsight spell without concentration, and may move, cast spells, and engage in other activities while mindsight is in effect. If the mage wishes to view anything through the spell, however, he must concentrate and is then unable to move, cast spells, or engage in any strenuous activities. If the mage is attacked while concentrating on the mindsight, the spell is not ruined and the caster may resume viewing after combat is resolved.
The material component of the spell is the preserved eye of a blink dog, which is reusable.