Sensory Signatures by School

While each school of magic includes a variety of different spells, itÆs possible to make some general observations about each school. Both priest and wizard spells of the listed type share some common sensory signatures.

Abjurations: Spells of this type fall into three loose categoriesùthose that create barriers, those that enhance the recipientÆs resistance to attack, and those that directly attack the offending creature or object. Barriers include spells such as protection from evil, minor globe of invulnerability, antimagic shell, or prismatic sphere; generally, these spells have a normal visible signature for their size, but donÆt produce odd smells or sounds. Spells that enhance resistance include sanctuary, nondetection, or protection from normal missiles. These enchantments have small signatures or no discernible signatures at all. Abjurations that attack the offending creature include fire trap, repulsion, or banishment; they may include sight and sound signatures as normal for their area of effect. The following are some specific examples:

Protection from evil: moderate visual;

Minor globe of invulnerability: small visual;

Banishment: small visual, small audio.

Alterations: This broad school includes spells designed to accomplish a multitude of effects. As a gross generalization, all alterations have the signatures derived from their areas of effect with a couple of notable exceptions. Alteration spells that affect other spells (the so-called ômetamagicö spells, like far reaching or RaryÆs mnemonic enhancer) and spells that imbue the caster with a quality that doesnÆt change his appearance (comprehend languages, fly, or water breathing, for example) usually have no signature at all. Specific examples appear below:

Burning hands: moderate visual and audio;

Haste: no signature at all;

Animal growth: moderate visual and audio.

Conjurations: Most conjurations involve visual sensory signatures since people on the scene notice whatever it is that just appeared, but audio signatures are unusual. Instead, olfactory signaturesùstrange smells and odorsù often accompany spells of this school. Also, tactile sensations such as chills, goosebumps, or nausea may come into play when doors to other dimensions are opened in the vicinity. The following are specific examples:

Unseen servant: small audio and tactile;

Monster summoning: moderate visual;

Power word: small audio and tactile.

Divinations: A great number of divinations have no sensory signature at all since they impart information directly to the casterÆs awareness. However, some divination spells (such as detect magic) cause the items or objects in question to glow, so that anyone nearby can see them.

Enchantments: Spells of this type that directly manipulate the subjectÆs mental or emotional state have no signature to speak of, but a few spells of this type that relay compulsions or orders, or affect objects instead of people (command, bind, ray of enfeeblement, snake charm, trip, or snare, to name a few examples) have normal sensory signatures as appropriate for their areas of effect.

Charm person: no sensory signature;

Hold person: moderate visual/tactile signature;

Ray of enfeeblement: small visual/audio signature.

Illusions: In one sense, illusions are nothing more than sensory signatures with no reality attached to them. The central spells of this schoolùphantasmal force and its various improvements and refinementsùare designed to create the largest ôsignatureö possible and may easily be observed from quite a distance away. A few illusion spells work directly on the mind of the subject and have a much smaller sensory effect; these include misdirection, phantasmal killer, or eyebite. Illusions that mask or conceal something else have no true sensory signature in and of themselves; if an invisible wizard was surrounded by a glow or gained a pungent odor, the spell would be worthless!

Phantasmal force: visual signature by area affected;

Wraithform: small visual/tactile signature;

Eyebite: no sensory signature.

Invocations: Without question, the school of invocation/ evocation includes the most spectacular spells available to a wizard or priest. Like it or not, a wizard who throws fireballs and lightning bolts is creating a fireworks show that people can see and hear for quite a distance away. Blinding flashes of light and deafening peals of thunder leave no doubt in the observerÆs mind that magic is at work here. Here are some classic examples:

Magic missile: moderate visual signature;

Fireball: huge visual, moderate audio/tactile;

Cloudkill: large visual, large olfactory.

Necromancies: While spells of this school can be extremely potent, the flash and bang of a powerful invocation isnÆt found in most necromancy spells. Most necromancy spells affect only a single subject at a time. Tactile sensations such as chills, nausea, or disorientation are somewhat more common in necromancy than thunderous detonations or weird haloes of light. The following are some good examples of necromancy spells:

Enervation: small visual/audio/tactile;

Animate dead: moderate visual/tactile;

Cure serious wounds: small visual/tactile.

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