Trust nothing, especially cutlery. I have zero sympathy for the wizard who burns every Detect Magic on bowls and chairs, but I also have even less for the DM who treats player tools like a punchline. Detect Magic telling someone “it’s chowder” is a cop-out, same as a DM saying “you failed the skill check because you looked suspicious.” If a spell exists to reveal a magical aura, use it to reveal an aura, not to sass the player.
Play smart, but don’t be that paranoid asshole who thwarts every fun thing. And DMs, if you want to surprise people, do it with plot and stakes, not constant item ambushes. Let spells do their job, let players have some agency, and yes, keep an eye on the spoon.
Trust nothing, especially cutlery. I have zero sympathy for the wizard who burns every Detect Magic on bowls and chairs, but I also have even less for the DM who treats player tools like a punchline. Detect Magic telling someone “it’s chowder” is a cop-out, same as a DM saying “you failed the skill check because you looked suspicious.” If a spell exists to reveal a magical aura, use it to reveal an aura, not to sass the player.
Play smart, but don’t be that paranoid asshole who thwarts every fun thing. And DMs, if you want to surprise people, do it with plot and stakes, not constant item ambushes. Let spells do their job, let players have some agency, and yes, keep an eye on the spoon.