| By touching a stone surface, the mage is able to assess certain facts about the surface. These include thickness, up to a maximum of 10 feet, plus 2 feet per rank(i.e., if the surface being touched is greater than this maximum, the mage can only discern that it is at least the maximum). The analysis will not penetrate an air gap of greater than 3 feet so if, for example, a 10th level mage casts this spell and then touches a surface that is 6 feet thick, followed by a 5 foot wide passage, and then another stone surface, all he can determine is that the surface is 6 feet thick and that it is open beyond that. He can also determine the type of stone and the relative strength. The mage can use this ability on the same surface multiple times, angling his "probe" in different directions to, for example, try to get more information about an open space beyond the wall. However, each analysis takes 1 minute. If the mage touches a stone golem or other creature made of stone with this spell then he is able to find weaknesses in the creature giving them only half their normal protection against any melee weapons the mage employs against them. |