Identify Artifact (sage ability)

Identify Artifact is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Artifacts (study) which enables the character to determine, from close examination of an item (where it may be done at leisure), whether or not a given magic item is potentially an artifact. The knowledge extends to the probability that the object has an ego or special powers, but does not identify what those powers are or allow the character to communicate with the item. In fact, no special knowledge of the item is given, unless the item happens to be one about which the character has studied.

The ability is perhaps most important where it serves to remove any possibility of the item being an artifact. This is the ability's primary purpose — so that there can remain no chance whatsoever that the character can be in error here. The knowledge presupposes that artifacts, by nature of their construction and by the power of the item's existing ego, give clues to their true nature for those able to recognize those clues.

The character can — so long as the item is an artifact — also identify that the item is magical. The amateur character cannot, as said above, offer further details.

See Artifacts (list)