locate object

[person29]

For locate object does the spell only find the closest object being searched for, or does it find another if that first object moves out of range, or caster moves?


For example, a cleric casts locate object for platinum. His adventuring partner has platinum coins and is the closest to the caster. Does the spell stop with having found this object and he can sense this object for the remainder of the duration?

If the partner moves away with the platinum and there is someone else with platinum coins that is now closer, are they the one now detected for the spell?

Same if the caster moves.


Thanks

[supermonkeyjoe]

You can search for general items, in which case you locate the nearest one of its kind if more than one is within range.

Platinum is a material not an object or item, you could locate Platinum coins or Platinum bars but not just platinum in general, if you located platinum coins and had one in your pocket the spell would locate that coin and that coin only.

[Falcon X]

I think this one was left ambiguous, so you need to talk it over with your DM to see which interpretation you will use.

My inclination is that it does not relocate a new item. Rather, the maximum distance is only for the initial finding of the object. As the object gets closer to the maximum distance, the clarity of it's position slowly changes until it's just a vague impression of where it is. If the spell still has duration and that object starts to get close again, it will again become clearer.
In brief: It finds and latches on to a single object for the entire duration. Distance only effects clarity.

Consider the spell "Detect Metal and Minerals" from Races of Faerun. You may have only been using platinum as an example, but it's still a spell worth considering.
While Locate Object is much better at tracking a single or distinct object, Detect Metal and Minerals is valuable for detecting many objects at the same time.