Would an incomplete magic item show up as magical (to spells and inspection)

[Anastopholies]

What if I had a weapon that the PCs find that when they get the killing blow on x creatures with it, it becomes complete. (Becomes stronger, Saving throw or weapon does bad thing to wielder, cursed, ect)

Would they be able to find that out before? Or maybe only with identify?

Thanks


BTW you all rock!

[Kane0]

I would say it's pretty binary, there either is magic there to detect or there isn't. The power and function of the magic are details that means magic is there in the first place.

So yeah, they PCs would know there is magic at work on the item that has a requirement before it becomes usable.

[Unoriginal]

Is the weapon already magic but only activate if X action is performed, then it'd show up as magic.

If the weapon is in the process to be built, and still need ingredients, processes, or any other steps on the formula to finish making it a magic item, then no. One might be able to identify it as a magic item not finished, though.

[Reversefigure4]

The object would have to be magical to possess such an ability, so it would register as magic.

Whether or not Identify would tell you the specific conditions to improve it is up to you. Look at scaling Weapons of Legacy and artifacts, which often work along this line.