How to locate a high level spellcaster who does not want to be found?

[Melcar]

Lets assume you have a spell-caster like Elminster or the Simbul and one day they just went missing... Lets assume that they would have been optimized, WBL etc. but taking their lore into consideration too...

Now how would one go about locating them, if they - or some other entity - did not want them to be found?

What would be some spells, items, class features or feats that might aid in locating them, if they were actively trying not to be found?

Thanks!

[Quertus]

Doubtless, Teleport Through Time, back to Second Edition, would prove hilarious :smallbiggrin:

Also, would likely take you back to a time before they were hiding.

"Found you!"

'…huh?"

[Fizban]

First you list all available divination and anti-divination effects. Then you throw it all out because Wish is the only thing that beats everything and epic characters can Wish whenever they want. So the question is: does Wish to find beat Wish to hide?

[Biggus]

First you list all available divination and anti-divination effects. Then you throw it all out because Wish is the only thing that beats everything and epic characters can Wish whenever they want. So the question is: does Wish to find beat Wish to hide?

Mind Blank specifically says it beats Wish. Whether it automatically beats epic divinations or not is debatable.

[Gnaeus]

Arguably, you could do it with epic skill use. I don’t think you can gather information that no one knows, but I’ve heard that argument made. Maybe someone somewhere DOES know where they are. Or an epic knowledge check might give you some clue from their history or personality. Using magic to boost your check is easier than affecting them directly. Best case, the knowledge check might give you an object or ally you could then cast divinations on. Like if they always kept a picture of their grandkids on the wall and you could then cast commune on the portrait of Elminsters family.

[hamishspence]

Metafaculty beats Mind Blank and Wish - if you make the caster level checks required:

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/metafaculty.htm

but it loses to Epic spells that obscure divinations/clairsentience powers.

[Biggus]

Arguably, you could do it with epic skill use. I don’t think you can gather information that no one knows, but I’ve heard that argument made. Maybe someone somewhere DOES know where they are. Or an epic knowledge check might give you some clue from their history or personality. Using magic to boost your check is easier than affecting them directly. Best case, the knowledge check might give you an object or ally you could then cast divinations on. Like if they always kept a picture of their grandkids on the wall and you could then cast commune on the portrait of Elminsters family.

In a similar vein, a DC30 bardic knowledge check can reveal information "known only by those who don’t understand the significance of the knowledge". So, if the hidden mage has interacted with anyone since they left you could find out that a strange old man who keeps to himself turned up the very day that Elminster vanished (or something to that effect) even if they haven't told a single person who they are.