Seeing into the Ethereal plane

[nickl_2000]

So, you pick up a Robe of Eyes and now you can see into the Ethereal plane. What does that do for you? Does it mean you can see through illusions easier, can you see more creatures, can you see through walls, or is it something that doesn't pop up but is a cool little add-on?

[JackPhoenix]

You can see ethereal creatures, and that's pretty much it. Unless it also screws you up by having you see the ethereal fog that limits visibility to 60'. Ethereal creatures can't see through walls or discern illusions either... whatever's on a material plane is still visible or obstructing vision (maybe sans darkness) from the Ethereal.

[Psyren]

So, you pick up a Robe of Eyes and now you can see into the Ethereal plane. What does that do for you? Does it mean you can see through illusions easier, can you see more creatures, can you see through walls, or is it something that doesn't pop up but is a cool little add-on?

The ethereal plane is a plane that is layered on top of/out of phase with the material. In practical terms it's typically used to evade obstacles, attacks or detection on the material plane. For example, attacks, walls and other barriers don't extend onto the ethereal plane (unless specifically noted to do so, e.g. Wall of Force), so an ethereal creature can bypass any such material barriers. Ethereal creatures can also see onto the material plane but (generally) not the reverse, making it a decent tool for spying.

Some monsters that utilize it include Ghosts and Phase Spiders, and spells that utilize it include Blink and Etherealness.

Without the ability to see onto the Ethereal plane, any creatures there are invisible to your party (even if you have blindsight or see invisibility) but as noted above, they have the ability to see you. Being able to see onto the Ethereal Plane can be handy because monsters that are native to it can be right on top of your party without you realizing, and either preparing to ambush you by shifting to the Material, or ambush any of you who decides to use an ethereal movement ability to get around an obstacle, or just hang around and gather intel on you.


You can see ethereal creatures, and that's pretty much it. Unless it also screws you up by having you see the ethereal fog that limits visibility to 60'. Ethereal creatures can't see through walls or discern illusions either... whatever's on a material plane is still visible or obstructing vision (maybe sans darkness) from the Ethereal.

Effects that let you see onto the ethereal plane work out to a specified range, but that won't "screw you up" by limiting your vision on the material. For example, casting True Seeing while standing on a mountaintop on a clear day won't reduce your vision of the real world - you'll still be able to see up to a mile or two out.

[Sigreid]

You can see that pervy spirit that likes to watch you sleep. Ignorance is bliss!

[Kvess]

Because when you have stanky old Wizard Eyes, sometimes you see things that are real, and other times it’s like crazy, crazy, crazy, in your face, all the time.