What happens when I dual cast detect life? Ive tested it and so far the single cast is just as powerful. Haven't tested it extensively but don't notice the diff. between the 2.

The only thing I could think of that would "improve" detect life is a longer range. I've never tried dual casting detect life, then I don't use dual casting anything.

Ya I figured that as well. I honestly can't think of any other way dual casting would work for this spell...

you would think it would extend the detect range, but best I can tell it just causes your mana to deplete much faster.

There's a Detect Life spell in this game? I thought it was only a Shout.

Haha yep, detect life AND dead!

Too bad dual casting these has no true purpose...

Bump to see if anyone else knows

Detect life has been a spell for a long while. Shouts are the new comers. And detect dead -- that one's a new comer, too.

EDIT: I can only assume dual casting would increase the range of detect life, since there is no magnitude. I'll sneak up to an enemy later and play around with distances and dual casting.

Duration would be superior to distance in my opinion, as long as you have decent distance to begin with.
Life detect works great with stealth. You don't have to be as cautious because you always know when you have to be sneaky, and where to take out targets without alerting them all at once.

detect life + detect dead = you see every thing.
cant count how many time i had to use the dead one to find the svcka after i bowed it off somthing and it shot back like a rabbit hitting and electric fence. i want my loot even if it is a buch of stuff i have like a million copies of, in every chest in my houses, and it takes me a year to find something. would it hurt them to have the subs, in your chest houses, i got poisons, and soul gems for pages on end. and what the heck am i going to do with 5 million dragon scales and bones, really i have been making armor for the guards and reverse pickpocketing, that and enchanted/ sharp swords. do they equip them Nooooooooooo, they just say that they know me and next thing i know i got to give them some money or have a sleep over with them. i guess getting an arrow in the knee makes a person lonely.

Who sells you a detect life spell? I'm not a mage but I would find it really handy.

It drains your mana faster.

There are a few spells, like detect undead, that are only a waste of mana when dual casting.

Detect Life/Undead
Clairvoyance
Telekinesis
Muffle

etc

muffle increases duration when dual casted, IIRC

Doesn't seem to for me.

I thought it would add duration to Telekinesis, but it doesn't.

Clairvoyance is pretty much a given that it does nothing when dual/over cast; though I still did it just to see.

It becomes twice as useless.

it goes from lasting 2 to 6 minutes for me.

Somewhat off topic, but does muffle bug out when you dual cast it? whenever i dual cast muffle or invisibility the spell effect in my right hand stays and the one in my left hand floats between both my hands.

>implying that it's useless normally.

Unlike Oblivion/Fallout 3, enemies do not show up as dots on your compass until you are both rather close to them and they are looking for you. This range is really short. If you're a sneaky character, Detect Life is a Divine-send for spotting AOS mobs long before they show up on your compass (which means they are coming for you).

Any court wizard or mage at the College, I'd imagine. Although, as with all other spells, you will never even see them available for purchase unless your skill in the corresponding school of magic is of a proper level.

Dang, why wouldn't they make it twice as effective?

Although I tend to use the shout counterpart (not a mage), I find it immensely useful. It gives you an idea on what to expect, then maybe follow up with Throw Voice to gather them at a nice place you can reach them from but they can't reach you. It shows enemies that "hides" prior to getting activated as well, adding to your situational awareness. By far my most used "magic" in this game for my current build.

It does nothing, dual casting does not increase the range. Single cast it.