What does the dratted Clairvoyance spell do? Early in the game, I got totally lost in a dungeon. After that, I bought the Clairvoyance spell. But I've tried using it several times, and nothing seems to happen.

Now, I wasn't expecting red neon arrows to light my way. Nor was I expecting a leprechaun dressed in silver to take me by the hand and lead me onward. But I was expecting something to happen. I see no change in the map. I see no change in my environs. I see no will-o'-the-wisp, no phosphorescent light, no ... nothing.

I feel like going back to the vendor and demand my money back, Or threaten to sue for false advertising.

You have to hold down the spell for it to glow, you cant just click and expect a duration. Sad part is that it is actually quite expensive for a new character considering what its purpose is (to help you find your way around) and also, it has been known to be wrong, and/or pointing at different objectives than you actually want.

I didn't see it at first either. It is a very brief trail of smoke along the floor. Poof - that's it. If you don't see it, turn around becuase it's probably behind you.

Also remember that you need to activate the quest in your journal. If none is activated, Clairvoyance doesn't have any destination to lead you to.

First, you have to have a quest objective marked. Then, when you use Clairvoyance, it will show you a path to that quest objective. That is all.
If you are a heavy magic user, you can use Clairvoyance to get your Illusion skill up a bit, until you get Muffle. Then use Muffle at will in town to buff your Illusion to 100.

P.S. Using Muffle + Invisibility to torment guards not only looks cool, it's very fun, and doesn't hurt them at all. So they will get upset and chase you around telling you to stop, but they won't hit you or anything, just get really angry. It's a real treat!

P.S. You can get a free copy in Embershard mine (between guardian stones and Riverwood)

It points you in the direction of your nearest active quest objective. If there are no objectives in your cell, the trail should point to the nearest exit.
It helps to be in 3rd person view, because unless it happens to point ahead of you, you likely won't see it.
Occasionally, you will get the message "no direct path seen." This happens particularly if you are in an area with multiple elevations.

I used it one time and after I got back from the lengthy, pointless tour around Skyrim it sent me on, never used it again.

LOL I like the Neon Arrows idea! Thank you for flying Skyrim Air. In case of emergency, neon arrows will lead the way to the nearest exit!!

Yea, I never used that silly spell. It does eat up your mana really fast, too. I don't put points in my mana so, yea, most magick spells are useless to me haha

Yeah, this spell is far from perfect. It often sends me on looping paths back to where I started, or points in the wrong direction.

It'll send you on loops if you have multiple active quests sometimes (it uses roads and if the road winds in a certain way it can send you back and forth down the road for instance). Also if you set a marker on your map that counts as a destination too. I don't know, I've used this spell a bunch and it seems to work fairly well once you get the hang of how to do it.

-Starcrunch

The very first dungeon you encounter in the game has a Clairvoyance spellbook. There is never any reason to buy one.

The quest markers are so blatant in this game that I've never used it. It seems kind of cheesy.

Greeneyes.... I *think* I remember you have issues seeing some of the "glowy" stuff in game, right? Well, the Clairvoyance spell puts a faint blue "glowy" trail down for you....

Maybe that's it, Serethil. Yes, in the Mage's Quest where you have to "focus the Oculary", I never saw any glowing beams at all.
I've tried everything you all have suggested. I checked to make sure that my current quest is active, I hold down the spell til I'm nearly out of magic, I watch from third-person view, and yet ... nothing, no glowy stuff at all. If my monitor won't show me anything, then ... I'll just have to deal with it. Maybe one of these days, I'll find a seeing-eye-cat.
Thanks.

Well.... yep, that's my best guess. I've only really found the darn spell useful a couple of times - and that's been when the quest marker isn't real helpful since the dungeon or whatever goes over gazoolas of oddball-accessed levels.

Good luck - if you get REALLY stuck, post a topic here, and we'll try to help you unstick!