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ForeheadElminster 11-19-07, 01:06 PM

Suppose that you have used Fascination or Calm Emotions on a single target in the midst of combat. The rules are unclear about how fascination works. One literal interpretation of "aggressive action against the calmed creature" is that combat can ebb and flow around a fascinated/calmed creature, as long as the combat does not directly threaten or injure the victim. In fact, if initiating combat always terminated the fascination, you'd think that D&D rules would have spelled that out. Certainly the standard action of "shaking awake" a fascinated creature is worthless if the same result can be obtained automatically by drawing any weapon, attacking anyone, or casting any spell. Interpretation 1: Fascination and Calm Emotions automatically ends when: anyone draws a weapon, or advances threateningly toward you or anyone else with weapon drawn anyone attacks anyone any unfriendly creature casts any spell any friendly creature casts a spell that you recognize as an attack (rather than healing) combat initiative is rolled Interpretation 2: Combat can ebb and flow around a fascinated victim, as long as it doesn't directly threaten or injure them. The fascinated creature sits quietly, with the attitude that "my friends can take care of this." Aggressive actions directed at you automatically break fascination: Unfriendly creature initiates any spell (because it "could be targeted at you") Unfriendly creature draws a weapon while approaching you or when close enough to reach you Unfriendly creature approaches you with any drawn weapon Unfriendly creature readies an attack against you Unfriendly creature otherwise manifests unmistakable intent to harm you Any creature initiates any attack against you, or any trap triggers against you (such as a net trap) Any active hostile condition threatens you (including a boulder rolling toward you, but not including a nearby pit) You take damage (or your condition deteriorates -- poison, hit by a new fear effect, etc.) But these actions do not break fascination: Anyone attacks someone else Anyone readies an attack on someone else Anyone draws or loads a weapon while aiming at someone else, unless unfriendly and close enough to reach you Anyone moves parallel to or away from you Friendly creature initiates any spell Friendly creature completes a spell that has no effect on you, or affects you with unmistakable benefit (such as healing) Potentially threatening actions (unfriendly creature approaches you without a weapon) do not break fascination, but enable an additional saving throw. ... How do you rule on Fascination and Calm Emotions?