Baleful Utterance, not so good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Baleful Utterance, not so good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DM Zoc
08-09-05, 12:16 AM I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing?
Manyfist
08-09-05, 12:32 AM I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing?
Common Sense. Lol, uh It's either in DMG or PHB. Yet if you're affecting objects the Subject isn't immune. It's extremely useful, blowing up Wizards spell componets or Cleric's Focus... good times.
Harliquinn
08-09-05, 12:38 AM I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing?

depends on the spell really. Being deaf is not a carte blanche resistance against sonic attacks, as some do actual damage as well as deafening style damage. An area of silence will stop sonic attacks, however.

An example is Sound Burst: Creatures that cannot hear are not stunned but are still damaged.
smrtgmp
08-09-05, 04:11 PM I dont see why being deaf would protect you from sonic damage. Sonic effects create intense vibrations that are damaging to their surroundings.

If you needed to be able to hear to be damaged by sonic effects, then they wouldnt work on inanimate objects. Since they do (in fact, they work better than other energy types against objects), it seems safe to assume that someone who cant hear would still be subject to sonic damage, especially when nothing out there says anything to the contrary.
tarkin
08-09-05, 04:27 PM being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks.

There are some exceptions, but those specify that they don't affect people that are deaf.
Scion of Coldshard
08-09-05, 04:41 PM being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks.

Aww.. there goes my secret weapon :(

;)

But still, if you target something that someone has in their possession then that object will get to save vs the effect. Magical items tend to have pretty good saves, although nonmagical items could be easier.

I dont have the complete arcane with me so I dont know the specifics, but if it does not say being deaf is a defense then it isnt.
Doomclown
08-09-05, 07:20 PM Being deaf protects you from sonic damage about as well as being numb protects you from axe damage.
Manyfist
08-09-05, 07:29 PM Being Deaf protects you against Language Dependent spells, since you can't hear them no ill effect. Dark Speech is language dependent, you'll still be stunned because the intense shattering of the Object, but you can't damage the person only the object. :cool:
DM Zoc
08-09-05, 09:44 PM Yeah, I was having a hard time deciding whether you were dazed from having your pants (for example) suddenly shatter, or because you had just heard part of the Dark Speech. Certainly, being able to daze someone and then if you succeed it won't work on them for another minute would fit the standard balancing schemes for at-will abilities.
Scion of Coldshard
08-09-05, 10:14 PM Looks like you can continually daze someone if you can continually shatter objects that they are holding or wearing.

It doesnt say that you need to be able to hear it exploding, merely that you have to be holding it or wearing it when it 'does' explode.

Although the silence spell would protect you.
IceFractal
08-10-05, 01:50 AM being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks.
Actually, I would think that being dead would protect you from pretty much any attack. Now being undead, that's different, and indeed, most undead have no special protection against sonic attacks. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DM Zoc 08-09-05, 12:16 AM	I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing?
Manyfist 08-09-05, 12:32 AM	I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing? Common Sense. Lol, uh It's either in DMG or PHB. Yet if you're affecting objects the Subject isn't immune. It's extremely useful, blowing up Wizards spell componets or Cleric's Focus... good times.
Harliquinn 08-09-05, 12:38 AM	I cannot seem to find where it says that being deafened makes you immune to sonic-descriptor attacks, but it seems like I've seen the rule somewhere before. Or am I wrong, and warlocks can keep people continually dazed by slowly blowing up their clothing? depends on the spell really. Being deaf is not a carte blanche resistance against sonic attacks, as some do actual damage as well as deafening style damage. An area of silence will stop sonic attacks, however. An example is Sound Burst: Creatures that cannot hear are not stunned but are still damaged.
smrtgmp 08-09-05, 04:11 PM	I dont see why being deaf would protect you from sonic damage. Sonic effects create intense vibrations that are damaging to their surroundings. If you needed to be able to hear to be damaged by sonic effects, then they wouldnt work on inanimate objects. Since they do (in fact, they work better than other energy types against objects), it seems safe to assume that someone who cant hear would still be subject to sonic damage, especially when nothing out there says anything to the contrary.
tarkin 08-09-05, 04:27 PM	being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks. There are some exceptions, but those specify that they don't affect people that are deaf.
Scion of Coldshard 08-09-05, 04:41 PM	being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks. Aww.. there goes my secret weapon :( ;) But still, if you target something that someone has in their possession then that object will get to save vs the effect. Magical items tend to have pretty good saves, although nonmagical items could be easier. I dont have the complete arcane with me so I dont know the specifics, but if it does not say being deaf is a defense then it isnt.
Doomclown 08-09-05, 07:20 PM	Being deaf protects you from sonic damage about as well as being numb protects you from axe damage.
Manyfist 08-09-05, 07:29 PM	Being Deaf protects you against Language Dependent spells, since you can't hear them no ill effect. Dark Speech is language dependent, you'll still be stunned because the intense shattering of the Object, but you can't damage the person only the object. :cool:
DM Zoc 08-09-05, 09:44 PM	Yeah, I was having a hard time deciding whether you were dazed from having your pants (for example) suddenly shatter, or because you had just heard part of the Dark Speech. Certainly, being able to daze someone and then if you succeed it won't work on them for another minute would fit the standard balancing schemes for at-will abilities.
Scion of Coldshard 08-09-05, 10:14 PM	Looks like you can continually daze someone if you can continually shatter objects that they are holding or wearing. It doesnt say that you need to be able to hear it exploding, merely that you have to be holding it or wearing it when it 'does' explode. Although the silence spell would protect you.
IceFractal 08-10-05, 01:50 AM	being dead does NOT protect against most sonic attacks. Actually, I would think that being dead would protect you from pretty much any attack. Now being undead, that's different, and indeed, most undead have no special protection against sonic attacks. ;)