changing creature type and type specific spell effects [Archive] - Wizards Community

changing creature type and type specific spell effects [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
-Defiler of Souls-
02-08-06, 06:35 PM question came up during a recent session and i was wondering if anyone knows the answer:

if a spell with a duration that only effects a certain type of creature is cast on said type of creature, but during the duration the creature's type changes, what happens

(for example you cast charm personon humanoid target and they polymorph into say a magical beast of some variety)

does the spell effect

a). end immidiately

b). continue unabated

c). continue its duration but have all effects supressed as long as the target's form doesn't match the requirement of the spell

or d). none of the above :D

my personal guesse was c, but i wasn't entirely sure
Seeker95
02-08-06, 09:31 PM b. and c.
-Defiler of Souls-
02-08-06, 10:34 PM well theres a small ocnfliction there....by continue unabated i meant the effect still applying, where c states the opposite

so is it only one of those, or do different spells warrant a different resolution as to whether or not effects apply?
Dragonteuthis
02-08-06, 10:48 PM Since a spell fails if it's cast at the wrong type, I personally would rule that the spell ends if the type changes to something that could not be targeted by the spell.

For example, a Druid affected by Enlarge Person Wildshaping into a Dire bear would cause the Enlarge person spell to end.

However, that's my personal ruling. I can't find anything in the rules to clarify this, so you'll have to make a decision on how to apply it in your campaign.
Seeker95
02-09-06, 09:36 AM or do different spells warrant a different resolution as to whether or not effects apply?yep. :D
tarkin
02-09-06, 12:04 PM Most spells would have their duration continue, but not affect the target, as it is an illegal target.

I could see a very few spells would continue their duration and also affect the target.
Chrono Nexus
02-09-06, 12:50 PM The spell simply doesn't function on the enchanted creature if its type changes. It runs until the duration expires (in most cases. Some spells end when a condition is met). If the creature became the correct type again, the spell would resume functioning (Until end of duration)
Seeker95
02-09-06, 01:08 PM I disagree with those who claim the spell will stop affecting the target. I think those cases are fewer in nature than those that would continue to function quite normally.

Most spells may have a specific [type] for targeting, but have nothing in the description that indicates its effect would cease once cast. That said, even the word "most" is quite limited, in that few [type] spells have effects that last longer than the act of casting in the first place.

The nature of the new [type] (assuming this [type] is gained through polymorph etc...) might have an effect of whether the effect matters, but simply "being" a new [type] is not sufficient to end the previously-cast [type]-dependent spell.

Got any examples of [type]-specific spells you're thinking of?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
-Defiler of Souls- 02-08-06, 06:35 PM	question came up during a recent session and i was wondering if anyone knows the answer: if a spell with a duration that only effects a certain type of creature is cast on said type of creature, but during the duration the creature's type changes, what happens (for example you cast charm personon humanoid target and they polymorph into say a magical beast of some variety) does the spell effect a). end immidiately b). continue unabated c). continue its duration but have all effects supressed as long as the target's form doesn't match the requirement of the spell or d). none of the above :D my personal guesse was c, but i wasn't entirely sure
Seeker95 02-08-06, 09:31 PM	b. and c.
-Defiler of Souls- 02-08-06, 10:34 PM	well theres a small ocnfliction there....by continue unabated i meant the effect still applying, where c states the opposite so is it only one of those, or do different spells warrant a different resolution as to whether or not effects apply?
Dragonteuthis 02-08-06, 10:48 PM	Since a spell fails if it's cast at the wrong type, I personally would rule that the spell ends if the type changes to something that could not be targeted by the spell. For example, a Druid affected by Enlarge Person Wildshaping into a Dire bear would cause the Enlarge person spell to end. However, that's my personal ruling. I can't find anything in the rules to clarify this, so you'll have to make a decision on how to apply it in your campaign.
Seeker95 02-09-06, 09:36 AM	or do different spells warrant a different resolution as to whether or not effects apply?yep. :D
tarkin 02-09-06, 12:04 PM	Most spells would have their duration continue, but not affect the target, as it is an illegal target. I could see a very few spells would continue their duration and also affect the target.
Chrono Nexus 02-09-06, 12:50 PM	The spell simply doesn't function on the enchanted creature if its type changes. It runs until the duration expires (in most cases. Some spells end when a condition is met). If the creature became the correct type again, the spell would resume functioning (Until end of duration)
Seeker95 02-09-06, 01:08 PM	I disagree with those who claim the spell will stop affecting the target. I think those cases are fewer in nature than those that would continue to function quite normally. Most spells may have a specific [type] for targeting, but have nothing in the description that indicates its effect would cease once cast. That said, even the word "most" is quite limited, in that few [type] spells have effects that last longer than the act of casting in the first place. The nature of the new [type] (assuming this [type] is gained through polymorph etc...) might have an effect of whether the effect matters, but simply "being" a new [type] is not sufficient to end the previously-cast [type]-dependent spell. Got any examples of [type]-specific spells you're thinking of?