advice on calm emotions [Archive] - Wizards Community

advice on calm emotions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
themysticbadger
11-02-07, 03:48 AM One of my players has taken the vow of peace and thus has an aura of calm emotions. I really fear to make a fight, and the other players too. How would you manage that ?
Radijs
11-02-07, 04:55 AM Whooo nelly!
The apostle of peace is a real pain in the unutterables to DM for.

With the exception of constructs & undead almost nothing will want to fight him once they get in that 10 ft radius around the dude.

You can try to peg him with ranged attacks, or get a few foes under the effect from a protection from good spells. That will allow you to attack him.

But the whole class needs a drastically diffrent approach to the game, the apostle is more likely to go for a Ghandi route then the traditional adventurers path.
themysticbadger
11-05-07, 02:38 PM In fact, I didn't knew this spell was so powerful until now. Next time I play a bard, I will rock !
Killydd
11-05-07, 02:54 PM Calm emotions itself shouldn't be that powerful. One thing to consider is that the teammates won't automatically know who has been affected by the aura. One of your teammates might accidentally break the spell. An intelligent caster back from the main lines might easily decide to include an affected teammate in an area affect to do some damage and break the spell. Battlefield control to keep that aura of peace away from allies is quite probable.

However, as the BoED notes in the section on "Waging Peace", you should probably be designing campaigns with a much greater emphasis than normal on non-combat encounters, or those immune to mind-affecting spells.
HermitIX
11-05-07, 03:10 PM Calm emotions shouldn’t stop all combat. It only affects combat that would start because of heightened emotions. Bandits don’t start combat because they are angry, they start combat because they want your money, angry or not they are going to fight you. Animals fight to protect territory, solders fight because they are ordered to, and mercenaries fight because they are paid to.

The aura would prevent a bar fight, and keep any one who was involved in negotiations from getting overly frustrated and starting a battle. Also Calm Emotions isn’t the same as eliminate Emotions. Those affected by the spell can still get angry just not REALLY REALLY flipped out barbarian rage angry.
Shiftkitty
11-05-07, 03:30 PM Couldn't ranged attacks still affect him?
Radijs
11-05-07, 05:29 PM Yea without trouble. If you can hit his AC.
Killydd
11-06-07, 01:04 AM Calm emotions shouldn’t stop all combat. It only affects combat that would start because of heightened emotions. Bandits don’t start combat because they are angry, they start combat because they want your money, angry or not they are going to fight you. Animals fight to protect territory, solders fight because they are ordered to, and mercenaries fight because they are paid to.

The aura would prevent a bar fight, and keep any one who was involved in negotiations from getting overly frustrated and starting a battle. Also Calm Emotions isn’t the same as eliminate Emotions. Those affected by the spell can still get angry just not REALLY REALLY flipped out barbarian rage angry.

CAlm emotions: This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures.

This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, as well as negating a bard’s ability to inspire courage or a barbarian’s rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime.

note the bolded text. it does force them to stop fighting, until damaged.
Radijs
11-06-07, 04:52 AM I'd say until attacked.

But the real kicker for the apostle is that it affects EVERYONE inside his radius. Friends and foe alike.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
themysticbadger 11-02-07, 03:48 AM	One of my players has taken the vow of peace and thus has an aura of calm emotions. I really fear to make a fight, and the other players too. How would you manage that ?
Radijs 11-02-07, 04:55 AM	Whooo nelly! The apostle of peace is a real pain in the unutterables to DM for. With the exception of constructs & undead almost nothing will want to fight him once they get in that 10 ft radius around the dude. You can try to peg him with ranged attacks, or get a few foes under the effect from a protection from good spells. That will allow you to attack him. But the whole class needs a drastically diffrent approach to the game, the apostle is more likely to go for a Ghandi route then the traditional adventurers path.
themysticbadger 11-05-07, 02:38 PM	In fact, I didn't knew this spell was so powerful until now. Next time I play a bard, I will rock !
Killydd 11-05-07, 02:54 PM	Calm emotions itself shouldn't be that powerful. One thing to consider is that the teammates won't automatically know who has been affected by the aura. One of your teammates might accidentally break the spell. An intelligent caster back from the main lines might easily decide to include an affected teammate in an area affect to do some damage and break the spell. Battlefield control to keep that aura of peace away from allies is quite probable. However, as the BoED notes in the section on "Waging Peace", you should probably be designing campaigns with a much greater emphasis than normal on non-combat encounters, or those immune to mind-affecting spells.
HermitIX 11-05-07, 03:10 PM	Calm emotions shouldn’t stop all combat. It only affects combat that would start because of heightened emotions. Bandits don’t start combat because they are angry, they start combat because they want your money, angry or not they are going to fight you. Animals fight to protect territory, solders fight because they are ordered to, and mercenaries fight because they are paid to. The aura would prevent a bar fight, and keep any one who was involved in negotiations from getting overly frustrated and starting a battle. Also Calm Emotions isn’t the same as eliminate Emotions. Those affected by the spell can still get angry just not REALLY REALLY flipped out barbarian rage angry.
Shiftkitty 11-05-07, 03:30 PM	Couldn't ranged attacks still affect him?
Radijs 11-05-07, 05:29 PM	Yea without trouble. If you can hit his AC.
Killydd 11-06-07, 01:04 AM	Calm emotions shouldn’t stop all combat. It only affects combat that would start because of heightened emotions. Bandits don’t start combat because they are angry, they start combat because they want your money, angry or not they are going to fight you. Animals fight to protect territory, solders fight because they are ordered to, and mercenaries fight because they are paid to. The aura would prevent a bar fight, and keep any one who was involved in negotiations from getting overly frustrated and starting a battle. Also Calm Emotions isn’t the same as eliminate Emotions. Those affected by the spell can still get angry just not REALLY REALLY flipped out barbarian rage angry. CAlm emotions: This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures. This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, as well as negating a bard’s ability to inspire courage or a barbarian’s rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime. note the bolded text. it does force them to stop fighting, until damaged.
Radijs 11-06-07, 04:52 AM	I'd say until attacked. But the real kicker for the apostle is that it affects EVERYONE inside his radius. Friends and foe alike.