| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| #1JamwesOct 24, 2014 12:29:46 | This is a question I had in a thread about Barkskin and the weirdness of how the spell was written. In order to not derail that thread, I thought I'd start a new one.
For a spell, how does "willing" interact with someone who changed their mind? Is willing only a targeting restriction or does willing also matter if the target changed their mind? Is a spell dismissed if the original target is no longer willing?
What if the Suggestion spell was used on the target for them to willingly accept all "helpful" spells, such as Barkskin? (Barkskin is designed to be a helpful spell afterall.) If the Suggestion wears off, and the creautre realizes that Barkskin was reducing their AC (assuming the spell was written as "your AC becomes 16"), then would Barkskin go away? How about if Deception was used to trick the target into being willing to having Barkskin cast on them? Would Barkskin go away when they realize it's not a good idea and are no longer willing?
Perhaps Barkskin isn't the best place to ask the "willing" question, since it is written how it is written. How about the Warding Bond spell as a better example to my "willing" question.
Warding Bond spell wards a willing creature. While the creature is under the effects of the spell, the creature takes half damage but the person who cast the spell also takes the same amount of damage. I could see a cinimatic example where the person who cast Warding Bond is willing to sacrafice themself to save the target. (I imagine a scene in a movie where a Cleric needs to ensure the protaginist survives the BBEG's attack and escape, while the Cleric's life doesn't have any bearing on the rest of the story.) The Cleric could be in a position where if the target takes one more attack the Cleric could be dropped to 0 HP. The target may change their mind and not feel that preventing them from taking some damage would be worth the Cleric's life. At this point, they are no longer a willing target of the spell. Would the Warding Bond spell go away when the target is no longer willing? Or would the Warding Bond spell last until the Cleric dropped to 0 (or an hour had passed or the Cleric decided to end the spell) because the target was willing when the spell was cast? Note that Warding Bond mentions how to end the spell and the target dismissing the spell by choosing to no longer be willing isn't in the list.
To make things hypothetical, what if there was a dispell magic type spell that also did damage for each ongoing spell on the target. If the spells on the target had to be on a "willing" target, then could the target decide to no longer be "willing" have the spells fall off, and not take damage from the hypothetical dispell magic spell?
If "willing" is only a targeting restriction, then that would explain why Barkskin was worded the way it was. |
| #2SaelornOct 24, 2014 12:32:00 | It is only a targeting restriction. Once someone has accepted a spell, they are powerless to end it.
|
| #3melloredOct 24, 2014 12:46:41 |
|
| #4BloodscytheOct 24, 2014 13:08:31 | In what instance is barkskin detrimental? Are we talking about charming a monster with a natural AC of 17+ and casting barkskin on it as a debuff? |
| #5melloredOct 24, 2014 13:22:45 |
|
| #6BloodscytheOct 24, 2014 13:37:31 | Yeah, I know. The answer was already given by another so I thought I'd expand on the thread.
Once a spell is on someone, even if they change their mind, it is on them. If the spell provides a method of removal (like a saving throw to end) then the recipient can potentially end the spell, otherwise, it lasts the full duration unless the caster ends it or in the case of concentration spells, the caster loses concentration. |
| (Reply to #3)Timborama |
|
| #8jonathonhawkeOct 25, 2014 10:17:57 | Re: Warding Bond
What happens if the target removes the ring before the duration is up? |
| #9Plaguescarred1Oct 25, 2014 12:37:35 | I'd assume the spell ends since you and the target must wear them for the duration. |
| #10melloredOct 25, 2014 13:15:29 |
|
| #11AaronOfBarbariaOct 25, 2014 12:47:51 | The spell specifically states the rings must be worn for the duration.
The only possible consequence of not fulfilling that stated "must" is that the spell can't function. |
| #12jonathonhawkeOct 26, 2014 16:41:33 | Therefore, a target who is no longer willing need only remove the ring - an object interaction (most likely). |
| (Reply to #5)Jamwes |
|
| (Reply to #3)Jamwes |
|
| #15melloredOct 27, 2014 9:48:40 |
|
| (Reply to #15)Timborama |
|
| (Reply to #15)Jamwes |
|
| #18melloredOct 30, 2014 10:22:22 |
|