Are Word of Command and Lotus Stare effectively death spells?
For Word of Command, on a 12+, with a failed save (albeit at +4), it appears that the spell's target can be told to kill itself (If the command is completely contrary to a creature’s natural instinct, it receives a +4 bonus to its Will save to resist; for example, commanding a desert lizard to “swim” or any command of “suicide.”).
For Lotus Stare, on a 16+, with a failed Will save, it appears that the spell's target can be told to kill itself (The commands can be of any type, even those that are self-destructive.).
Am I interpreting these correctly, or is there something that I am missing?
Thanks for the help.
Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
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- GnomeBoy
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Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
I think you are interpreting those correctly. Whether they are "death spells" is pretty circumstantial...
Low-level success for Word of Command only lasts 1+ rounds, and the target may not be able to complete the command before they snap out of it. The "self-destructive" element in Lotus Stare doesn't have to be destruction of the self, but could mean an ice creature approaching a fire in the process of some other task. Lower results for Lotus Stare state that physical harm will break the hypnosis.
But really, beyond the rules on the page, I'd think it'd be far more interesting to do something novel and creative with those spells than to just have a target kill themselves.
Personally, I find the single-word instruction of "Suicide!" to be pretty vague; it's not often used as a verb on it's own. I know the book specifically points it out, but still, I'd give any target a chance to be merely confused by the Command...
And going further, while Word of Command is set up as directly channeling the will of the Cleric's deity, Lotus Stare might hinge on the target being able to understand the language of the Cleric...
Low-level success for Word of Command only lasts 1+ rounds, and the target may not be able to complete the command before they snap out of it. The "self-destructive" element in Lotus Stare doesn't have to be destruction of the self, but could mean an ice creature approaching a fire in the process of some other task. Lower results for Lotus Stare state that physical harm will break the hypnosis.
But really, beyond the rules on the page, I'd think it'd be far more interesting to do something novel and creative with those spells than to just have a target kill themselves.
Personally, I find the single-word instruction of "Suicide!" to be pretty vague; it's not often used as a verb on it's own. I know the book specifically points it out, but still, I'd give any target a chance to be merely confused by the Command...
And going further, while Word of Command is set up as directly channeling the will of the Cleric's deity, Lotus Stare might hinge on the target being able to understand the language of the Cleric...
...
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Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
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- Deft-Handed Cutpurse
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Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
I like to use "sleep" or "yield" or maybe.. "dance" or "flee" for the word of command. Suicide seems so boring.
- Raven_Crowking
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Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
Last night, "Justify" was used.
SoBH pbp:
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
I'm curious to know the context of using "Justify" and what that ended up doing.
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Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
Me too! Did it work? And what was it?
[insert big-ears emoji here]
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Re: Word of Command, Lotus Stare = Suicide
It made an opponent explain its actions.serendipitous wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 11:18 amMe too! Did it work? And what was it?
[insert big-ears emoji here]
It was actually a pretty brilliant idea on the part of the player.
SoBH pbp:
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.