Clerical spells
Q. How does one determine which spells a cleric can cast?
A. A cleric always has access to the full list of clerical spells
(limited, of course, by that character's level). Clerics have no spell
books, and their spell lists are not limited as are magicians.
Q. What does a bless spell do, and how is it different from the chant
and prayer spells? Also, are the chant spell's damage bonuses and
penalties counted per attack or per die of damage? Do the areas of
effect of these spells move with their casters?
A. Here's what each spell does: A bless gives friendly creatures +1 on
morale "to hit" rolls; if reversed (as a curse), it gives enemies a
−1 on those rolls. A chant spell gives friendly creatures +1 on "to
hit", damage, and saving-throw rolls; at the same time, enemies
receive a −1 on the same rolls. A prayer spell gives friendly
creatures +1 on "to hit" and saving throw rolls, and enemies −1 on
the same rolls. Prayer does not affect damage, and neither prayer nor
chant affect morale. The areas of effect for each spell are fixed and
do not move with their casters. Bless affects creatures in its area of
effect at the time of casting only; chant and prayer affect all
creatures in the area of effect, even those who enter after the spells
are completed. Damage modifiers from chant are per attack, not per die
of damage.
Q. The duration of a bless spell is given as "6 mêlée rounds". Does
this mean that the bless spell lasts for six total rounds of mêlée,
possibly with days between?
A. No. The duration of a bless spell is six consecutive rounds from
when it is cast.
Q. What happens when a bless spell is cast upon a cursed item?
A. Nothing. A bless spell will not "fix" a cursed item, but a remove
curse spell might (see individual item descriptions).
Q. What is the effect of casting bless on a sword or other weapon?
A. Bless spells are cast on creatures, not objects, with the only
exception being crossbow bolts that are used to slay rakshasas. In the
latter case, the spell is cast directly upon a single bolt, and the
effect lasts until the bolt is used (whether the bolt hits its target
or misses).
Q. How do blindness (such as from cause blindness) and deafness each
affect spell-casting?
A. Blinded creatures are unable to cast any spell that requires a
visible target (such as magic missile). Spells that can be cast on an
area (such as fire ball) or delivered by touch (such as cure light
wounds) are still usable. Deafness can cause spells with verbal
components to be miscast and fail. The failure chance is up to the DM,
but it shouldn't exceed 20% (less for spells with short casting
times). A 2% cumulative failure chance per segment of spell casting is
suggested. The spell holy word has a deafening effect that causes
spells to fail 50% of the time. This is due mostly to the extreme
power of the holy word, not merely the condition of deafness.
Q. Can a command be combined with an attempt to turn undead?
A. Command is a spell; the cleric may not fire missiles, engage in
mêlée, or turn undead in the same round as he casts a spell.
Q. Is there a period of disability for characters revived with a
death's door spell?
zero hit points until the spell wears off or until the character is
revived with a cure wounds spell. Characters revived in this manner
can resume activity immediately.
Q. Can a glyph of warding be cast upon a portable object such as a
sword or sling bullet and used offensively?
A. No. A glyph is a magical ward used to protect an object. A glyph
can be cast upon a weapon, but it will be triggered only when a
creature touches the weapon, not when the weapon strikes a creature.
Q. Are creatures affected by one of the hold spells held immobile or
simply paralysed?
A. Hold spells are similar to paralysis except that the effect is
mental, not physical. A held creature cannot move, fight, or
communicate in any way. The creature can, however, be moved by others.
Q. Can a light or continual light spell be used to negate the darkness
ability of a demon or devil?
A. Yes, on all counts. Each of these spells can negate darkness of any
sort, though a light spell will "go out" immediately after negating
such darkness, while the continual light spell will last. Light or
continual light spell will negate only one darkness effect at a time;
thus, if there are two darkness effects in the same area, the area
remains dark until two light effects are used.
Q. The spells' areas of effect listed in the Players Handbook have got
to be incorrect. The lower water spell, for example, has an area of
effect of a 1"×1" square per level of the caster. Surely a cleric can
affect more water than one square inch.
A. The area is measured in scale inches. One scale inch equals 10',
and one scale square inch equals 100 square feet. Remember that the
areas of spell effects never get larger outdoors, although ranges do
get larger (see page 39 in the Player's Handbook).
Q. Does the circle of protection from a protection from evil, 10'
radius spell move with the caster?
A. Yes, both versions of the protection from evil spell move with the
caster.
Q. If a character is killed and receives a raise dead spell, how long
must he rest and how many hit points will he have?
A. Raised characters must rest for the amount of time they have been
dead. The minimum rest period is one day. Raised characters have from
3-17 hp (2d8 + 1), though this value is reduced if the PC's maximum
number of hit points is less than the value rolled.
Druidic spells
Q. What are the statistics for rocks animated with the spell animate
rock? Would they be similar to the boulders animated by the galeb duhr
in the Monster Manual II?
A. A 24-cubic-foot boulder has the following statistics: M 3"; AC 0;
HD 10; A 1; D 5-30. The spell's effect is slightly better than the
galeb duhr's ability. A statue of the same size with a human shape
would have the same armour class and hit dice, but would move at 9" on
its legs and strike twice per round for 2-16 hp damage per blow.
Neither of the above "rocks" is as good offensively as the elemental a
druid could get with a conjure earth elemental spell at the same
level, but the animated rocks are not baulked by water nor dismissed
by a holy word spell,
Q. Can call lightning be used against submerged creatures?
A. The bolt from a call lightning spell ends at the water's surface,
but its 1" radius of effect extends below the surface and has its full
effect on any submerged creature therein.
Q. What are the effects of the disabilities inflicted upon appendages
by the heat metal and chill metal spells?
A. I recommend that you drop the disability effects of the heat metal
spell and its reverse. The damage inflicted alone is sufficient for a
2nd-level spell.
Q. Can a wall of fire be formed into a circle around a target so that
the hot side faces in toward the target?
A. Yes, it can.
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