Prisoner interrogation methods

[blargney the second]

I just thought of a fairly reliable way to interrogate a prisoner: knock them unconscious, cast charm person, detect thoughts, zone of truth or whatever else you have that might help that requires a Will save, then heal them back up. Since they were unconscious, they were willing targets. They won't even necessarily know the spell is active when they come to.

What clever methods have you seen used to extract information from unfriendlies?

 

[WayneLigon]

It would be nice if it worked that way, but it doesn't. It takes a conscious act of will to purposefully fail your save, ie to be willing.

 

[Lanefan]

I just thought of a fairly reliable way to interrogate a prisoner: knock them unconscious, cast charm person, detect thoughts, zone of truth or whatever else you have that might help that requires a Will save, then heal them back up. Since they were unconscious, they were willing targets. They won't even necessarily know the spell is active when they come to.

I wouldn't allow such spells to work this way; there'd be a save regardless, as a person's will should be active whether conscious or not. Otherwise, those spells get broken pretty fast...never mind your party wizard could auto-charm the whole party in a single night's camping...

What clever methods have you seen used to extract information from unfriendlies?

Clever method? You mean there's methods other than torture, pain, and misery?

Lanefan

 

[Hypersmurf]

I just thought of a fairly reliable way to interrogate a prisoner: knock them unconscious, cast charm person, detect thoughts, zone of truth or whatever else you have that might help that requires a Will save, then heal them back up. Since they were unconscious, they were willing targets. They won't even necessarily know the spell is active when they come to.

There's a difference between 'Willing target' and 'electing to fail a Will save'.

Some spells can only be cast on a 'willing target' - Teleport, Levitate, etc. If someone is unconscious, they are automatically considered willing.

Other spells have a Will Negates saving throw - like Charm Person. Someone can elect to fail this saving throw. But if they're unconscious, they're incapable of making the decision to fail the saving throw, and thus the save is rolled as normal.

A willing target does not automatically forego his save. (Indeed, most spells that require a willing target have a saving throw entry of 'None'...)

-Hyp.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

What clever methods have you seen used to extract information from unfriendlies?

Relentless torture followed by information extraction follow up execution. Repeat as situations arise.

 

[Storyteller01]

depends on the person in question. Guild assassins tend to get talkative if you threaten to spread rumors that you paid him off, then release him...

 

[Shallown]

I think the only will saves that you automatically forgoe is harmless ones. I seem to rmember reading that somewhere in the rules. I think mainly to allow Healing spells to affect the unconcious.

Later

Though I could be wrong.

 

[Lanefan]

Some spells can only be cast on a 'willing target' - Teleport, Levitate, etc.

Side question: they nerfed Levitate so you can't use it offensively? Sigh...

Lanefan

 

[Gold Roger]

I'll soon play a LN Cleric/church inquisitor of truth and knowledge in a group with a LN Telepath going for Thrallherd in the group. We've already dubbed ourselfes the "friendly fashists" and I'm confident given time we will be to brainwash every Evil Mc'Villain that falls into our hands into a nice puppy loving pillar of society that spoils all of his nefarious knowledge to us. If this thread survives long enough I'll make it a point to report our success and methods to you.

 

[froggie]

methods

pair of pliers and a blowtorch...nuff' said