Bewitched...and combat

[MarauderX]

I didn't see anything readily, so I thought I would dig up an old debate.

How is Charm Person supposed to be run during combat? Does the caster need to make a bluff check to convince the charmed subject to fight for him? Or will he see them attacking the caster and decide to protect him on his own? Or will the subject see both sides as allies and attempt to cease the fighting/run away/drool in a corner?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There's a 5 point modifier in there somewhere, making it difficult to use in combat. (I would prefer Suggestion over Charm Monster in combat, for example.)

You don't have to give orders (if you do so, make opposed Charisma checks with your new "friend" - but only if it's an order that your friend wouldn't normally do). If you don't, they restrain their comrades from fighting, or maybe cast a non-lethal spell on them, such as Sleep.

It's a good idea to only Charm people of your alignment. A NE wizard can get away with ordering a CE troll or NE creature to do anything it wants.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

What would you do if two of your best friends started to hack themselves to pieces? Handle it along those lines: there are two parties, fighting each other. And both are good friends of yours (the one because you've spent years - or levels - with them; the other because they used magic on you). You probably won't turn on your old friends, only because you have a new one.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

You won`t see him as a "new" friend, just as a friend.

But if one of my friends tells me to kill or attack another friend, I would object and refuse to do this.

But if he commands me to help me against another friend that is attacking him, I would - but try not to harm any of them in a lethal way. Maybe disarming the agressor (if neccessary, both parties of this... quarrel).

But if you, as a spellcaster of Charm Person, don`t want to much hassle, just tell your charmed victim that he should stay out of this conflict.

Mustrum Ridcully