Cause Fear: What the heck?

[False Keraptis]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but what the heck is going on with the cleric's 1st level power, Cause Fear? It's not a push, pull, or slide, so is it "forced movement" or not? When does the movement happen: the cleric's turn or the target's turn? Does the target have to use a move action or not?

It's extremely unclear to me how this power is supposed to work; am I missing something obvious? Is there an official clarification? This power really stands out as ambiguous among the simple, straightforward powers in the phb.

 

[generalhenry]

it's special.

The movement happens on your turn.

mostly it's a push, but pushes don't provoke OAs, so it was written up special.

 

[hong]

Cause fear doesn't magically shove people around, hence why it isn't a push, pull or slide. It magically implants fear into people's minds, so that _they_ choose to run away.

 

[hong]

it's special.

The movement happens on your turn.

It is not a push, hence it doesn't occur on your turn.

 

[Icefire78]

Cause Fear forces the target to flee directly away from the cleric as soon as the spell is cast and hit. This does invoke attacks of opportunity if he runs by any enemies. The actual movement is not forced and no this will not use his move action for the next turn. I found it pretty straight forward especially with the new 4th ed books. The books would normally state "on the beginning of their next turn" and such if he was to wait for fear.

 

[False Keraptis]

it's special.

The movement happens on your turn.

mostly it's a push, but pushes don't provoke OAs, so it was written up special.

Okay, but can you back that up with evidence? If this is what it's supposed to do, I write a clearer power in about 4 seconds:

Hit: The target provokes an OA from each creature which threatens it. You push the target it's speed plus your charisma modifier.

Bam. 100 times better.


Edit: Okay, I'm wrong about my alternate wording; there are enough significant differences that it's no good.

 

[generalhenry]

there's also the issue of pits. If it was a push, you could push targets into pits.

aka, the DM controls the movement instead of the player.

 

[Ginnel]

Okay, but can you back that up with evidence? If this is what it's supposed to do, I write a clearer power in about 4 seconds:

Hit: The target provokes an OA from each creature which threatens it. You push the target it's speed plus your charisma modifier.

Bam. 100 times better.

Not at all actually the point of cause fear is that the person controlling the effected target moves it, the target moves away trying to avoid all possible harm, but if he has to take an OA or two he will

 

[False Keraptis]

If it was a push, you could push targets into pits.

Good point - I hadn't thought of that. Still, that seems like a small price to pay for more clarity. Is it so ridiculous that magical fear might cause someone to run into a hazard (they still get the save), especially when the rogue can "lure" people into pits with fancy footwork in melee?

 

[TimeOut]

Hit: The target provokes an OA from each creature which threatens it. You push the target it's speed plus your charisma modifier.

Bam. 100 times better.

Total wrong. You don't decide how the target moves. The DM moves the target, only condition: It must go away from your position.