Hypersmurf said:
But the spell isn't of type Target: X creatures, it's of type Area: X creatures. So it affects all creatures that fit the criteria of the spell even if the caster is blind, or unaware of their presence, or whatever. And he can't select them individually, like he can with a spell of type Target: X creatures.
-Hyp.
I see your argument, but I see a way around it as well. I think you're looking at the words ally and enemy too narrowly.
Area spells can not be used selectively. If something inside the area of effect is a valid target, it is effected. The caster may not pick and choose which valid targets are allowed.
The valid targets for a bless spell are allies.
D&D does not have a specific definition for the term ally, so we must turn to a dictionary version (from dicitionary.com) which states "One in helpful association with another."
That definition turns on the term helpful: Providing assistance.
To assist someone, that someone must have a goal in mind. Otherwise your efforts may aid them, but they do not assist them towards their goals.
So, bless should have an effect on any creature in the area of effect that is actively providing assistance to help the caster reach a goal. The type of assistance does not matter ... it could be actively helping the caster fight a monster or actively helping the caster to rememeber the names of his high school teachers.
I used the word 'actively' because planning is not enough. Planning to help is not helping. What matters is what has already occured.
So, if an evil Doppelganger is fighting side by side with the caster against an army of orcs (but intends to cut the caster down in a round), it is an ally because it is helping the caster fight off the orcs, even though he will no longer be an ally once he gives up his attack on the orcs and starts whacking at the caster. The spell does not recheck to see if you remain a valid ally under the official rules, but a DM would be well within his rights to rule 0 this and have the spell end when the doppelganger turned ont he cleric.
If a friendly invisible wizard appears right before the bless is cast, he will not receive the benefit from the spell unless he is actively engaged in helpful actions that further a goal of the caster. If he teleported in to bring something requested by the cleric, he is helping the caster, so he gains the benefit. If he teleported in to ask the caster to clean out the local stables, he is not being helpful, so he gains no benefit.
Bane, on the other hand turns on the word enemy which turns upon the word opposition. Bane finds anyone that is actively opposing you and gives them the penalty. The nature of that opposition does not matter. Only that it is active opposition to one of your active goals.
The key to the word ally in bless (or enemy in bane) is the active role that is being played when the spell is cast. If someone in the area of effect is helping the caster, he is considered an ally. If he is opposing the caster, he is an enemy.
Some entities might qualify as both: If the cleric is fighting an enemy, but then joins forces with that enemy, temporarily, to deal with a bigger threat, the initial enemy might be both an ally and an enemy. All we look for is active assistance and/or interference.
Some entities might qualify as neither: Any neutral parties in the spell or parties that have yet to take an active roll on one side or the other will not be affected.
So, if you cast detect magic, bless and then detect magic again, you'd detect those that are trying to help you do something. They might be planning to kill you soon, but they are trying to help you do something right now.
Casting detect magic, then bane, then detect magic will tell you who is opposing you. They might be in the process of trying to kill you. They might be running against you in a local election. They might be edging towards you so that they can steal your candy. All you know is that they are opposing you ... not how they are opposing you.
How does that grab you?
