Commanding creatures

[candidus_cogitens]

Evil clerics can command undead. Druids with the right feats can command plant creatures or animals. My question is, what are the constraints of such commands? Can I command a creature to keep watch and report back to me every ten minutes? How about to follow an ally that I designate and protect them? How complicated can these commands be?How long will they continue to obey them if I am not present? Can they obey more detailed commands than an animal companion, for example?

 

[Kaji]

Candidus,

I think this is covered pretty well in the DMG and many other places, so you might want to do some reading there. As a general rule, should should break this down by intelligence. Zombies aren't bright, but that can follow short commands that aren't too complicated. I think I remember reading a limit on how long the sentence can be, so no 3 hour monologues on what you want them to do under a series of circumstances. More like 25 words,maybe. Plus, the more involved the commands, the more likely they are to misinterpet your intent, although most creatures under the effect of of some sort of command attempt to do what you want to the best of their ability. As far as the obeying while your are not present thing, Undead for example will do whatever you asked them to do until given a new command, I'm pretty sure.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For inspiration, watch 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'

-Hyp.