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Distract drop invisibility?
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<blockquote data-quote="Arial Black" data-source="post: 7351790" data-attributes="member: 6799649"><p>Let's pretend for a moment that this one particular spell uses words that <em>are</em> game terms, <em>in the part of the spell description where we expect it to tell us how this game rule interacts with other game rules</em>, and really <em>means</em> us <strong>not</strong> to understand them as game terms but instead as 'natural language'.</p><p></p><p>Why would anyone write the spell in such a confusing way, when if he really meant it that way he would be careful to avoid using <em>exactly the same words as the game term?</em></p><p></p><p>Leaving that aside, if this spell alone out of all the spells in the PHB is trying to fool us this way, it must be pointed out that the text makes no differentiation between 'attacks' and 'casts a spell' in terms of one should be understood as natural language and the other should not! Therefore, either <strong>both</strong> items are used as game terms, or <strong>neither</strong> is!</p><p></p><p>So, if we are to understand 'attacks' to mean 'anything that natural language could conceivably be used to describe that action as an attack', then we <strong>must</strong> <em>also</em> understand 'casts a spell' to mean 'anything that natural language could conceivably be used to describe that action as casting a spell'.</p><p></p><p>Great!</p><p></p><p>Player 1: Oh, no! We are being assaulted by an invisible dragon! Whatever shall we do?</p><p></p><p>Player 2: Never fear! I have the solution! DM: I FALL IN LOVE WITH THE DRAGON!</p><p></p><p>DM: ...What?</p><p></p><p>Player 2: The dragon has indeed <em>cast a spell</em> on me by dint of her majesty, grace and power! I am head over heels in love, even though I can't see her!</p><p></p><p>DM: Actually, the dragon is male.</p><p></p><p>Player 2: No matter! I'm not prejudiced! Anyway, long story short, because the dragon 'cast a spell' of love, <em>he loses his invisibility!</em></p><p></p><p>Player 1: Good thinking! Thanks, natural language!</p><p></p><p>Now, you may think that this is all ridiculous. YES IT IS! But if we are to understand this list as natural language rather than game terminology (against reason, I might add!), then it's just as ridiculous for 'attacks' as it is for 'casts a spell'.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Arial Black, post: 7351790, member: 6799649"] Let's pretend for a moment that this one particular spell uses words that [i]are[/i] game terms, [i]in the part of the spell description where we expect it to tell us how this game rule interacts with other game rules[/i], and really [i]means[/i] us [b]not[/b] to understand them as game terms but instead as 'natural language'. Why would anyone write the spell in such a confusing way, when if he really meant it that way he would be careful to avoid using [i]exactly the same words as the game term?[/i] Leaving that aside, if this spell alone out of all the spells in the PHB is trying to fool us this way, it must be pointed out that the text makes no differentiation between 'attacks' and 'casts a spell' in terms of one should be understood as natural language and the other should not! Therefore, either [b]both[/b] items are used as game terms, or [b]neither[/b] is! So, if we are to understand 'attacks' to mean 'anything that natural language could conceivably be used to describe that action as an attack', then we [b]must[/b] [i]also[/i] understand 'casts a spell' to mean 'anything that natural language could conceivably be used to describe that action as casting a spell'. Great! Player 1: Oh, no! We are being assaulted by an invisible dragon! Whatever shall we do? Player 2: Never fear! I have the solution! DM: I FALL IN LOVE WITH THE DRAGON! DM: ...What? Player 2: The dragon has indeed [i]cast a spell[/i] on me by dint of her majesty, grace and power! I am head over heels in love, even though I can't see her! DM: Actually, the dragon is male. Player 2: No matter! I'm not prejudiced! Anyway, long story short, because the dragon 'cast a spell' of love, [i]he loses his invisibility![/i] Player 1: Good thinking! Thanks, natural language! Now, you may think that this is all ridiculous. YES IT IS! But if we are to understand this list as natural language rather than game terminology (against reason, I might add!), then it's just as ridiculous for 'attacks' as it is for 'casts a spell'. [/QUOTE]
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