Does a Death Ward Protect against Phantasmal Killer?

[Antikinesis]

End of story.

Dag nab it, Artoomis! That's how this goshawful thread got started! You're feeding the trolls, y'know.

Dan... take away his cookie.

-AK

 

[Artoomis]

Dag nab it, Artoomis! That's how this goshawful thread got started! You're feeding the trolls, y'know.

Dan... take away his cookie.

-AK

Hmmm....

The Phantasmal Killer spell has the Illusion (Phantasm)[Fear, Mind-Affecting] Descriptor.

Does Death Ward only protect against Necromancy (Death) Spells or all magical death effects?

That was how this thread got started. I just answered his question, taking into account some of what was said before me.

I want to keep my cookie.

 

[Celtavian]

Re

Here is a reply from WOTC customer support concerning rules questions.


Here is what I asked. Short, simple, and to the point:

Does Death Ward protect against the Phantasmal Killer spell?

It has come up more than a few times in the course of campaigns, and we were wondering if we can get an official answer to settle our debates.




Since Phantasmal Killer results in death if the saving throw is failed, yes, it does work against it.

Hope that helps,
******************************************************************
Darrin
Wizards of the Coast - Game Support
Website: http://www.wizards.com
Game Support E-Mail: custserv@wizards.com
Game Support Phone: 1-800-324-6496
Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 7 PM PST
Corporate Phone: (425) 226-6500
Online Store Phone: 1-800-250-7589
Online Store Email: ordersup@wizards.com
Please quote this e-mail in any reply.

Take it as you will, but if WOTC customer support thinks Death Ward works against Phantasmal killer, that is good enough for me.

 

[AuraSeer]

I feel obliged to note that WOTC customer support is slightly less knowledgeable than a barrel of lutefisk, and in many cases are obviously wrong.

 

[IceBear]

I'm with you there AuraSeer.

However, we can't win this argument now because he has an "offical" answer.

The good thing is, Death Ward now protects against everything that is a save or die effect. No more death from massive damage, CdG, etc. Whoooo hoooo!

IceBear

 

[Benben]

I feel obliged to note that WOTC customer support is slightly less knowledgeable than a barrel of lutefisk, and in many cases are obviously wrong.

And I feel obliged to point out that lutefisk is a death effect served to my family every Christmas Eve.

If somebody cast Phantasmal Killer on me, I would be presented with a large plate of flying lutefisk.

 

[Corwin]

However, we can't win this argument now because he has an "offical" answer.

Yeah. I'm wondering if we could get away with filing a class action lawsuit against CS for all the bad information they've disseminated, and headaches they've caused us, over the years.

Something has to be done to put an end to this lunacy. They have ruined more games and more debates, with their bad advice, than I can count.

 

[Mort]

Re: Re

Since Phantasmal Killer results in death if the saving throw is failed, yes, it does work against it.

Hope that helps,
******************************************************************
Darrin
Wizards of the Coast - Game Support

You know I was doing a great job staying out of this thread, but my god that's silly.

By this logic if I have 20 HP's and a mage does 31 damage on a fireball I'm protected; while if I had 22 or more HP's I would be affected by the spell.

[edit] yes I realise there is an "always dies" element associated with phantasmal killer - though not really because of the 1st save (which is illusion). I suppose a better example of "that's just not right" is with disintigrate. [edit]

 

[Pielorinho]

If somebody cast Phantasmal Killer on me, I would be presented with a large plate of flying lutefisk.

Flying, huh? For me, they'd be shivering out of their jellied platters and writhing toward me, down table legs and across the floor and up my legs, while I watched in helpless, fascinated terror.

Daniel

 

[Benben]

Flying, huh? For me, they'd be shivering out of their jellied platters and writhing toward me, down table legs and across the floor and up my legs, while I watched in helpless, fascinated terror.

Daniel

I don't know if I should gag or die.