Does a Wall of Force block . . . .

[Vrecknidj]

Does a Wall of Force block a cleric's Turn or Rebuke attempts?

The spell description says that the wall blocks breath weapons and spells, but it doesn't say it blocks all supernatural abilities.

Dave

 

[KarinsDad]

Wall of Force is intended to stop most effects, but it doesn't. For example, it does not stop Gaze effects.

Since Turning is not a spell effect, but a supernatural ability, I think it would have to be considered something that targets could see through the wall and it would affect them, similar to gaze.

Turning is also not called out as something stopped by Force.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Since Turning is not a spell effect, but a supernatural ability, I think it would have to be considered something that targets could see through the wall and it would affect them, similar to gaze.

That was my first impression. But then I got to thinking "what is it, exactly, that is the power behind the turn attempt?" I mean, it can't be fear that motivates the skeleton or zombie to flee from the cleric--I just don't buy that a skeleton could possibly be afraid of anything as it lacks a mind. So, is it some kind of force? Is it some kind of tangible energy?

Turning is also not called out as something stopped by Force.

So I noticed, hence my question. ;-)

Dave

 

[KarinsDad]

That was my first impression. But then I got to thinking "what is it, exactly, that is the power behind the turn attempt?" I mean, it can't be fear that motivates the skeleton or zombie to flee from the cleric--I just don't buy that a skeleton could possibly be afraid of anything as it lacks a mind. So, is it some kind of force? Is it some kind of tangible energy?

Turning is the channeling of positive (or negative ) energy. It is an actual energy that Wall of Force does not state that it stops.

I think the onus is on the Wall of Force spell (or force effects in general) to state that they stop it as opposed to assuming Wall of Force stops everything since it stops most spell effects. With the exception of breathe weapons, Wall of Force does not state that it stops supernatural abilities, or even extraordinary abilities for that matter. A DM is probably justified in having it stop spell-like abilities though.

But, a Dragon's Frightful Presence is an Extraordinary Ability, hence, it would not be stopped by a Wall of Force. Wall of Force or no Wall of Force, dragons are still scary.

 

[Amal Shukup]

Wall of Force is intended to stop most effects, but it doesn't. For example, it does not stop Gaze effects.

Wall of Force does not affect 'Line of Sight' (which is all that Gaze attacks require). It does, however, explicitly block 'Line of Effect'

Range: You turn the closest turnable undead first, and you can’t turn undead that are more than 60 feet away or that have total cover relative to you. You don’t need line of sight to a target, but you do need line of effect.

Line of Effect: A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier. It’s like line of sight for ranged weapons, except that it’s not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight

A'Mal

 

[shilsen]

What Amal Shukup said. Since you cannot turn undead which have total cover relative to you, I'd say that a cleric will be unable to affect undead on the other side of a Wall of Force.

 

[KarinsDad]

Wall of Force does not affect 'Line of Sight' (which is all that Gaze attacks require). It does, however, explicitly block 'Line of Effect'

Where does it state that Wall of Force blocks Line of Effect?

What Amal Shukup said. Since you cannot turn undead which have total cover relative to you, I'd say that a cleric will be unable to affect undead on the other side of a Wall of Force.

Where does it state that Wall of Force provides total cover?

Mage Armor does not provide total cover and it "surrounds the subject".

For that matter, where does it state that Wall of Force even stops arrows?

It stops material creatures, but that does not mean that it stops material objects.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

You're kidding, right?

 

[KarinsDad]

You're kidding, right?

No.

Read the spell. What does it say?

Granted, historically Wall of Force stopped practically everything, but where does it state that it does this in 3.5?

According to RAW, Wall of Force would make a great protective sphere around the party archers where they could attack back.

Just because the wall is immune to damage of all kinds does not mean that anyone behind the wall is.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

It stops breath weapons, which are material and not creatures.

Spells cannot pass the wall in any direction. Spells like Magic Missile, Flaming Sphere, Flame Arrow, Ice Storm, Cloudkill, Acid Fog, Mage's Sword, Polar Ray and Meteor Swarm.

It's not an anti-magic field. It's a Wall of Force.

AR