Dominate Person

[mikebr99]

Hi there,

When a target has already failed the will save... and failed the 2nd save to take actions against it's nature (kill all of his adventuring band), but is then the target of a protection from evil spell... will he still "continue to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities"? And the Protection from evil spell will only stop any new telepathic commands? Or... does the protection from evil spell suspend the dominate person spell completely, so the target can act however he chooses, until the protection from evil runs out?

Dominate Person
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 4, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One humanoid
Duration: One day/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
You can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that you establish with the subject’s mind. If you and the subject have a common language, you can generally force the subject to perform as you desire, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, you can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” You know what the subject is experiencing, but you do not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with you telepathically.
Once you have given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against DC 15 (rather than DC 25) can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect (see the Sense Motive skill description).
Changing your instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a spell, so it is a move action.
By concentrating fully on the spell (a standard action), you can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still can’t communicate with you. You can’t actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there yourself, but you still get a good idea of what’s going on.
Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new saving throw with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as you and the subject are on the same plane. You need not see the subject to control it. If you don’t spend at least 1 round concentrating on the spell each day, the subject receives a new saving throw to throw off the domination.
Protection from evil or a similar spell can prevent you from exercising control or using the telepathic link while the subject is so warded, but such an effect neither prevents the establishment of domination nor dispels it.

thank you,

Mike

 

[Nail]

When a target has already failed the will save... and failed the 2nd save to take actions against it's nature (kill all of his adventuring band), but is then the target of a protection from evil spell... will he still "continue to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities"?

Prot/Evil specifically calls out Dominate Person as a spell that is protected against. Effectively, the Prot/Evil spell suspends the Dominate Person spell, and the target can act normally.

 

[Nail]

The Prot/Evil text is:

Second, the barrier blocks any attempt to possess the warded creature (by a magic jar attack, for example) or to exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment (charm) effects and enchantment (compulsion) effects that grant the caster ongoing control over the subject, such as dominate person). The protection does not prevent such effects from targeting the protected creature, but it suppresses the effect for the duration of the protection from evil effect.

 

[mikebr99]

thanks Nail.

Mike

 

[darthkilmor]

Prot/Evil specifically calls out Dominate Person as a spell that is protected against. Effectively, the Prot/Evil spell suspends the Dominate Person spell, and the target can act normally.

And Dominate person calls out protection from evil, but it doesnt look totally clear cut. I could see Prot/evil simply preventing new commands and supressing the link but target still acting under previous orders.
Similar to how it says it can be exercised if on the same plane. But would not being on the same plane necessarily end the effect or simply make you unable to exert control until you returned to the same plane?

Don't forget the will save vs prot/evil. If someone's ordered to kill you, they'd likely not be wanting you to cast spells on them.

 

[lukelightning]

On a side note, I just noticed that dominate person has a one-round casting time.

 

[Thanee]

I'm pretty sure this had been cleared up in the FAQ.

Protection from Evil completely suppresses Dominate (and all charm effects) for its duration.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

Similar to how it says it can be exercised if on the same plane. But would not being on the same plane necessarily end the effect or simply make you unable to exert control until you returned to the same plane?

That's the key point, to me.

"Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as you and the subject are on the same plane."

I cast Dominate Person, and tell you to sand the floor.

"Once you have given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth)."

So, you attempt to sand the floor to the exclusion of all else (except eating, sleeping, etc) for 9 days, say.

On day 5, I travel to another plane. Do you stop sanding the floor?

I don't think you do - I'm not attempting to exercise control. If I wanted to tell you to stop sanding the floor and wax my car instead, I'd be out of luck - I can't exercise control from another plane. You'll keep sanding the floor until I return and give another command, or 9 days is up.

Similarly, if someone casts Protection From Evil on you, I can't make you wax my car; I'm unable to exercise control, and so you'll continue sanding the floor.

Does anyone feel that by my travelling to another plane, it removes the compulsion to sand the floor?

-Hyp.

 

[frankthedm]

Does anyone feel that by my travelling to another plane, it removes the compulsion to sand the floor?-Hyp.

I have not looked over the text, but it is within the realm of plausability. The Dominate effect links the caster and victim. Strtching that link could destroy it. I don't know if it does or not, just saying i could imagine that happening.

 

[hong]

That's the key point, to me.

"Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as you and the subject are on the same plane."

I cast Dominate Person, and tell you to sand the floor.

"Once you have given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth)."

So, you attempt to sand the floor to the exclusion of all else (except eating, sleeping, etc) for 9 days, say.

On day 5, I travel to another plane. Do you stop sanding the floor?

I don't think you do - I'm not attempting to exercise control. If I wanted to tell you to stop sanding the floor and wax my car instead, I'd be out of luck - I can't exercise control from another plane. You'll keep sanding the floor until I return and give another command, or 9 days is up.

Similarly, if someone casts Protection From Evil on you, I can't make you wax my car; I'm unable to exercise control, and so you'll continue sanding the floor.

Does anyone feel that by my travelling to another plane, it removes the compulsion to sand the floor?

-Hyp.

Well, prot evil doesn't just say that it blocks the spell, but _also_ that it suppresses the effect.