harm + ring of friend shield

[Dark Dragon]

Hi everybody,

what would happen when a character with an active ring of friend shielding is subject of a Harm ? Will both wearers (a paladin and a cleric in this case) of the rings be reduced to 1d4 hp? Or only the targeted char, because Harm does not "deal" damage but causes hp loss instead? The rings divide only damage, IIRC.

A second question on this matter is, will ability damage be divided also (I don't have the DMG at hand)?

BTW, our house rule for Harm is as follows:
Save: Will partial.
-Success: The spell deals 1d8+1 points of damage per caster level, but the victim always has a minimum of 1d4 hp left.
-Failure: The spell works as it is written in the PHB.

Dark Dragon

 

[mikebr99]

I would still give the other character half of the total damage the first character receives...

Shield Other
Abjuration
Level: Clr 2, Pal 2, Protection 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
This spell wards the subject and creates a mystic connection between the character and the subject so that some of the subject’s
wounds are transferred to the character. The subject gains a +1 deflection bonus to AC and a +1 resistance bonus to saves.
Additionally, the subject takes only half damage from all wounds and attacks (including those inflicted by special abilities) that
deal it hit point damage. The amount of damage not taken by the warded creature is taken by the character. Forms of harm that
do not involve hit points, such as charm effects, temporary ability damage, level draining, and disintegration, are not affected.
If the subject suffers a reduction of hit points from a lowered Constitution score, the reduction is not split with the character
because it is not hit point damage. When the spell ends, subsequent damage is no longer divided between the subject and the
character, but damage already split is not reassigned to the subject.
If the character and the subject of the spell move out of range of each other, the spell ends.
Focus: Worth at least 50 gp each.

 

[AuraSeer]

I'd figure out the damage done to the original character, divide it in half, and assign half to each char. In some situations this could be very bad; for instance, if a wizard with 40 hp is connected to a fighter with 150 hp, a Harm on the fighter could kill the wiz.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I'd figure out the damage done to the original character, divide it in half, and assign half to each char. In some situations this could be very bad; for instance, if a wizard with 40 hp is connected to a fighter with 150 hp, a Harm on the fighter could kill the wiz.

True. But only a foolish wizard would ever use such a thing except in extreme circumstances. At the levels where you are up against Harm you would want to be a well-warded Cleric to invoke Shield Other. Taking 150% damage when two or three Fireballs drop on the party can be pretty bad.

 

[Dreaddisease]

And I know there are lots of Wizards with this spell considering its not available to them.

Or chalk it up to the useless items for wizards list.