Holy Word/Blasphemy questions....

[Elocin]

Both of these 7th level Cleric spells have sonic as a descriptor, would this lead to the assumption that you would have to HEAR the spell being cast (or affect) to be affected by it? Any help on this matter would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Nareau]

There's nothing in the rules that says you must be able to hear in order to be affected by sonic effects.

That said, I allow people a +4 to their saving throw vs. sonic effects if they are in the middle of a Silence spell (or similar effect). But still no help for the deaf.

 

[Drawmack]

From the special abilities section:

SONIC ATTACKS
Unless noted otherwise, sonic attacks follow the rules for spreads; the range of the spread is measured from the creature using the sonic attack. Once a sonic attack has taken effect, deafening the subject or stopping its ears does not break the effect. Stopping one’s ears ahead of time allows opponents to avoid having to make saving throws against mind-affecting sonic attacks, but not other kinds of sonic attacks (such as those that inflict damage). Stopping one’s ears is a full-round action and requires wax or other soundproof material to stuff into the ears.

This rule states that stopping your ears has no effect against a sonic effect that cuases damage. It only mentiones deafness in this case though it has complete rules on stopping your ears. This seems ubiquitious to me. They could be infering that deafness equates to stopping your ears, they could be infering that deafness does not matter or they could be intering that deafness which predates the sonic effect nulifies that effect.

I would probably rule that deafness works as the ears plugged. The fact that the deaf character has this always in effect while other characters must take a full round to prepare is enough.

I can see arguments for both sides and actually it might be a good idea to break it down by type of effect. It makes sense that a deaf person would not be affected by the harpy or siren's song abiities. On the other hand a sonic effect that cuases damage probably does so by its frequency vibrating the molecules - like when an opera singer breaks a glass.

 

[AuraSeer]

It seems clear that deafness is equivalent to "stopping one's ears"; both simply stop you from hearing the magic sounds. Holy Word is a sonic effect, but is not mind-affecting; therefore neither deafness nor stopped ears prevent it.

The book doesn't seem to say anything about the interaction of sonic spells and magical silence, except in specific spell descriptions (e.g. shout).

 

[Drawmack]

t seems clear that deafness is equivalent to "stopping one's ears"; both simply stop you from hearing the magic sounds. Holy Word is a sonic effect, but is not mind-affecting; therefore neither deafness nor stopped ears prevent it.

The rules are not clear because the rules do not state that. This is an inference you are taking from the rules. Your inference could be wrong. Them mentioning deafness and stopped ears starting after the sonic effect and then not mentioning deafness again does not mean they are equvocal. This could be the intention and it is certainly one, and a valid, interpretation but it is not the only interpretation.

 

[Destil]

The second paragraph specificaly states that the banishment effect takes place reguardless of wether the creatures hear the spell.

The other effects require you to hear the spell. "Creatures native to your plane who hear..."

Really, it's all spelled out clearly in the spell description.

 

[Elocin]

Thank you everyone and yes actually reading the description of the spell does help as it does answer my question. Thankfully we did not have to worry about it the next time we fought a particular Great Wyrm Blue Dragon, as I just used Time Stop and then hit it with 4 Energy Drains which made him unable to use the damn spell.

 

[Darklone]

Does a Silence spell stop it ?

 

[aliensex]

No Darklone! Don't go down that evil path!

 

[Darklone]

Sorry, couldn't resist