Is it possible for a charmed creature to attack its charmer?

[Wolfwood2]

I'm playing a paladin of St. Cuthbert. When last we left off, we were exploring a complex where the boss monster can throw off charm effects. Just in case of next time, I'd like to understand the limits of my character's behavior if he does get charmed.

My PC is very Lawful on the end of Lawful Good, and I tend to play him very like a cop. He talks in police-language all the time and such.

I really think that if his best friend in the world turned out to be some kind of threat, he's say, "This tears me up inside, but it's still my clear duty to bring you in." He would suck down the -4 and start trying to do no-lethal damage, though.

I don't want to unfairly weasel out of a spell effect, though, so is that an unreasonable interpretation or not?

 

[Jack Simth]

If he, or his apparent allies, attempts to attack you, the Charm is broken.

If your DM agrees that this is something your character would do even with a very dear friend, then yes, you can do so ... unless he takes the opposed Charisma check to get you to do something you normally wouldn't. Do be aware, though, that if you try this, you'll need to turn in basically anyone in the party who attempts to break a law.

At my table, if you tried to pull that, though, then a very good friend might still resist arrest - meaning I wouldn't let the charm auto-break if the "friend" attempts to defend himself. This is all just personal "makes sense to me" stuff, though.

 

[Wolfwood2]

If your DM agrees that this is something your character would do even with a very dear friend, then yes, you can do so ... unless he takes the opposed Charisma check to get you to do something you normally wouldn't. Do be aware, though, that if you try this, you'll need to turn in basically anyone in the party who attempts to break a law.

Well, anyone in the party who breaks the law against eating brains, anyway....

 

[Infiniti2000]

Friends help you move. Good friends help you move bodies. I guess sometimes you just gotta look the other way.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I don't want to unfairly weasel out of a spell effect, ...

But, you do want to weasel out of a spell effect? Why don't you just trust in your divine grace and have fun with it rather than looking for a loophole? Waitaminnit, isn't it your character's job to keep people from looking for and finding loopholes?

 

[frankthedm]

I'm playing a paladin of St. Cuthbert. When last we left off, we were exploring a complex where the boss monster can throw off charm effects. Just in case of next time, I'd like to understand the limits of my character's behavior if he does get charmed.

My PC is very Lawful on the end of Lawful Good, and I tend to play him very like a cop. He talks in police-language all the time and such.

I really think that if his best friend in the world turned out to be some kind of threat, he's say, "This tears me up inside, but it's still my clear duty to bring you in." He would suck down the -4 and start trying to do no-lethal damage, though.

I don't want to unfairly weasel out of a spell effect, though, so is that an unreasonable interpretation or not?

If you would you bring in a PC / friend / family member to face executuion in a similar situation, it is reasonable. Charm can get a normal guard to look the other way, but a archtype Samurai who'd sooner seppuku than disobey a command will not be letting old or new friends get by in one peice.

 

[frankthedm]

But, you do want to weasel out of a spell effect? Why don't you just trust in your divine grace and have fun with it rather than looking for a loophole? Waitaminnit, isn't it your character's job to keep people from looking for and finding loopholes?

It is not a loophole to determine what the charmed character will do for someone he is friendly to.

This charm makes a humanoid creature regard you as its trusted friend and ally (treat the target’s attitude as friendly).

Hostile: Will take risks to hurt you ~Attack, interfere, berate, flee
Unfriendly: Wishes you ill ~Mislead, gossip, avoid, watch suspiciously, insult
Indifferent: Doesn’t much care ~Socially expected interaction
Friendly: Wishes you well ~Chat, advise, offer limited help, advocate
Helpful: Will take risks to help you ~Protect, back up, heal, aid

 

[Hypersmurf]

... archtype Samurai who'd sooner seppuku than disobey a command will not be letting old or new friends get by in one peice.

I have sworn with my life's blood - none shall pass this way without my permission!

-Hyp.

 

[Wolfwood2]

But, you do want to weasel out of a spell effect? Why don't you just trust in your divine grace and have fun with it rather than looking for a loophole? Waitaminnit, isn't it your character's job to keep people from looking for and finding loopholes?

It would feel totally wrong to have the character say, "Well I really like you, so I'm going to let you and your evil plans slide."

If that's not how charm works, then okay, but that was how I understood it to work.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Actually, let me expand. I modeled the character in some ways off of Sam Spade from "The Maltese Falcon".

You know how at the end of the book, Sam turns the girl in even though he loves her? Like that.