Is the Geas spell good for the game?
- Thread starter Campbell
- Start date
I've always seen it as a plot device, not a spell for players (or a hammer for the DM). A Geas spell can explain why a Dragon has to guard a particular treasure or why the "Knight Protector of the Kingdom" has suddenly started serving the BBEG. If cast on a PC then it should be used for a short adventure or side quest (say the Rogue steals from a powerful wizard and sells the loot, the wiz could Geas him to get the stuff back taking a single session).
It has never been my belief that a Geas spell is a good way to push PC's through a long adventure.
It has never been my belief that a Geas spell is a good way to push PC's through a long adventure.
coyote6
Adventurer
Geas isn't some unbreakable compulsion; a remove curse from a sufficiently capable spellcaster will work, as will a limited wish (to say nothing of a wish or miracle).
Plus, with the 10 minute casting time, it's not exactly easy to cast on unwilling targets. To have the spell cast on you against your will, you basically have to get beat up first; and if you've been smacked down that hard, you should've been dead. So an unwilling geas will most often be an alternative to a TPK -- gosh, I trade temporary servitude for a level and a load of cash (assuming I could get raised at all)? Sign me up.
Plus, what's the big deal about just ignoring the geas? Ooh, you take 3d6 damage per day. That's an average of a cure light and a cure minor wounds per day, per person. The sickened effect is tougher to remove (just heal, in the core rules, AFAIK; ISTR there being a lower level non-core or d20 spell that removes that condition, though), but there is a Fort save to avoid it, and it's just a -2 -- it's not like you're suddenly helpless. Apply liberal doses of carefully timed bear's endurance and similar Fort save-boosting spells, and take your chances.
Per the SRD, geas "functions similarly to lesser geas, except that it affects a creature of any HD and allows no saving throw." Lesser geas has a 1 day/level duration; I don't see anything in the description of geas that overrides that, so geas also functions for 1 day/level, max. Barring epic level spellcasters, that's 3 weeks, tops.
(And a lesser geas is a joke for any group with a cleric of 5th level or higher; take the -2 to ability scores for the day it takes the cleric to prepare some remove curses, and be done with it.)
As PC arm-twisting techniques go, geas is pretty weak.
Plus, with the 10 minute casting time, it's not exactly easy to cast on unwilling targets. To have the spell cast on you against your will, you basically have to get beat up first; and if you've been smacked down that hard, you should've been dead. So an unwilling geas will most often be an alternative to a TPK -- gosh, I trade temporary servitude for a level and a load of cash (assuming I could get raised at all)? Sign me up.
Plus, what's the big deal about just ignoring the geas? Ooh, you take 3d6 damage per day. That's an average of a cure light and a cure minor wounds per day, per person. The sickened effect is tougher to remove (just heal, in the core rules, AFAIK; ISTR there being a lower level non-core or d20 spell that removes that condition, though), but there is a Fort save to avoid it, and it's just a -2 -- it's not like you're suddenly helpless. Apply liberal doses of carefully timed bear's endurance and similar Fort save-boosting spells, and take your chances.
Per the SRD, geas "functions similarly to lesser geas, except that it affects a creature of any HD and allows no saving throw." Lesser geas has a 1 day/level duration; I don't see anything in the description of geas that overrides that, so geas also functions for 1 day/level, max. Barring epic level spellcasters, that's 3 weeks, tops.
(And a lesser geas is a joke for any group with a cleric of 5th level or higher; take the -2 to ability scores for the day it takes the cleric to prepare some remove curses, and be done with it.)
As PC arm-twisting techniques go, geas is pretty weak.
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Ankh-Morpork Guard
First Post
I don't have a problem with Geas, though I'll ONLY use it on the PCs in one condition. If they start to use it a good amount of NPCs to get things done, I'll show them what it feels like to be forced into service. Cruel? Yes. Fair play? Of course. 
Dagger75
Epic Commoner
I've had a geased pc along time ago. We spent the whole session going over the exact working the DM gave us for loopholes, found a few, he got tired and basically got rid of it.
Isn't Geas broken when you die. I mean you come back from the dead you are no longer under the effects of the geas, right?
Isn't Geas broken when you die. I mean you come back from the dead you are no longer under the effects of the geas, right?
Creamsteak
Explorer
I've never actually used the spell, but if I did, it would be at a characters request (for an alignment change, or perhaps as a tool for barter).
Recently, I had a character die in Eberron (7th level neutral warforged fighter), and the Silver Flame was unwilling to resurrect him until they found out that he was an incredible fighter, but never lived up to his potential (he died in what was basically a very sad and unheroic accident). I'm considering involving a gaes/quest spell to back up an alignment change to neutral good or lawful good, but this would be at the player's request (especially since alignment is vague in Eberron).
Recently, I had a character die in Eberron (7th level neutral warforged fighter), and the Silver Flame was unwilling to resurrect him until they found out that he was an incredible fighter, but never lived up to his potential (he died in what was basically a very sad and unheroic accident). I'm considering involving a gaes/quest spell to back up an alignment change to neutral good or lawful good, but this would be at the player's request (especially since alignment is vague in Eberron).
