Magic circle agaist evil - attacking from inside the ward

[pvandyck]

I'm standing next to the cleric with Magic Circle against evil on him. Next to me, outside the ward from the circle, is an elemental with no SR, so it can't get through the circle. If I attack the elemental:

A: The elemental can't attack me

b: The elemental can attack me back (because the function of the circle to protect against physical contact is gone for me), but only me, and I still get the +2 deflection bonus and the +2 resistance bonus to saves.

c: The function of the circle to protect against physical contact from summoned creatures is blown for everyone inside the circle.

Which is it?

thelbar

 

[JChung2003]

(b).

The description of magic circle against evil in the Player's Handbook says the spell is "as protection from evil," which means that if you, as a warded creature, attack the summoned or conjured creature, you end your protection against contact by summoned or conjured creatures.

The spell doesn't prevent them from entering the 10' area emanating from the target of the magic circle against evil. It only prevents summoned or conjured creatures from making bodily contact with anyone within that area.

 

[pvandyck]

The spell doesn't prevent them from entering the 10' area emanating from the target of the magic circle against evil. It only prevents summoned or conjured creatures from making bodily contact with anyone within that area.

No sure I agree with you, there. The Protection from Evil spell creates a barrier at 1 foot from the touched person. The Magic circle against evil spell creates the same barrier at 10 feet from the touched person. summoned creates cannot cross this barrier, hence the "no contact"

Also, Magic circle against evail can be turned "inward" to confine something. Again, the assumption being that the creature cannot cross the barrier.

Thinking about these 2 things, it seems clear that summoned creatures cannot cross the barrier of the circle.

Thelbar

 

[brehobit]

Interesting question. Looks like it is really unclear. The issue raised by JChung is not at all how I thought about the spell, but it does make sense given the wording. The following questions get raised for PfE.
* Can a creature with a 6" knife who would be blocked by the 3rd clause of the spell actually attack the warded creature? If the creature can't get within the barrier then obviously no.

* If a vampire is inside the barrier somehow (in bat form perhaps) and uses mind control does the barrier prevent it? Can the barrier block something that doesn't pass though it?

I think I prefer the notion that the 3rd effect prevents the creature from passing though the barrier, as implied by the "inside facing" comments on magic circle. Any attack from inside the circle would negate the 3rd effect. I'm not saying that is exactly what the spell says, I think it is too vague to know exactly what it says. Rather that this makes the most sense to me.