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<blockquote data-quote="fba827" data-source="post: 1311240" data-attributes="member: 807"><p>I can easily see this being as distracting as the polymorph questions since this is pretty much a "reverse polymorph" on some levels .. but, here goes ...</p><p></p><p>I am designing a plot where the spell <em>magic jar</em> is a main focus of the plot. </p><p></p><p>Having said that, I wanted to see if anyone out there could help me clarify a couple things about the spell.</p><p></p><p>For the sake of clarity in this discussion, the caster will be referred to as "Caster" and the body being taken over will be called "Target."</p><p></p><p>From my understanding of the spell description, the resulting mixture (body of target, mind of caster) will have the following ...</p><p></p><p>(Anything underlined if explicitly defined in the spell description so not questioning those items; simply including them here for completeness)</p><p></p><p><strong>Class/Levels:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Strength:</strong> <u>Target</u></p><p><strong>Dexterity:</strong> <u>Target</u></p><p><strong>Constitution:</strong> <u>Target</u></p><p><strong>Intelligence:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Wisdom:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Charisma:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Hit Points:</strong> <u>Target</u></p><p><strong>Base Attack Bonus:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Base Saves:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> <u>Caster</u></p><p></p><p><strong>Mental Abilities:</strong> <u>Caster</u> -- but what does "mental abilities" include?</p><p></p><p><strong>Base Skill Ranks:</strong> ???</p><p>I could see this being a mixture of Either: Caster for skills based on mental abilities since they represent learned things (thus mental) and Target for skills based on physical abilities since ranks in physical skills could be training the muscles to be able to do the item (thus physical). But I don't like that answer as there should be a blanket case answer... so I'm inclined to say "Caster" on this one...</p><p></p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> ???</p><p>Much like the topic of base skill ranks, I could see this being a mixture. A small handful of feats are described as physical things, such as Toughness, thus making those be of the Target. But the number of those feats is few and the rest could be easily described as learned things. So I'm inclined to say "Caster" for all Feats as well.</p><p></p><p>Of course, if feats are defined as extraordinary abilities, then that in itself eliminates this section of the topic since extraordinary abilities have their own heading.</p><p></p><p><strong>Extraordinary abilities:</strong> ???</p><p>The spell's description specifically says "you can not choose to activate the body's extraordinary abilities" -- so, that leaves us with some possibilities...</p><p></p><p> a) Caster. But I don't believe that to be the case since I tend to associate extraordinary abilities with the physical bodies own capabilities.</p><p></p><p> b) Target. But with the qualifier of "only those that are continuous/automatically in effect" such as cold resistance or something. But not things that are activated by the body on command... that is what the text seems to more likely imply anyway. (some example extraordinary abilities... Rage, Fast Movement, Purity of Body, Monk AC bonus, Evasion, Flurry of Blows, Still Mind, Slow Fall, etc... )</p><p></p><p> c) Neither.</p><p></p><p><strong>Supernatural Abilities:</strong> ???</p><p>Just as with extraordinary abilities, the spell's description specifically says "you can not choose to activate the body's supernatural abilities" -- so, that leaves us with the same possibilities ...</p><p></p><p> a) Caster.</p><p></p><p> b) Target. But with the qualifier of "only those that are continuous/automatically in effect" ... and the examples I can spot off the cuff are just leaving me even more curious as to which way this would be ... Turn undead, Lay on Hands, Aura of Courage.</p><p></p><p> c) Neither.</p><p></p><p><strong>Spell & Spell-like Abilities:</strong> ???</p><p>The spell specifically states, "The creature's spells and spell-like abilities do not stay with the body."</p><p></p><p>I am inclined to say that this one is Caster. Plain and simple... it is def. not Target based on the wording so if it isn't Caster, then Neither is the only other option.</p><p></p><p><strong>Movement Rate:</strong> ???</p><p>With little doubt in my mind, this one is Target.</p><p></p><p><strong>Languages:</strong> ???</p><p>With little doubt in my mind, this one is Caster.</p><p></p><p><strong>Racial Traits:</strong> ???</p><p></p><p>Note: This gets tricky because some racial traits are inherent to the race (racial bonus to various skills, types of vision, etc.) while others are inherent to the racial culture/upbringing (bonus languages, bonus to attack certain creatures).</p><p></p><p>Def. not Caster (since it is not his body). So that leaves either:</p><p></p><p> a) Target</p><p></p><p> b) Target with qualifier (using the statement about extraordinary abilities to apply to racial abilities) so only things that are continuously in effect... racial bonus to skills, types of vision , etc. in fact, looking at the note written above, I'd go so far as to say that racial abilities inherent to the race are retained while those inherent to the racial culture are not... (but that still remains a bit ambiguous).</p><p></p><p> c) Neither.</p><p></p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> and <strong>Special Attacks:</strong></p><p>These are defined as supernatural, extraordinary, or spell-like so no need to have them as their own discussion.</p><p></p><p><strong>Memories:</strong></p><p>While it is apparent that it is the caster that will remember what is done in the target's body, what does the Target remember while trapped in the magic jar, if anything?</p><p></p><p></p><p>Thoughts or comments on any parts mentioned above, anyone? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":-)" title="Smile :-)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":-)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="fba827, post: 1311240, member: 807"] I can easily see this being as distracting as the polymorph questions since this is pretty much a "reverse polymorph" on some levels .. but, here goes ... I am designing a plot where the spell [i]magic jar[/i] is a main focus of the plot. Having said that, I wanted to see if anyone out there could help me clarify a couple things about the spell. For the sake of clarity in this discussion, the caster will be referred to as "Caster" and the body being taken over will be called "Target." From my understanding of the spell description, the resulting mixture (body of target, mind of caster) will have the following ... (Anything underlined if explicitly defined in the spell description so not questioning those items; simply including them here for completeness) [b]Class/Levels:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Strength:[/b] [u]Target[/u] [b]Dexterity:[/b] [u]Target[/u] [b]Constitution:[/b] [u]Target[/u] [b]Intelligence:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Wisdom:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Charisma:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Hit Points:[/b] [u]Target[/u] [b]Base Attack Bonus:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Base Saves:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Alignment:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] [b]Mental Abilities:[/b] [u]Caster[/u] -- but what does "mental abilities" include? [b]Base Skill Ranks:[/b] ??? I could see this being a mixture of Either: Caster for skills based on mental abilities since they represent learned things (thus mental) and Target for skills based on physical abilities since ranks in physical skills could be training the muscles to be able to do the item (thus physical). But I don't like that answer as there should be a blanket case answer... so I'm inclined to say "Caster" on this one... [b]Feats:[/b] ??? Much like the topic of base skill ranks, I could see this being a mixture. A small handful of feats are described as physical things, such as Toughness, thus making those be of the Target. But the number of those feats is few and the rest could be easily described as learned things. So I'm inclined to say "Caster" for all Feats as well. Of course, if feats are defined as extraordinary abilities, then that in itself eliminates this section of the topic since extraordinary abilities have their own heading. [b]Extraordinary abilities:[/b] ??? The spell's description specifically says "you can not choose to activate the body's extraordinary abilities" -- so, that leaves us with some possibilities... a) Caster. But I don't believe that to be the case since I tend to associate extraordinary abilities with the physical bodies own capabilities. b) Target. But with the qualifier of "only those that are continuous/automatically in effect" such as cold resistance or something. But not things that are activated by the body on command... that is what the text seems to more likely imply anyway. (some example extraordinary abilities... Rage, Fast Movement, Purity of Body, Monk AC bonus, Evasion, Flurry of Blows, Still Mind, Slow Fall, etc... ) c) Neither. [b]Supernatural Abilities:[/b] ??? Just as with extraordinary abilities, the spell's description specifically says "you can not choose to activate the body's supernatural abilities" -- so, that leaves us with the same possibilities ... a) Caster. b) Target. But with the qualifier of "only those that are continuous/automatically in effect" ... and the examples I can spot off the cuff are just leaving me even more curious as to which way this would be ... Turn undead, Lay on Hands, Aura of Courage. c) Neither. [b]Spell & Spell-like Abilities:[/b] ??? The spell specifically states, "The creature's spells and spell-like abilities do not stay with the body." I am inclined to say that this one is Caster. Plain and simple... it is def. not Target based on the wording so if it isn't Caster, then Neither is the only other option. [b]Movement Rate:[/b] ??? With little doubt in my mind, this one is Target. [b]Languages:[/b] ??? With little doubt in my mind, this one is Caster. [b]Racial Traits:[/b] ??? Note: This gets tricky because some racial traits are inherent to the race (racial bonus to various skills, types of vision, etc.) while others are inherent to the racial culture/upbringing (bonus languages, bonus to attack certain creatures). Def. not Caster (since it is not his body). So that leaves either: a) Target b) Target with qualifier (using the statement about extraordinary abilities to apply to racial abilities) so only things that are continuously in effect... racial bonus to skills, types of vision , etc. in fact, looking at the note written above, I'd go so far as to say that racial abilities inherent to the race are retained while those inherent to the racial culture are not... (but that still remains a bit ambiguous). c) Neither. [b]Special Qualities:[/b] and [b]Special Attacks:[/b] These are defined as supernatural, extraordinary, or spell-like so no need to have them as their own discussion. [b]Memories:[/b] While it is apparent that it is the caster that will remember what is done in the target's body, what does the Target remember while trapped in the magic jar, if anything? Thoughts or comments on any parts mentioned above, anyone? :-) [/QUOTE]
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