MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

[Tom Cashel]

Hey, all...I finally got a reply from the Sage. If you recall, Monte Cook stated that although it wasn't intended by the designers, he would allow Mind Blank to trump True Strike.

Now, the Sage weighs in.

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From: Tom Cashel
Posted At: Friday, February 15, 2002 5:12 AM
Conversation: D&D rules question
Subject: D&D rules question



Dear Skip,

Can a Mind Blank spell defeat the effect of a True Strike spell?

In short, no.

Skip Williams
RPG R&D
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Looks like we'll each have to decide for ourselves. Thought you'd like to know....

Tom

 

[Uller]

Well, that was rather anti-climatic...

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Dear Skip,

Can a Mind Blank spell defeat the effect of a True Strike spell?

In short, no.

Skip Williams
RPG R&D

If you email the sage a question, you really have to explain the whole thing, because he will just reply with what he thinks is the answer, not even looking up the rules in question.

Lets see now:

If you are unarmed, you don't threaten an area around you, even if you are a titan and can do 20 points of subdual damage with a punch.

The Dragon Disciple gets +8 to Str and +4 to Con at level 5, in addition to the bonuses explicetly stated by the class (for a total of +16 to str at levle 10).

And Mind Blank, which prevents all Divination against the protected individual, doesn't prevent the divination spell True Strike from working on you.

--Tally Spikey

 

[IceBear]

Hehehe - if you look in that other thread you'll see I predicted that answer

IceBear

 

[Ristamar]

Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

If you email the sage a question, you really have to explain the whole thing, because he will just reply with what he thinks is the answer, not even looking up the rules in question.

Lets see now:

If you are unarmed, you don't threaten an area around you, even if you are a titan and can do 20 points of subdual damage with a punch.

The Dragon Disciple gets +8 to Str and +4 to Con at level 5, in addition to the bonuses explicetly stated by the class (for a total of +16 to str at levle 10).

And Mind Blank, which prevents all Divination against the protected individual, doesn't prevent the divination spell True Strike from working on you.

--Tally Spikey

Actually, Skip must've changed his mind (or realized he made a mistake or misunderstood the orginal question) about the Dragon Disciple. Check this thread on the WotC boards. The DD does NOT get the MM listed ability bonuses/penalties for increased size, only those granted through the class.

Me = happy.

As for the True Strike ruling, I'm glad my instinct on the matter is seemingly correct. However, like everyone else, I sure would appreciate a detailed explanation as to why in case one of my players asks sometime down the road.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

Well, that was rather anti-climatic...

You mean that none of you saw that coming!? Geesh...

 

[IceBear]

Re: Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

As for the True Strike ruling, I'm glad my instinct on the matter is seemingly correct. However, like everyone else, I sure would appreciate a detailed explanation as to why in case one of my players asks sometime down the road.

Correct if you take The Sage's ruling as correct. Monte ruled opposite to that, and at least he gave his rationale (which is more than Skip did) so Monte's answer is currently the one I will use. If Skip gave his rationale, maybe he could convince me otherwise.

IceBear

 

[Metallian]

Re: Re: Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

Correct if you take The Sage's ruling as correct. Monte ruled opposite to that, and at least he gave his rationale (which is more than Skip did) so Monte's answer is currently the one I will use. If Skip gave his rationale, maybe he could convince me otherwise.

IceBear

I realize that The Sage has to be a bit conservative (because he works for Wizards in an official capacity) and doesn't have a lot of time (because he probably gets a LOT of questions every day), but I tend to defer to Monte Cook's judgement on most rules matters. Especially because he usually provides explanations (game-balance wise AND in-game-logic-wise) for his rulings. He may not be "official," but when you get down to it, he's just as qualified to render opinions.

I wonder what Jonathan Tweet thinks about these things....

The Metallian

 

[Ristamar]

Re: Re: Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

Correct if you take The Sage's ruling as correct. Monte ruled opposite to that, and at least he gave his rationale (which is more than Skip did) so Monte's answer is currently the one I will use. If Skip gave his rationale, maybe he could convince me otherwise.

IceBear

*sigh* I hope this won't devolve into another "Skip's on crack/The Sage is WRONG" type of discussion. Explanation withstanding, it's arguably official, or at the very least it's about as close to official as you can get (though I still respect, and often adhere to, Monte's opinions).

And I do agree that Monte's ruling makes sense given the argument he and others have tendered. I didn't feel it was the 'correct' answer, though. Regardless, I certainly didn't mean to imply that it was somehow nonsensical to follow his words.

Anyway, if Mr. Cashel or some other interested party hasn't already emailed Skip for an inquiry as to why Mind Blank doesn't defeat True Strike, I will do so this afternoon and throw in a few other inquiries along with it (like Mind Blank w/ Invisibility vs. TrueSeeing).

 

[IceBear]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: MInd Blank vs. True Strike, part II

*sigh* I hope this won't devolve into another "Skip's on crack/The Sage is WRONG" type of discussion. Explanation withstanding, it's arguably official, or at the very least it's about as close to official as you can get (though I still respect, and often adhere to, Monte's opinions).

And I do agree that Monte's ruling makes given the argument he, as well as you and others, presented. I didn't feel it was the 'correct' answer, though. Regardless, I certainly didn't mean to imply that it was somehow nonsensical to follow his words.

Anyway, if Mr. Cashel or some other interested party hasn't already emailed Skip for an inquiry as to why Mind Blank doesn't defeat True Strike, I will do so this afternoon and throw in a few other inquiries along with it (like Mind Blank w/ Invisibility vs. TrueSeeing).

I hope it doesn't either. I respect Skip and don't just throw his opinions away without thought, but I came to the conclusion that Mind Blank would stop True Strike before Monte and when Monte gave his rationale, it mirrored my own.

Skip needs to qualify his answers. Monte did say he would have said no too before he read the arguments on the other thread. Maybe someone should send Skip that link so he can read it and then perhaps it would cause him to give a detailed answer as to why he said no.

IceBear