Multiple Compulsions

[Celebrim]

Suppose a character is subjected to multiple conflicting magical compulsions, of the sort produced by Dominate Person, for example.

Which compulsion wins?

As a simple example, suppose Greater Command is used against a target of a Dominate Person spell? Would the target of the command obey it even if it was against the wishes of the caster of dominate person?

Does your answer change depending on the source(s) of the compulsion (ghostly malevolence, dominate person, intelligent weapon, ect.)?

 

[Ranes]

To your last question first, I don't think the source of a compulsion should have any bearing on which of any competing compulsions the recipient of the spell should prioritise.

Under the subheading Multiple Mental Control Effects on page 172 of the 3.5 PHB, it says that the recipient of multiple mind control effects must try to obey each to the best of his ability but, if the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which the creature obeys.

Does that help?

 

[Celebrim]

To your last question first, I don't think the source of a compulsion should have any bearing on which of any competing compulsions the recipient of the spell should prioritise.

Under the subheading Multiple Mental Control Effects on page 172 of the 3.5 PHB, it says that the recipient of multiple mind control effects must try to obey each to the best of his ability but, if the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which the creature obeys.

Does that help?

Yes. That seems reasonable. I was leaning toward opposed caster level checks, but opposed charisma checks has a logic to it as well. Now I'm trying to decide which of the two I'm more likely to not have data for - charisma or caster level - and so which constitutes the bigger burden of having notes on. I try to keep up with both, but the caster level of an intelligent sword's dominate ability isn't specified, which makes me lean toward charisma checks.

Do you know if that clarification was added with 3.5 or is it in the 3.0 text as well and I've just missed it?

 

[Ranes]

Well, first of all, I've found the same paragraph (which I'd completely forgotten until now; obviously it hasn't come up in my game before) on page 154 of the 3.0 PHB.

Like you, I was thinking of caster level checks until I saw the section of the rules in question. It seemed the most likely basis of resolving such issues. But I also think you're onto something when you raise the point about CLs of intelligent swords (and other items) not being transparent and therefore making opposed Charisma the way to go.

It's a really interesting question, though and I'm surprised I don't see discussions of it more often, regardless of edition. Even with the 3.x guidance I found, I can now imagine a lot of situations that would be difficult to RP as well as DM.