Other Uses for Turn Undead

[DM_Jeff]

Positive Energy: I recall that when 3e first hit and WotC was explaining their thoughts behind the rules they originally set up Turning Undead to be but one story use for “Positive Energy” and that there could and should be other things done with positive energy. But I don’t recall seeing that be put to good use during the game itself very much or in adventures.

IIRC in Speaker in Dreams there’s a temple that a cleric needs to use a turn undead positive energy burst to open. I know in my games I occasionally have had portals that require negative or positive energy uses to open. I remember a discussion where the turn roll would actually come into play; it wasn’t enough just to “spend one” but there would be a DC to overcome during your turn check.

So, has anyone seen good alternate uses of this in written modules? How did it work? Do you have different uses for them in your game besides sending undead scampering away?

-DM Jeff

 

[Tiberius]

So, has anyone seen good alternate uses of this in written modules? How did it work? Do you have different uses for them in your game besides sending undead scampering away?

I can't remember the last time I saw a turning attempt used for anything other than powering a Divine feat.

 

[waterdhavian]

I have used it to infuse an area with positive energy. Scenario was that an area was decimated by something very unholy, so my cleric used turn attempts to suffuse an area with positive energy bringing back the plant life and basic life and color to the area. It was all to bury some dead so they didnt rest in vile ground. I think the DM allowed me to cast Consecrate and burn turn undead attempts to fuel it, so it lasted longer.

 

[freyar]

I can't remember the last time I saw a turning attempt used for anything other than powering a Divine feat.

But a number of those feats have different uses than turning undead, right?

I like waterdhavian's example a lot, too.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

Sunless Citadel has a door that can only be opended by positive energy from a turn attempt.

 

[Voadam]

I've used turning attempts to try and counter the vileness of altars. Tried it with my paladin against an altar of Bane's in a Pool of Radiance (module not CRPG) game. Tried it with my cleric of Rao in RttTEE against an unholy Tharizdun shrine. Never works.