Rebuke Undead--Alternative uses?

[Jeb McDonald]

On page 160 of the PHB, it says under Other Uses for Positive or Negative Energy, "Positive or negative energy may have uses other than affecting undead. For example, a holy site might be guarded by a magic door that opens for any good cleric who can make a turning check high enough to affect a 3HD undead and that shatters for an evil cleric who can make a similar check."

Two questions regarding the example used in the PHB: #1 Does there need to be a physical door present or can the cleric use this to bar an opening? #2 Does this use of a turn attempt work to bar only undead from an area or will it work against any sort of creature?

 

[Silveras]

On page 160 of the PHB, it says under Other Uses for Positive or Negative Energy, "Positive or negative energy may have uses other than affecting undead. For example, a holy site might be guarded by a magic door that opens for any good cleric who can make a turning check high enough to affect a 3HD undead and that shatters for an evil cleric who can make a similar check."

Two questions regarding the example used in the PHB: #1 Does there need to be a physical door present or can the cleric use this to bar an opening? #2 Does this use of a turn attempt work to bar only undead from an area or will it work against any sort of creature?

I think you misunderstand the point. This is not a description of a single alternate use. It is a suggestion to inspire DMs to think about how they might allow such things in their own adventures.

Because the the "example" is actually a seed for the DM to flesh out, the answer to both of your questions is "If that is how the DM wants it". As I read the example, the use does not actually bar any creatures from the area. Instead of banishing/turning/rebuking, the check is resolved *as if* trying to affect that number of Hit Dice of Undead; if successful, the door opens - otherwise, it does not.

There *is* a full example of this idea in the Sunless Citadel adventure. There is a magical door where only channeling at least a certain amount of positive energy will open it. In that case, it is a physical door with a very high break DC (higher than 1st/2nd level characters are expected to be able to make).

 

[RandomPrecision]

I once had a villain (who was a minion of a bigger villain, but he was a nasty one in his own right) who had a huge crystal that was emanating negative energy, which had the effect of slowly draining life from the PC's who were within its range, as well as bolstering undead in the area (which was the crystal's main purpose, of course). The party cleric figured out that channeling positive energy temporarily stopped the life draining effects. And when the party finally reached the crystal, the cleric made a pretty awesome turning attempt, which I decided would destroy it, although I had anticipated a more direct method, like hitting it with a mace, or something...but it was a good way to destroy a negative-channeling item.

 

[wuyanei]

RandomPrecision: You're too nice. I would have had the crystal explode into a bazillion pieces, dealing 10d6 damage to all creatures in a 30 ft. radius....

 

[Shellman]

Look at the BoED and BoVD,

I think both have alternate uses for turning attempts/ rebuke attempts in them. I know there are feats and spells that allow you to spend a turnig attempt to bolster spells or produce other effects.

IMO, alternate uses for turning attempts are a great idea. In my group, we rarely fight undead weak enough to be effected by a turning check, so this gives the Cleric another tool to use.