Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="cooperjer" data-source="post: 7003402" data-attributes="member: 6862150">An interesting idea came up in the game today that I'm not sure how to how to make a final ruling.  The player stated he wanted to have his character cast Hypnotic Pattern in an area that included his character.  I informed him that his character would also be affected by the spell and offered him a chance to change his declared action.  The questions that came up were:1. The section on Targeting Yourself on P 204 of the PH suggests that a caster may not include themselves as a target in an area of effect.  Does this allow the caster to remove themselves from a spell such as Hypnotic Pattern?  The table ruling was no, the spell does not target creatures but affects each creature in an area.  However, after the game I researched if area of effect spell target creatures in the area and I ran across Calm Emotions and Circle of Death which have the word "Target" in the spell description.  I also ran across what seems to be the general consensus that the Fireball spell will hit a caster if the caster is in the area of effect.  Is there a clear rule on targeting and area of effect, or am I looking for key words when I should not be?2. If the caster closes their eyes before casting the spell then they will not be affected by the spell.  Since the caster knows precisely when the spell will be released can the caster avoid the save for Hypnotic Patter?  The spell Hypnotic Pattern does not state the key phrase "a target you can see."  The rules regarding A Clear Path To the Target, PH p 204, suggests that the caster does not need to see the spell target.Would you allow a caster to cast Hypnotic Pattern on themselves and not be affected by it?</blockquote>

Verification