Thwarting Astral Projection

[Doorf]

can't gate Bob Smith the Illithid who is camping in the Abyss.

Of course you can, if abyss ruller is not preventing gateing on abyss curently.

 

[Arravis]

How do you figure? Bob Smith the Illithid IS unique, there's only one Bob Smith the Illithid. There are a ton of Illithids though, and you'll get a random one that isn't in your plane.

 

[Artoomis]

C'mon guys - how can you discuss the Gate spell and unique creatures without quoting text from the spell? Small wonder that you cannot agree...

...Second, the character may then call a particular individual or type of being through the gate...Calling Creatures: The second effect of the gate spell is to call an extraplanar creature to the character's aid (a calling effect). By naming a particular being or type of being as the character cast the spell, the character may cause the gate to open in the immediate vicinity of the desired creature and pull the subject through, willing or unwilling. Deities and unique beings are under no compulsion to come through the gate, although they may choose to do so of their own accord. ...If the character chooses to call a type of being instead of a known individual the character may call either a single creature (of any HD) or several creatures...

There's some more material about controlling what you've called, but that's besides the point here. It seems quite clear from the text that you call a named individual if you want, but not a Diety or unique creature. Obviously, in context, a unique creature is a creature of which there is only one, not simply a particular person.

So yes, you can Gate in "Bob Smith the Illithid," because that's calling "a particular individual," which the spell quite specifically allows you to do - see the first sentance of my quote from the spell. Also the second sentance allows you to call a "particular being," which is what you do when you Gate in "Bob Smith the Illithid."

 

[Arravis]

what qualifies as 'unique beings'. Can my playrs gate in my Epic Uber-Nasty Illithid Alhoon that's been hounding them since level 10? When do you go from being Bob the Illithid to being Bob THE Illithid (tm, cannot be gated)? The description doesn't mention unique creatures, as in a race, but unique beings. I'm not sure how to interpert that.

 

[Artoomis]

what qualifies as 'unique beings'. Can my playrs gate in my Epic Uber-Nasty Illithid Alhoon that's been hounding them since level 10? When do you go from being Bob the Illithid to being Bob THE Illithid (tm, cannot be gated)? The description doesn't mention unique creatures, as in a race, but unique beings. I'm not sure how to interpert that.

Well, as a basic sort of guidline, how about anything EPIC - that is, over 20th level?

That seems like a reasonable guidline to me. Certainly any more or less ordinary being is subject to be called by name with the Gate spell.

 

[0-hr]

Somewhere in here we should mention the whole "True Name" thing. "Bob the Illithid" probably won't work because Bob's true name is "Jed the Illithid". Anyone who lives on the outer planes would have to be rather foolish to go by their real name if it allows any shmuck from the P.Material to harass them. Than again, maybe this is a House Rule?

 

[Arravis]

Can Gate be used on monsters in the ELH?

 

[0-hr]

I've a question about the Forbiddance spell:

Forbiddance prevents creatures whose alignments are different
from the character's from entering the area. Additionally, the
spell seals the area against all planar travel into it, including
dimension door, teleport, plane shifting, astral travel, ethereal
travel, and all summoning spells. At the character's option, the
abjuration can be locked by a password, in which case it can be
entered only by those speaking the proper words.

Can someone who knows the password Plane Shift into an area of Forbiddance?

 

[James McMurray]

Nope. People who know the password can enter the area. They still can't use extra-dimensional travel within it. Those are two seperate effects of the spell. Even if you take the password sentence to mean they can teleport or plane shift into the area, there's no way to take it to mean the can leave.

Of course, they could always have a small 3' x 3' area not forbidden, and use it. The odds of teleporting attackers getting lucky and aiming for that small spot will be next to nil. And the odds of a plane shifter missing their target spot and hitting it are even smaller.