Two people dominate a monster; who gets to drive?

[Piratecat]

Hey, when two different people control a monster by using the dominate spell, is there a mechanic for determining who has control?

Thanks!

 

[jgsugden]

I have not seen a rule covering this issue, but I see no reason why both could not be in control at the same time with the most recent 'command' being the dominant command.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I have a vague memory of an "opposed Charisma checks" rule - I'll see if I can find it.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I have a vague memory of an "opposed Charisma checks" rule - I'll see if I can find it.

Hmm. Not in any of the obvious places in the SRD. It might have been a house rule someone suggested last time the question arose...

-Hyp.

 

[jgsugden]

The opposed charisma check you're thinking of is for charming, isn't it?

 

[Hypersmurf]

The opposed charisma check you're thinking of is for charming, isn't it?

That's a different opposed Cha check - that one's opposed by the victim, when you want him to do something against his nature.

The one I'm thinking of is an opposed Cha check between the two casters, to see whose commands are followed.

But I can't find the reference... it doesn't look like it's official.

-Hyp.

 

[Ferret]

Either use the confusion chart for conflicting actions or make it try to do both

 

[Otterscrubber]

I also remember it being an opposed charisma check. It does not appear to be in the SRD but I beleive it is in the DMG but I dont have that with me atm so I dont have a page # handy.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I've had it come up a couple times back in the 2nd edition days - I used an opposed Charisma check. These days I might use an opposed caster level check. A good argument can be made for leaving charisma out of the equation, since it's really a "power of magic" sort of thing.

Of course, some spells trump each other - Dominate will always overcome Charm Person, in my view.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Ah!

3E PHB p154, Multiple Mental Control effects.

"If a creature is under the mental control of two or more creatures, it tends to obey each to the best of its ability (and to the extent of the control each effect allows). If the controlled creatures receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the competing controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which one the creature obeys."

I knew I'd seen this question come up before here.

-Hyp.