Why are intelligent Undead immune to mind-influencing effects?

[Falling Icicle]

Why are intelligent undead immune to mind-influencing effects? They have a mind. Just because they aren't physically alive I don't see why that should make them immune to mental effects.

 

[Egres]

Why are intelligent undead immune to mind-influencing effects? They have a mind. Just because they aren't physically alive I don't see why that should make them immune to mental effects.

For the same reason intelligent plants are immune to mind affecting effects too.

 

[frankthedm]

Their withered brains are not what do the thinking, the Darkness within them is where the sentience lies. A dark place where most enchantments cannot reach. Just as they will never again know the uplifting hope of a moral bonus, the blackness within will never recognize “a new best friend” nor will it relinquish control of the withered husk in which it resides except to the blackest of necromancies. Only through darkness can it be controlled, should that be beyond you, cleansing flame and magic’s wrath should serve to cleanse their taint. If you cannot purge them, seek divine light.

If you do not like that, feel free to change that for the games you DM.

 

[wmasters]

I agree, it's a crazy rule. We house rule that intelligent undead aren't immune to them.

 

[Someone]

Notice that undead can after all be controlled, bolstered, or frightened: but that takes necromancy, not enchantment. They are powered and run by negative energy, so you need mastery over it to control them. Their minds are too alien to be reached otherwise.

 

[lukelightning]

Yeah, I have problems with this too. I think intelligent undead should be affected by mind-affecting things. Some undead are virtually nothing but a mind. Perhaps give 'em a +4 to saves unless it is a specifically undead-affecting effect?

Remember that "mind affecting" does not mean "brain affecting." You can charm a fire elemental, which I doubt has a brain.

 

[Rhun]

Their withered brains are not what do the thinking, the Darkness within them is where the sentience lies. A dark place where most enchantments cannot reach. Just as they will never again know the uplifting hope of a moral bonus, the blackness within will never recognize “a new best friend” nor will it relinquish control of the withered husk in which it resides except to the blackest of necromancies. Only through darkness can it be controlled, should that be beyond you, cleansing flame and magic’s wrath should serve to cleanse their taint. If you cannot purge them, seek divine light.

I like this. Thanks, Frank!

 

[Nail]

Undead can gain morale bonuses.

Edit: Never mind! I am Oh-so-wrong.

 

[Savage Wombat]

Plot Seed:

A group of adventurers are the only hope the world has from being overrun by the Illithid armies that have extinguished their sun. To combat this threat, and give themselves a chance of survival, the PCs have themselves transformed into vampires.

As vampires, the party is immune to (a) mind blasts and many psionic powers, and (b) death from having their brain devoured. In the sunless realm of the illithid, the vampiric curse is of less impact.

 

[Infiniti2000]

As vampires, the party is immune to (a) mind blasts and many psionic powers, and (b) death from having their brain devoured. In the sunless realm of the illithid, the vampiric curse is of less impact.

There was a thread on this a while ago. Mind blasts are arguably not mind-affecting. However, undead are immune to stunning.