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 When a spellcaster dies, are his spells dispelled?
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe

169 Posts

Posted - 04 Dec 2005 :  16:15:50  Show Profile  Visit Thureen Buroch's Homepage Send Thureen Buroch a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
I wanted a little feedback on this, since I can't find it anywhere in the 3E rulebooks.

When a spellcaster dies or is knocked unconscious, what are the rules concerning the spells he or she has cast? What spells get dispelled?

Would a spell with a duration, other than permanent, such as Suggestion, go away? What if the spellcaster is only knocked out, but then regains consciousness? Does the spell come back into affect? What if the spell has permanent duration?

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Kentinal
Great Reader

4693 Posts

Posted - 04 Dec 2005 :  16:51:32  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Any spell that requires concentration would stop working, all other spells will stay in effect. Even mind control ones like Charm Person or Suggestion is how I would rule it.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore

USA
1695 Posts

Posted - 05 Dec 2005 :  20:46:15  Show Profile  Visit warlockco's Homepage Send warlockco a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

Any spell that requires concentration would stop working, all other spells will stay in effect. Even mind control ones like Charm Person or Suggestion is how I would rule it.



Yep, spells would run their duration, unless they have concentration.

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D20 System Reference Document
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Faraer
Great Reader

3308 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2005 :  02:32:04  Show Profile  Visit Faraer's Homepage Send Faraer a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The Realms is draped in many hanging magics of long-dead mages, remember.
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe

169 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2005 :  22:26:06  Show Profile  Visit Thureen Buroch's Homepage Send Thureen Buroch a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer

The Realms is draped in many hanging magics of long-dead mages, remember.



Thanks. But would spells with a set duration (say one minute per level) be dispelled when the spellcaster dies?

Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins?
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Fletcher
Learned Scribe

USA
299 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2005 :  22:31:56  Show Profile  Visit Fletcher's Homepage Send Fletcher a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Thureen Buroch

quote:
Originally posted by Faraer

The Realms is draped in many hanging magics of long-dead mages, remember.



Thanks. But would spells with a set duration (say one minute per level) be dispelled when the spellcaster dies?


Nope. The spells would continue for their duration and then expire. There have been multiple examples in a variety of stories where there have been dead invisible mages tripped over or found, or having the spells they cast on people in the moment of their death continue to aid thier ally...etc.

Considering the duration of most spells, I wouldn't think that allowing the spells to run their course would be an issue. After all the guy is dead. Give him his last gasp of coolness and allow his spells to finish out.

Run faster! The Kobolds are catching up!
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KnightErrantJR
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USA
5402 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2005 :  22:40:55  Show Profile  Visit KnightErrantJR's Homepage Send KnightErrantJR a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Aghairon definately managed to make an impression after his death . . .
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Kentinal
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4693 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2005 :  22:42:15  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Thureen Buroch



Thanks. But would spells with a set duration (say one minute per level) be dispelled when the spellcaster dies?



To even expand, if a spell caster after a sucessful cast of a spell, got level drained reducing caster level the duration of the spell would not become shorter, Concentration to maitain is only thing that can end a spell as a result of death, level drain or injury.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon

Edited by - Kentinal on 06 Dec 2005 22:43:48
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Aelf
Acolyte

USA
46 Posts

Posted - 07 Dec 2005 :  00:34:26  Show Profile Send Aelf a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There are some multi-round spells that are directed by the caster (Flaming Sphere and Spiritual Weapon for example.)
The effects of the caster dying/being rendered unconscious can differ:

A Flaming Sphere "winks out if it exceeds the spells range."

A Spiritual Weapon "returns to you and hovers" if "beyond spell range, if it goes out of sight, or if you are not directing it."

Both of these statements imply some lesser form of caster concentration required to maintain these effects. However, I can't think of an existing, explicit ruling.

Unless a gracious DM allowed a Spiritual Weapon to continue to attack the last target, worrying about if continues to exist for the duration is probably moot*. I would be inclined to have it hover over the unconscious/slain form of the caster for the duration. If the caster somehow regained consciousness I would let it continue to be directed.

A Flaming Sphere can be more difficult to consider. The strict reading of the spell ("If it enters a space with a creature ... otherwise it stays at rest and burns") implies no effect (other than torchlight/heat) unless it is directed. On the other hand the effect is a "5-ft.-diameter sphere" which would cover 78% of a 5-foot square's surface area. I realize the problem here isn't the death of a caster. Another odd bit about this spell is that nothing in the description demands line of sight; the caster just points in a direction and the sphere starts rolling. I only mention this as the lack of a LOS requirement could be used to argue for the sphere continuing to exist for the duration. (unlike Spiritual Weapon)

Argh! I'm about to burn a wish for someone to find an explicit rule.

Best regards,

Aelf

* I'm no sage, but I'm sure my players could come up with some way to exploit an 'unattached' force weapon. In fact, I can picture them pouring over their splatbooks digging for the right feat chain/PrC/spell combination to co-opt a Spiritual Weapon into a dragon-slaying wonder. But I digress ...

Regards,
Aelf, a bard of the Realms
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe

169 Posts

Posted - 07 Dec 2005 :  00:44:00  Show Profile  Visit Thureen Buroch's Homepage Send Thureen Buroch a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Aelf

Unless a gracious DM allowed a Spiritual Weapon to continue to attack the last target, worrying about if continues to exist for the duration is probably moot


The DM wouldn't be being so gracious if it were the Spiritual Weapon of a dead enemy...

Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins?
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Khaa
Seeker

USA
80 Posts

Posted - 07 Dec 2005 :  13:30:10  Show Profile  Visit Khaa's Homepage Send Khaa a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I agree with Kentinal on this question.

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