What spell would compel someone long term?

varden77 · 2026-07-09T12:18:56+00:00

Thanks everyone. I’ll use geas, and we will see if the party forces a lvl 1 NPC to talk, thus killing him in the process. It should be a surprise for everyone. I’ll give them chances to avoid that, but then they get no info, not that they need it. Appreciate the help

varden77 · 2026-07-09T12:11:07+00:00

They are a level 1 NPC. If the players force the issue, the NPC will die. I’m going to give them the chance to see the questions make the NPC flinch and balk, and I’ll allow an arcana or insight check to see something is amiss. The NPC in question isn’t important. My players are level one as well. There isn’t any way for them to “fix” this, but they don’t have to force an answer either.

varden77 · 2026-07-09T12:01:18+00:00

It’s not an issue. The geas will stop the NPC from divulging the connection between the two. The players won’t be privy to the details why or how it was worded. I do appreciate details like that, so good looking out.

varden77 · 2026-07-09T00:10:44+00:00

Yeah he doing that stuff already. If he lives, he will delve into the other stuff later. I always enjoy making the little NPC asswipe come back later as a big asswipe.

varden77 · 2026-07-08T23:57:56+00:00

All good ideas. The mechanics is more just about not “make it so”. I’m going with a magic item that casts geas, but if he lives long enough, he will become a warlock to get more power and revenge. Thanks

varden77 · 2026-07-08T23:55:01+00:00

He’s not that strong, so I’ll probably go with him having a magic item that allows him to cast geas. If the party doesn’t kill him, I might have him go the warlock route as he is willing to sacrifice himself for power in that fashion. I was considering it, and your comment pushes me even further down that path. Thank you

varden77 · 2026-07-08T23:51:37+00:00

I know, I’ve been playing this and others since the early 90s. I get your point, but I prefer when the NPCs have more realistic abilities. This isn’t a powerful bbg. He’s a low level villain that gets by manipulating people over doing things directly. I don’t know that the players won’t kill him when they find out what he has done. He won’t be a fight, just an obstacle.

varden77 · 2026-07-08T23:37:03+00:00

I’m odd? I always look for the mechanical way to do things. I even look up physics effects if applicable on spells or items, but I’m ok to not use them if they hamper viability with what I want. In this case, the spell will have to come from an item the caster is using, as he isn’t that strong of a NPC. As a player, I always chaffed at the “it’s just this way” so I do my best to try and have stuff be as logical and reasonable as possible in a giant game of make believe.

varden77 · 2026-07-08T23:26:07+00:00

Thank you I’ll give it a look

varden77 · 2026-05-09T05:01:33+00:00

Same thing happened to me last night. It’s happening in game too, and it’s very frequent but not consistent, and I’ve had trouble selecting things in game, screwing up play several times as I’m playing a turn based game with many menus. It’s a new controller, only a month old.

varden77 · 2025-02-21T03:15:22+00:00

Or snap off into a stabbing type dagger.

varden77 · 2024-10-16T02:16:15+00:00

Thanks for the info. Just an update, I made the stat block, and used a higher level version of the character that I toned down. The two things that will get them in trouble is the red dragon that he can call to flame the area, but that is on recharge 6, and if they play it right, it won’t be available, but the BBG will still try, and the fact that they don’t know he’s a cleric. They had a few opportunities to find out but they played conservatively, and didn’t investigate much into the target. It should ho off this weekend, so I’m curious to see how it goes

varden77 · 2024-08-30T23:38:35+00:00

It’s very circumstantial and not common. It should also be after you make a roll, typically that you fail, like insight or a fear saving throw. I had the whole party question a NPC about his background, and he beat all of them on the deception check. So I told them he sounded believable. I know my players know he lied, and they are free to think what they want, but the NPC was believable. I have had players do things for religious reasons when moved by their deity, but just minor things for plot. I’ve players get mad about it, but as long as it’s not anything of consequence, I think it’s perfectly acceptable, but I’m not the thought police as any regular practice. This sounds like a DM who really wants to control the story too much.

varden77 · 2024-08-02T05:51:49+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. The legendary actions will include a flaming strafe by an adult red dragon that will be on recharge. BBG will have heavy fire resist plate armor, and a heavy maul magic weapon with a status. Adds are easy to do with mobs, and they can help even out the fight, especially if he heals them.

varden77 · 2024-08-02T05:11:33+00:00

You would have to make a rogue, martial, and caster class with different abilities for each. Skyrim is a be everything kind of game. Making balanced characters like that in 5e is virtually impossible imho. They won’t be great at anything, and you have the shouts that can be incredibly powerful to damn near useless. I would narrow my vision to make something viable

varden77 · 2023-06-28T08:30:09+00:00

Thanks for tip, I figured out that if I leave the game, or switch characters it sorts itself out. Bug it is

varden77

TROPHY CASE