Faerie Fire is not negated by the target leaving the material plane, so the Ghost would still be affected when it uses Etherealness to move into the Ethereal plane.
However, if the Ghost uses Possession, it can't be targeted attacks, spells, or effects, so it could be argued that the Faerie Fire would cease to affect it. Not being targetable technically does not mean that it can't continue to be affected by something that was previous cast, but there is some wiggle room for the DM.
Faerie Fire is not negated by the target leaving the material plane, so the Ghost would still be affected when it uses Etherealness to move into the Ethereal plane.
But would the glow still exist while it's in the Ethereal Plane?
Also, Etherealness states that the Ghost cannot be affected by anything on the other plane.
Etherealness. The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on the Material Plane while it is in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, yet it can’t affect or be affected by anything on the other plane.
If the ghost was on the ethereal plane at the time the spell was cast, it would be unaffected by the spell (unless the caster was also ethereal). However, moving to the ethereal after the spell was cast does not end the spell.
But would the glow still exist while it's in the Ethereal Plane?
Also, Etherealness states that the Ghost cannot be affected by anything on the other plane.
1) Yes. Players would technically get advantage against it, but attacks and spells would still automatically fail.
2) When the Ghost switches planes, it takes the magic with it. There is no thread connecting the caster to the ghost to be severed.
Not being able to affect anything on the other plane is referring to new effects. Attacks, spells, and the like will automatically fail if cast on an ethereal target, but becoming ethereal doesn't end effects unless specifically mentioned. For example, Witch Bolt has a range of 30ft. Being on a different plane is equivalent to being infinitely far apart, so the spell would immediately end. Telepathic Bond has no range limitation, but explicitly doesn't work across planar boundaries. However, the telepathic bond remains in effect for the full hour, so if they return to the same plane, it will begin to work again.
If a new magic item allowed a player to attack the ghost through the ethereal plane, it would retain full benefit from the Faerie Fire.
But would the glow still exist while it's in the Ethereal Plane?
If you're asking whether the glow would be visible from the material plane, the answer is arguably no. The light source is no longer on the same plane as you. For most purposes you can treat the situation as if the ghost had left to the plane of fire or some other arbitrary plane of your choice.
People on the material plane can see nothing on the etherial plane (without some kind of special aid or ability). That includes the glow from Faerie Fire.
But people on the Ethereial plane would see and gain the advantage of the Faerie Fire against a ghost on the ethereial plane
People on the material plane can see nothing on the etherial plane (without some kind of special aid or ability). That includes the glow from Faerie Fire.
But people on the Ethereial plane would see and gain the advantage of the Faerie Fire against a ghost on the ethereial plane
The entry for the Ghost's Etherealness ability explicitly states that it is visible.
Etherealness. The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on the Material Plane while it is in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, yet it can't affect or be affected by anything on the other plane.
Normally you would be correct, and the Faerie Fire would also be invisible from the Material plane, but in this particular instance it is being called out as an exception.
People on the material plane can see nothing on the etherial plane (without some kind of special aid or ability). That includes the glow from Faerie Fire.
Though the ghost is a special cases, as it's explicitly visible from the material while on the ethereal. How this interacts with Faerie Fire is unclear.
Did not know that. Hm. I would rule that if you can see the ghost, then you should see the Faerie Fire, so it still works. But it would not help you hit it because it still can not be affected by anything here. Unless you had some weird other ability.
Hey guys,
Quick question here:
If a player casts Faerie Fire and a Ghost fails its check, if the Ghost uses it Etherealness ability, would it still be affected by the Faerie Fire?
If the answer is "No": If the Ghost comes out of the Faerie Fire in a different location than the 20 ft. cube cast, would it still be affected?
Dungeon Master - Balar's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Asmodai | Feral Tiefling - Rogue 2| AC 15 HP 15| Passive Perception: 10; Passive Investigation: 12; Passive Insight: 10| Equipped: Studded Leather Armor, Rapier, Short Bow, 2 Daggers, Backpack, Quiver and Boots of Elvenkind | Wielding: Rapier and Dagger sheathed, Shortbow slung over back
Faerie Fire is not negated by the target leaving the material plane, so the Ghost would still be affected when it uses Etherealness to move into the Ethereal plane.
However, if the Ghost uses Possession, it can't be targeted attacks, spells, or effects, so it could be argued that the Faerie Fire would cease to affect it. Not being targetable technically does not mean that it can't continue to be affected by something that was previous cast, but there is some wiggle room for the DM.
But would the glow still exist while it's in the Ethereal Plane?
Also, Etherealness states that the Ghost cannot be affected by anything on the other plane.
Dungeon Master - Balar's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Asmodai | Feral Tiefling - Rogue 2| AC 15 HP 15| Passive Perception: 10; Passive Investigation: 12; Passive Insight: 10| Equipped: Studded Leather Armor, Rapier, Short Bow, 2 Daggers, Backpack, Quiver and Boots of Elvenkind | Wielding: Rapier and Dagger sheathed, Shortbow slung over back
If the ghost was on the ethereal plane at the time the spell was cast, it would be unaffected by the spell (unless the caster was also ethereal). However, moving to the ethereal after the spell was cast does not end the spell.
1) Yes. Players would technically get advantage against it, but attacks and spells would still automatically fail.
2) When the Ghost switches planes, it takes the magic with it. There is no thread connecting the caster to the ghost to be severed.
Not being able to affect anything on the other plane is referring to new effects. Attacks, spells, and the like will automatically fail if cast on an ethereal target, but becoming ethereal doesn't end effects unless specifically mentioned. For example, Witch Bolt has a range of 30ft. Being on a different plane is equivalent to being infinitely far apart, so the spell would immediately end. Telepathic Bond has no range limitation, but explicitly doesn't work across planar boundaries. However, the telepathic bond remains in effect for the full hour, so if they return to the same plane, it will begin to work again.
If a new magic item allowed a player to attack the ghost through the ethereal plane, it would retain full benefit from the Faerie Fire.
If you're asking whether the glow would be visible from the material plane, the answer is arguably no. The light source is no longer on the same plane as you. For most purposes you can treat the situation as if the ghost had left to the plane of fire or some other arbitrary plane of your choice.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
People on the material plane can see nothing on the etherial plane (without some kind of special aid or ability). That includes the glow from Faerie Fire.
But people on the Ethereial plane would see and gain the advantage of the Faerie Fire against a ghost on the ethereial plane
The entry for the Ghost's Etherealness ability explicitly states that it is visible.
Normally you would be correct, and the Faerie Fire would also be invisible from the Material plane, but in this particular instance it is being called out as an exception.
Though the ghost is a special cases, as it's explicitly visible from the material while on the ethereal. How this interacts with Faerie Fire is unclear.
Did not know that. Hm. I would rule that if you can see the ghost, then you should see the Faerie Fire, so it still works. But it would not help you hit it because it still can not be affected by anything here. Unless you had some weird other ability.
Thanks everyone, I think that clears things up a bit.
Dungeon Master - Balar's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Asmodai | Feral Tiefling - Rogue 2| AC 15 HP 15| Passive Perception: 10; Passive Investigation: 12; Passive Insight: 10| Equipped: Studded Leather Armor, Rapier, Short Bow, 2 Daggers, Backpack, Quiver and Boots of Elvenkind | Wielding: Rapier and Dagger sheathed, Shortbow slung over back