What spells other than the mentioned dispel evil and good spell can force an entity out? I was thinking dispel magic, but I doubt it because possession is an ability and not a spell (I think?). Protection from E and G is viable as well. Anyway, I'm looking for other ideas of spells that would work. Actually, now that I think about it, how is dispel E and G supposed to be a viable solution? Under Possession for Ghosts it gives that as an example, but I was reading up and it says it can only target self - you can't cast if you're possessed as you're incapacitated. My mind is mush. Send help.
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Please, for the love of the gods, tell me how am I to balance DnD with the family and my son's travel hockey? HALP!
Well, I answered one of my questions with the "Break Enchantment" portion of Dispel Evil and Good. A person with that spell touches another possessed creature and that'll drive them out. I got hung up on the "self" part.
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Please, for the love of the gods, tell me how am I to balance DnD with the family and my son's travel hockey? HALP!
I think what you would need to do is protect everyone around the possessed person first with a spell, something as simple as Bless to possibly Magic Circle. Then force the possessing entity out. A Cleric could use Turn Undead or Destroy Undead if high enough level.
As a new DM, I'm unsure how to manage ghost possession. I know it says the possessing ghost does not have access to its victim's feats and abilities. Does this mean it can not make its victim attack in any way that the victim would normally attack under normal conditions? Does this mean the ghost can deliver its withering touch while possessing a victim?
It would seem to me that the possessing ghost can make its victim perform an attack that does not use any class features or proficiencies. So if a monk is possessed, the ghost can make the monk perform an empty-handed attack, but it is not an empty-handed attack such as a monk can make and it lacks proficiency. What do others think?
For everyone's reference, here is the text about ghost possession:
Possession (Recharge 6): One Humanoid that the ghost can see within 5 ft. of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by the ghost; the ghost then disappears, and the target is Incapacitated and loses control of its body. The ghost now controls the body but doesn't deprive the target of awareness. The ghost can't be targeted by any Attack, spell, or other Effect, except ones that turn Undead, and it retains its Alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, and immunity to being Charmed and Frightened. It otherwise uses the possessed target's Statistics, but doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, Class Features, or Proficiencies. The possession lasts until the body drops to 0 Hit Points, the ghost ends it as a Bonus Action, or the ghost is turned or forced out by an Effect like the Dispel Evil and Good spell. When the possession ends, the ghost reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the body. The target is immune to this ghost's Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends.
Pretty much everyone has proficiency in Unarmed Strikes, so it's hard to say that the ghost wouldn't have proficiency in the attack, but since it wouldn't have access to the Monk's Martial Arts feature, the ghost will need to make the Unarmed Strike with STR, can only deal 1 + STR damage, and can't make a bonus action Unarmed Strike.
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Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
I would like to know how to add something like this to a custom race: Possession. You gain the ability to possess a humanoid within 5 feet of you. The humanoid must succeed a Charisma or Intelligence saving throw or become possessed. You then disappears, and the target is incapacitated and loses control of its body. You now control the body but you can't deprive the possessed target of awareness. You can't be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn undead, and you retains your alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma scores. You otherwise uses the possessed target's statistics but doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, class features, or proficiencies. The possession lasts until the body drops to 0 hit points, you ends it as a bonus action or reaction, or you are turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the possession ends, you reappear in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the body. The target is immune to your Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends. You regain use of this trait once you have completed a long rest.
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What spells other than the mentioned dispel evil and good spell can force an entity out? I was thinking dispel magic, but I doubt it because possession is an ability and not a spell (I think?). Protection from E and G is viable as well. Anyway, I'm looking for other ideas of spells that would work. Actually, now that I think about it, how is dispel E and G supposed to be a viable solution? Under Possession for Ghosts it gives that as an example, but I was reading up and it says it can only target self - you can't cast if you're possessed as you're incapacitated. My mind is mush. Send help.
Please, for the love of the gods, tell me how am I to balance DnD with the family and my son's travel hockey? HALP!
Well, I answered one of my questions with the "Break Enchantment" portion of Dispel Evil and Good. A person with that spell touches another possessed creature and that'll drive them out. I got hung up on the "self" part.
Please, for the love of the gods, tell me how am I to balance DnD with the family and my son's travel hockey? HALP!
I think what you would need to do is protect everyone around the possessed person first with a spell, something as simple as Bless to possibly Magic Circle. Then force the possessing entity out. A Cleric could use Turn Undead or Destroy Undead if high enough level.
As a new DM, I'm unsure how to manage ghost possession. I know it says the possessing ghost does not have access to its victim's feats and abilities. Does this mean it can not make its victim attack in any way that the victim would normally attack under normal conditions? Does this mean the ghost can deliver its withering touch while possessing a victim?
It would seem to me that the possessing ghost can make its victim perform an attack that does not use any class features or proficiencies. So if a monk is possessed, the ghost can make the monk perform an empty-handed attack, but it is not an empty-handed attack such as a monk can make and it lacks proficiency. What do others think?
For everyone's reference, here is the text about ghost possession:
Possession (Recharge 6): One Humanoid that the ghost can see within 5 ft. of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by the ghost; the ghost then disappears, and the target is Incapacitated and loses control of its body. The ghost now controls the body but doesn't deprive the target of awareness. The ghost can't be targeted by any Attack, spell, or other Effect, except ones that turn Undead, and it retains its Alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, and immunity to being Charmed and Frightened. It otherwise uses the possessed target's Statistics, but doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, Class Features, or Proficiencies.
The possession lasts until the body drops to 0 Hit Points, the ghost ends it as a Bonus Action, or the ghost is turned or forced out by an Effect like the Dispel Evil and Good spell. When the possession ends, the ghost reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the body. The target is immune to this ghost's Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends.
Pretty much everyone has proficiency in Unarmed Strikes, so it's hard to say that the ghost wouldn't have proficiency in the attack, but since it wouldn't have access to the Monk's Martial Arts feature, the ghost will need to make the Unarmed Strike with STR, can only deal 1 + STR damage, and can't make a bonus action Unarmed Strike.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
A Wish spell could do it by duplicating a Dispel Evil and Good
I would like to know how to add something like this to a custom race: Possession. You gain the ability to possess a humanoid within 5 feet of you. The humanoid must succeed a Charisma or Intelligence saving throw or become possessed. You then disappears, and the target is incapacitated and loses control of its body. You now control the body but you can't deprive the possessed target of awareness. You can't be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn undead, and you retains your alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma scores. You otherwise uses the possessed target's statistics but doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, class features, or proficiencies. The possession lasts until the body drops to 0 hit points, you ends it as a bonus action or reaction, or you are turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the possession ends, you reappear in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the body. The target is immune to your Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends. You regain use of this trait once you have completed a long rest.