By the rules about combining magical effects, a target can only be under the effects of the same spell once. If you cast Suggestion and it takes hold, then another caster tries casting Suggestion onto the same target (and the target fails that save), then their more recent casting will take priority unless your spell save DC is higher than the other caster's.
- "The effects of different spells add together while the durations of those spells overlap. The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap."
So it seems like a second "Suggestion" spell simply wouldn't work (scratch that, the second one would likely take over) unless it's cast with a higher spell slot and the DM decides to regard that as indication of the most "potent effect" (the wording is wrong for it to mean that but arguably they could decide on this).
I could also see a DM ruling either that if they're commands which don't counter each other, then they can both take place in the most appropriate order OR if they do counter each other then they nullify like a counterspell. If the two are being used in a way to try and work together like a two word command spell then I imagine it wouldn't work.
Regarding the specific example, it's worth noting that you're potentially stretching the abilities of Suggestion to use it to make the target attempt to kill someone (going by the usual definition of "attack" in D&D); particularly if you're in the midst of combat. The course of action needs to seem reasonable, so unless the target is already okay with the idea of killing whoever you're pointing them at in the current context it should just fizzle on the attempt, or the DM will inform you that the spell wouldn't work.
the thing is the dm already allows suggestion to be used to make a creature attack another, it depends on how it's worded ofc but in most cases it is allowed.
Anyway this whole thread was insightful thanks for the answers
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like if you cast it on an enemy an tell them to attack someone, can like another caster cast suggestion on them an order them to attack you instead?
By the rules about combining magical effects, a target can only be under the effects of the same spell once. If you cast Suggestion and it takes hold, then another caster tries casting Suggestion onto the same target (and the target fails that save), then their more recent casting will take priority unless your spell save DC is higher than the other caster's.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
"Combining Magical Effects"
- "The effects of different spells add together while the durations of those spells overlap. The effects of the same spell cast multiple times don't combine, however. Instead, the most potent effect--such as the highest bonus--from those castings applies while their durations overlap, or the most recent effect applies if the castings are equally potent and their durations overlap."
So it seems like a
second "Suggestion" spell simply wouldn't work(scratch that, the second one would likely take over) unless it's cast with a higher spell slot and the DM decides to regard that as indication of the most "potent effect" (the wording is wrong for it to mean that but arguably they could decide on this).I could also see a DM ruling either that if they're commands which don't counter each other, then they can both take place in the most appropriate order OR if they do counter each other then they nullify like a counterspell. If the two are being used in a way to try and work together like a two word command spell then I imagine it wouldn't work.
Regarding the specific example, it's worth noting that you're potentially stretching the abilities of Suggestion to use it to make the target attempt to kill someone (going by the usual definition of "attack" in D&D); particularly if you're in the midst of combat. The course of action needs to seem reasonable, so unless the target is already okay with the idea of killing whoever you're pointing them at in the current context it should just fizzle on the attempt, or the DM will inform you that the spell wouldn't work.
the thing is the dm already allows suggestion to be used to make a creature attack another, it depends on how it's worded ofc but in most cases it is allowed.
Anyway this whole thread was insightful thanks for the answers