You speak a one-word command to a creature you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. The spell has no effect if the target is undead, if it doesn't understand your language, or if your command is directly harmful to it.
Some typical commands and their effects follow. You might issue a command other than one described here. If you do so, the DM determines how the target behaves. If the target can't follow your command, the spell ends.
Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within 5 feet of you.
Drop. The target drops whatever it is holding and then ends its turn.
Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means.
Grovel. The target falls prone and then ends its turn.
Halt. The target doesn't move and takes no actions. A flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum distance needed to remain in the air.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can affect one additional creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
One question I have on this, does the target have to hear you? It's a verbal command, and the creature needs to understand your language, but it does not specify that the target has to hear the command.
For example: in a high society social interaction I could whisper command 'drool' to make another character look bad in front of important people. If the target needs to hear me I could still do it, but it would be an openly hostile prank rather than slight of hand sabotage. The target would be aware they had a spell cast on them either way, I just want to know if I can keep it secret who cast it.
I would imagine it has to be heard since a verbal command typically needs to be heard, but I believe this is a DM call because I could see it working both ways. However, you also have to be saying a bunch of gibberish before the command since it requires a vocal component unless you apply Silent Spell. A lot of people forget that when a spell has a vocal component you are gibbering like a madman to complete the spell to begin with. Now, how loud that has to be is also never explicitly stated either.
I think the Sorcerer's Metamagic Subtle Spell would be required for this to not be obviously a magic spell. And even then, in order to understand the caster's language, I'd rule that the actual command word must be heard by the target. A GOO Warlock or Ghostwise Halfling (or some other telepathy effect) might could put the command word inaudibly in a target's mind, especially in combination with Subtle Spell. DM's opinions will doubtless vary on this.
I’m playing a glamour bard and was wondering if this would still be true when using the Mantle of Majesty ability
I’m the Dm for this quest and I was wondering if the villain could command the warlock of the group to snap his arcane focus (staff) in half too immobile him from the fight. Would command be able too do this?
You could have the villain make him drop it and then if he has minions with him send them up to break it. That's just what I would do.
Yeah I had a idea like that, he could throw the staff too the villain because they also have the strength too snap it like a twig.
Command is a great spell.
I like carrying a bag of seeds around on my character.
Why? In the heat of battle, I scatter the seeds in a 5ft area and cast Command.
The word that I use is "count". My GM let's me use this on one creature each encounter and they typically spend the entire encounter picking up and counting these seeds.
Well westward_man, I guess your Wish is our Command
No, it explicitly states, "You speak a one-word command," so unless you can communicate that idea with just one word, I doubt it.
That's a cool idea. However, the effect only lasts one round. They could just count to 10 slowly with or without the seeds. If you threw a ball down a hallway while casting, you could command them to "fetch" or "retrieve".
If you want to get bizarre, you could try "defecate", "vomit", "fetch", "sunder" (to maybe break a held object), or "pray" If at a social gathering "belch", "dance" or PCs entering your dining room try "sit", "eat" and "drink". The last three even let you act out Darkness from Legend. What villain doesn't want to be Tim Curry when they grow up?
Another good one is sleep
Shouldn’t this also be available to bards? It’s a core feature of the college of glamour
I politely dispute your assumption of the necessity for "gibberish". A good example would be what seems like background chatter or perhaps slightly impolite whispering in a social setting could easily be the vocal component, how often have we strained to hear a whisper? Imagine your chagrin when it's a command to drool and you only realize it as the command takes effect. Many possible ways to implement vocal components in near silent environments, just gotta be creative!
For my bad guys I usually like "Betray" to have them turn on the party for one round, "Drink/Eat" while offering an fine wine with an unhealthy dose of poison (Not Directly Harmful), "Sign" with a lovely Infernal Contract at the ready.
Is this a charm effect? I assume it's not since it's not specifically listed.
So I have a question. Can this be used on an opponent to make them drop their weapons in the middle of a fight? Or go prone in the middle of a fight? I've got one DM that believes it's a magic spell and doesn't cause them to cause themselves direct harm so should be allowed, and another DM that says they know they will be attacked if they go prone or drop their weapons so it cant be used mid fight. Essentially making this spell null and void for fighting purposes.
The trick in my opinion is the interpretation of "if your command is directly harmful to it." My interpretation is that directly harmful means things like jumping off a cliff, or stabbing themselves in the eye. Going prone or dropping weapons is not directly harmful to themselves. I agree with your DM that it isn't helpful to their cause, but it is not directly harmful.
I just thought of something, what would happen if you tried working that one word command into a sentence like you know leading them into thinking like you do. Like that’s a nice wand would be a shame if you where to *BREAK* it. or some other more well worded sentence that I probably can’t come up with.