Sunday, January 2, 2011

Campaign Design - Spells: Charming Lie (Trust Me, Boys)

Charming Lie (Trust Me, Boys) (found in the Book of Roguish Luck)
Transmutation

Level: Bard 2, Gutter Mage 2
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30-foot-radius
Target, Effect, or Area: One or more creatures in range
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

You tell a lie so convincingly that no one doubts you. You can make the subjects of this spell believe almost anything that their senses don't directly contradict. If it is something they especially want to believe, the targets suffer a -4 circumstance penalty on their saves.

Because this spell is particularly surreptitious and entirely verbal, it is not always apparent when it has been cast. A target that makes its saving throw is entitled to a Spellcraft check (DC 12). If this succeeds, the target creature realizes the spell was cast; otherwise, it merely brushes off the caster's blather as a bunch of unbelievable nonsense.

The charming lie changes beliefs, but it does not allow the caster to give orders. Any statement of fact - "I'm a messenger for the king" or "These aren't the bandits you're looking for" - is pretty much accepted at face value. Any impossible or ridiculous statement entitles a target to a second Will save.

This spell does not allow you to suggest a course of action to the targets; inaction is fine, but you cannot directly tell the targets to do a particular thing. The targets may come to a conclusion on their own (such as confronting a corrupt official if they are told he is robbing them, or going in search of water if they are told they are thirsty) but there is no guarantee of that.

Home     Three Worlds     Spell List

No comments:

Post a Comment