Nightmare spell... how to describe succeeding on a will save?

[brannanjp]

Spoiler:

I'm running a campaign using Skull & Shackles, and we're up to the Island of Empty Eyes. So it's time for several monsters to be using the Nightmare spell as a means of telepathically interrogating people.

My question is this: Is reasonable to say that if someone succeeds on a save vs the Nightmare spell that he/she still experienced the "dream" but simply did not suffer ill effects from it? I'm trying to decide how much information to impart to players whose characters were the targets of the nightmare spell, since that in an of itself may aid them in pursuing the plot, even if they do save and avoid the ill effects.

Obviously I'm inclined to take this approach, but I'm curious what other people think.

[CampinCarl9127]

You need to include spoilers if you post content from an adventure path.

By RAW, no. Will negates the spell entirely, as if nothing happened.

If you want to houserule it that they still experience the dream but don't suffer penalties, I think that's perfectly reasonable and full of flavor. As long as it's not a PFS game, go for it.

[Malag]

Honestly, I would ignore RAW a bit at this point in favor of cinematics. You could describe person's dream a bit and just before something bad happens, he wakes up and it's morning already. That would be a success on Will Save for me in my home games.

RAW wise, as CampinCarl pointed out should be correct.

[My Self]

Malag wrote:

Honestly, I would ignore RAW a bit at this point in favor of cinematics. You could describe person's dream a bit and just before something bad happens, he wakes up and it's morning already. That would be a success on Will Save for me in my home games.

RAW wise, as CampinCarl pointed out should be correct.

Agreed with the RAW interpretation of above.

As per cinematics, you could have the character have knowledge that the dream is false and be able to ignore or perhaps even counter the monsters' interrogations. The ill effects would not apply in the morning.

[CampinCarl9127]

Ooh, you know what would be really cool? If when they made their save the dream became lucid and they could control what they were doing. That would make for some awesome RP.

[Beopere]

Per raw they are aware of a hostile force when making a save successfully. You can dress that up as their dreams almost being changed.

[CampinCarl9127]

Beopere wrote:

Per raw they are aware of a hostile force when making a save successfully.

Hmm, this is interesting to think about. Would they still be aware of the hostile force if they are asleep? Does saving against a hostile spell wake you up, or do you just get the information retroactively when you wake up naturally, or do you fail to notice the hostile force because you were asleep?

[brannanjp]

Hmmm. First, sorry about the lack of spoiler warning. I'm pretty new to the forums so I appreciate the advice on forum etiquette.

With respect to the making a saving throw while asleep, I'd probably be cinematically inclined -- since the negative effects of the nightmare spell involve not getting a good night's rest and the spell range is unlimited, I'd probably do something like the dream becoming lucid as suggested above, or perhaps having the person realize upon waking naturally what had happened. I say that because the damage would have been prevented and there most likely wouldn't have been an opportunity for an immediate counterattack. I might make some of the symptoms visible externally, like maybe the target calls out in her or her sleep but doesn't wake -- thereby giving nearby allies the chance to act.

On the other hand, if the effect was generated by a closer agency I would probably think it appropriate to awaken and immediately confront the present threat upon a successful save.

I suppose if I had to justify this i'd suggest that that while characters are subconsciously aware of what's going on in their sleep/dreams, they also subconsciously exercise some level of intuitive judgement about the nature of the threat. That argument is not as strong as I'd like though.

[CampinCarl9127]

I would not let the character know what happened. Even if you make your save versus a spell and you are aware that "a hostile force targeted you", that should by no means let you know what the spell was or the intent of the caster. It also gives you no idea where or who the caster is.

However, I think the idea of lucid dreaming as a type of adventure or dungeon crawl in order to find out the plans of the caster sounds awesome. It would be a very Inception-style adventure.