[PFS] Looking for answers about Magic Jar / Possession

[BlackOuroboros]

Hello All,

First off, if this is in a wrong forum then I apologize! It’s PFS specific but it might be better served in the rules forum; I'm not sure.

Anyways, I had a few questions about a rather obtuse spell and one of it’s siblings: magic jar and possession. This is for a PFS character and not a home game so I was hoping that I could get pointed to any sort of ruling or FAQs to minimize table variation; however, in my searching I couldn’t really find anything so I suspect they don’t actually exist.

Here are the links to the two spells in question:
magic jar
possession

So, as background my character is a witch who has an Imp familiar. The familiar has both the vessel for a magic jar and a bag of holding that can be used to hold my main character’s body. I wish to use these spells as a way to borrow a foe’s body and use it as a proxy when needed, so my questions are asked from that lens.

Question #1: If I possess another creature, can I still perform hexes while inside their body? (This seems like a no-brainer but I figure I would start with a softball pitch)

Question #2: Do I retain the effects of my Headband of Vast Intelligence when I enter the jar / foe? (Both spell specifically says that I keep my Intelligence but it is coming from an item so I could see this cutting either way)

Question #2A: Assuming these benefits are lost once I enter the jar / foe does the Will save DC on the magic jar spell retroactively lower? (I would say no, as the spell is already cast and in effect but that’s me)

Question 3: For the purposes of both of these spells, if my body was kept in a bag of holding held by my imp, and my imp was in range of the spell, and the spell was ended by either a dispel or similar effect that immediately forced my soul back into my body, would it be considered “in range” and/or “on the same plane”? (Wow, that was a mouthful)

Thanks!

[Serisan]

#1: Absolutely yes. Your hexes are mental abilities.

Regarding 2 and 2A, my interpretation is that a permanent +X bonus would not just fall off because your soul left your body, but I see your point about it cutting both ways. Either way, your save DC is determined when casting the spell. Once a spell starts, it retains all properties from casting unless the spell details otherwise.

I can probably answer Question 3, and that answer is no. If you follow the Possession caveat from Occult Adventures, as soon as you enter the extradimensional space, you are unable to return to your body until it is removed from the haversack.

Quote:

Extradimensional Spaces

A number of spells and magic items utilize extradimensional spaces, such as rope trick, a bag of holding, a handy haversack, and a portable hole. These spells and magic items create a tiny pocket space that does not exist in any dimension.

Dimension is a tricky word, but it's seemingly used interchangeably with Plane in several instances. For example, Plane Shift is an example of extradimensional travel. It could be that "plane" is a subset of "extradimensional" - i.e. all planes are extradimensional, but not all extradimensional things are planes. Either way, "a tiny pocket of space that does not exist in any dimension" would not exist in any plane, either. Thus, you would not be on the same plane as your body if your body was in a haversack.

Beyond that, you do have to note the size and weight limits of the haversack. The large compartment only holds up to 80 lbs and 8 cubic feet of stuff. A halfling or gnome might be ok, but a human is right out, even before gear. The minimum weight of any medium-sized race in the CRB is greater than the carrying capacity of the haversack by at least 7 lbs. Medium-sized creatures could likely be accommodated by a Bag of Holding type I.

[BlackOuroboros]

Muleback cords it is then.

[Pizza Lord]

1. Yes, you keep the hexes since they aren't dependent on your bodyparts.

2. No, you are no longer 'wearing' the item. You would benefit from any worn items the targeted body has however. This would keep you from benefiting from two headbands at once (The ability bonuses wouldn't stack of course, but some add ranks in different skills, for instance.)
I would also not rule that you removed or took off the item for such items that require an attunement process, however, since you didn't technically.

2a. I would keep the DC consistent from casting the spell. Any spells you cast from the new body would use your current DC however.

3. You would be fine. Being in an extradimensional space is like someone creating a pocket in the plane, not necessarily a whole different plane of existence. Now, if you can rule that closing a bag of holding completely seals it off, then you might be in trouble if the bag is ever completely closed. I don't think that's right however, bags are typically porous (burlap or silk, enough for air to pass through at least though some could be leather) and typically they are the same material inside and out, so a sword you drop into one can rupture it, I would assume even closed it's still a pocket in the current plane, just really hard to get into.