Possession, material components, armour, Eschew Materials etc.


Advice

Silver Crusade

The Possession spells are much improved variants of Magic Jar. Some elements are not clear to me.

- I'm a Witch or Wizard and I am in battle with some Giants. I use Possession on one and proceed to wail on the others. I want to cast a spell. I can do the Verbal and Somatic components fine, do I need a spell pouch, or a big spell pouch for that matter - this Frost Giant's hands can't fit into a M size spell pouch. while this is not a problem for wildshaped Druids or Psychics or Sorcerers, do I need Eschew Materials?

- This possessed Giant is still wearing armour. Does this affect my Arcane Spell Failure Chance?

- Possession is not mind-affecting nor is it a death effect, very nice, but is still blocked by Protection from Good. What is the quickest or most efficient way of dispelling that barrier?

- Overusing the spells is a guaranteed way to draw the wrath of the GM. Playstyle tips?


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Casting spells will be impossible without being able to supply material components as needed (which the body you possess will not have). Eschew materials is probably the easiest way to remedy this if you believe you will be possessing enemies frequently.

You could of course arrange to get a spell component pouch to the possessed character (and I'm not even going to touch on the size issue) but spending turns in combat to go and retrieve the pouch when you could actually do something useful....I don't think it's a good idea.

If the giant is wearing armor, yes it would apply it's arcane spell failure chance.

If you possessed something that couldn't speak, you also couldn't supply the verbal component of spells.

Possession is not blocked by protection spells unless you are of the appropriate alignment type and the enemy casts that spell. As a player, you stop casting the spell because at moderate levels the bonuses no longer stack with other gear you have and the only benefit is protection from mind control. But since the spell is of limited duration (max 20 mins) its usually not worth it. I would expect that this wouldn't be a common thing, unless you develop a reputation as always possessing enemies in combat. If you do, then everyone may have it. As for how to deal with that...Dispel Magic is really the most effective way.

Or be neutral. As shitty as it is there aren't protection from neutrality spells, so there is no way to avoid a true neutral caster's mind control. It's bullshit, but it is the case.


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Psychic casters are the best possessors, with free Eschew Materials and no ASF chance. Witches aren't bad at it, though- they can use their hexes unimpeded.

Opening with a Greater Dispel Magic isn't bad- clearing out buffs is pretty solid. That said, now your host lacks buffs.

Possession spells are versatile, so make use of the different ways to employ them. Combat seize-control-and-fight will get old and result in your body getting targeted (if applicable), but it makes a good spell for infiltration, sabotage, recon, and trap-checking. Possess allies to turn the beat-stick's body into a caster (good for surprises) and a much smarter person when such impressions are needed.


Create new item that is a spell pouch and resizes to what ever creature hold's it. Then after posessing creature get it off your other body.
MDC


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With False Focus, you can up the Eschew Materials cap of 1 gp to 100 gp in return for the feat and a 100 gp focus.

As for getting your spell component pouch to the new body, a familiar can be quite useful for that. Also works for a false focus.

/cevah

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