To all you wise DM types...
I know that the earth domain grants a cleric the ability to control creatures with the earth subtype similar to the turn undead ability. Does anyone have an idea what would happen if a wizard summoned an earth elemental and then an opposing cleric with the earth domain tried to control it? It seems as though the wizard has some control of the elemental considering it will obey his commands, but there is no opposing control check for non-cleric based characters.
I had this come up in a game recently. I ruled that the wizard could make an opposed control check based upon his intelligence modifier to oppose the clerics turn ability. Don't know if it was right or not, but heck, sometimes you just gotta wing it.
Anybody know of an official ruling for this kind of situation?
Thanks!
What happens when multiple creatures dominate the same target?
In most cases, both dominate effects would work normally. Each time one of the controllers gives the target a command, the target follows that command to the exclusion of all other activities. As long as the commands don’t conflict, the target
simply follows all commands given.The only sticky situation comes when the orders conflict, but that’s handled on page 172 of the Player’s Handbook: “If the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the competing controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which one the creature obeys.”
How's that?
I believe it would be a caster level check. For instance. You have a 9th level Mage summon an earth elemental with Summon Monster V (grants him a medium elemental). The Cleric with the earth domain decides he wants to wrestle control from the wizard. He would have to make a caster level check, DC 10 + the level of the summoner (in this case it would be DC 19). The cleric rolls a d20 and adds his level, if it exceeds 19, bam the cleric now controls the elemental. However, seems how Summon Monster spells are dismissable (noted with the (D) in the duration), the mage simplely has to dismiss the elemental and the cleric no longer has it at his command.
Again, I am not 100% as to this is how it works, but it is how I would rule it. Much like a Dispel Magic attempt, you are technically dispelling the control and reestablishing it.
I would go with either the opposed charisma check idea, or alternatively just do what I do with turning vs. control undead spells, which is just to say that clerics win because they have (a) god on their side.