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Ok so here is a puzzling conundrum:
In the Whispering Cairn, I had a cleric cast sanctuary as a defense against a certain swarm that can be found therein. I ruled that the spell could not force the swarm to make a save to avoid the character because the swarm does not make an attack, acts like an AOE effect, and the swarm is immune to spells that target individual creatures with in.
After the game, the player protested this ruling since sanctuary does not specifically target a single creature and I now have my doubts. What are your thoughts on this situation?
The situation is actually broader than just this. For example, can a swarm of undead rats be bolstered? Can they be blessed or fall under the effects of prayer (assuming they are allies of or summoned by the caster)? Spells like these also do not name a particular number of affected creatures, so I expect they would fall into the same category.
After the game, the player protested this ruling since sanctuary does not specifically target a single creature and I now have my doubts. What are your thoughts on this situation?
Well, it's clear to me that sanctuary doesn't attempt to target the swarm, so the player is right about that much.
The question is: does a swarm "directly attack?" It doesn't actually make an attack; it just deals damage automatically. But it seems to me as if that damage is dealt "directly," so I'd say sanctuary works. I can see the opposite argument, however.
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I think your reflection is correct - you made the wrong call. Even though the swarm isn't making an attack roll, it is still a form of melee attack and deals damage, and thus the swarm must save of be unable to attack. It would still be able to enter the subjects space, just not actually damage the subject (and thus, not affect the subject with its distraction ability).
The confusion probably stems from the fact that swarms are an abstraction of hundreds of opponents at once, but sanctuary has no limit on how many opponents are affected.
I'm going to agree that under RAW the spell would function against the swarm. Now, is that the intent? I don't think so. Sanctuary was designed to let clerics move about the battlefield unmolested (i.e. avoid getting targeted by spells and other enemies). Swarms are basically the old Wandering Damage Table given form. I personally appreciate your bringing this to my attention so I can houserule sanctuary from here on out and tell my players that it doesn't stop a swarm.
Could be a good question for the KQ sage.
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Ok so here is a puzzling conundrum:
In the Whispering Cairn, I had a cleric cast sanctuary as a defense against a certain swarm that can be found therein. I ruled that the spell could not force the swarm to make a save to avoid the character because the swarm does not make an attack, acts like an AOE effect, and the swarm is immune to spells that target individual creatures with in.
After the game, the player protested this ruling since sanctuary does not specifically target a single creature and I now have my doubts. What are your thoughts on this situation?
The situation is actually broader than just this. For example, can a swarm of undead rats be bolstered? Can they be blessed or fall under the effects of prayer (assuming they are allies of or summoned by the caster)? Spells like these also do not name a particular number of affected creatures, so I expect they would fall into the same category.
I'd say that Sanctuary can stop a swarm doing damage to its target using their physical attacks (biting/stinging/clawing or whatever), however Sanctuary only stops attacks, not movement so it does nothing to preventing all those creatures swarming over the spell's target which to me suggests they'd still be effected by the swarm's distraction power and some indirect damaging effects - if the swarm were dripping in acid or swathed in a fire aura, for example, they should still be able to damage regardless of Sanctuary.
Now if a swarm can cover someone under Sanctuary, wouldn't they have to stay still or move very carefully, since if they accidentally squash one member of the swarm it breaks the spell?
As for your second question, so long as no number of recipients is specified I see no reason a buff spell wouldn't boost a swarm.
I agree with this interpretation, the direct damage dealing effect of the swarm would be negated, but not others. For instance, a swarm of bats or insects may not be directly attacking you, but don't they make you nauseated? Plus, if we're talking about something with a poison, it may have poisoned you prior to your casting.
Very interesting...
I would have thought that Sanctuary was a mind effecting spell, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
As written I would say that the spell does not affect the swarm since it is not attacking.
However, in my game I would likely come up with some percentage of the damage that it could do (to show the percentage of the swarm that would fail the will save since that many individual creatures each making their save would likely come very close to the statistical average). Or I would say no damage, but the other affects still apply...
Hrmm... tough call. I would not beat yourself up about it. Either way seems logical in this case and I think a RAW argument could go either way.
My suggestion now would be put it to a group consencuse after discussion and keep that as a consistent house rule (I would not go back on the combat that already occured).
Good luck in the Whispering Cairn!!!
Sean Mahoney
