Remember to target the silence on something near the caster so they won't get a save.
That is such a genius idea!
Having a verbal component and being language dependent are different things. You are correct, countersong would not work. Readied silence would though.
Also, countersong lets you use the bard perform in place of the saving throw. Power Word spells do not allow a saving throw.
As long as the source of the power word spells is of a definitely known alignment, protection from X works against these spells.
While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target.
The list of spells that "possess or exercise mental control over the target" has been expanded in PF:
(including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects)
All the power word spells are enchantment [compulsion] effects.
As long as the source of the power word spells is of a definitely known alignment, protection from X works against these spells.
While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target.The list of spells that "possess or exercise mental control over the target" has been expanded in PF:
(including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects)All the power word spells are enchantment [compulsion] effects.
Oof. I knew that the power words were enchantment (compulsion) effects, but I hadn't yet put 2 + 2 together to realize I can stop 3 of my favorite high-level spells with a simple protection from evil.
Hey meabolex - where is that list from?The list of spells that "possess or exercise mental control over the target" has been expanded in PF:
(including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects)
The list of spells that constitute what is affected by Protection from X's "protection from mental control and possession" has changed over the versions. Mainly in the various 3.X FAQs, there was a specific list of spells affected by protection from X. For instance, in 3.5:
The Sage feels your pain. While the first and third effects
of protection from evil are relatively straightforward, the
second is less clear. The key phrase that defines this particular
effect of the spell is as follows: “ . . . the barrier blocks any
attempt to . . . exercise mental control over the creature
(including enchantment (charm) effects and enchantment
(compulsion) effects that grant the caster ongoing control over
the subject . . .).”
(The spell also blocks attempts to possess the creature, but
effects that accomplish this are so few as to barely be worth
mentioning.)
The first part of this phrase describes the basic criteria by
which the DM should judge protection from evil’s effect: If the
incoming effect attempts to exercise mental control over the
creature, protection from evil likely suppresses that effect.
The parenthetical portion of the phrase provides two specific
examples (pointed, obviously, at rules elements of the PH) to
help judge what exactly is meant by that:
1. Enchantment (charm) effects. Simple enough—
protection from evil automatically suppresses any
enchantment (charm) effect, such as charm person or
enthrall.
2. Enchantment (compulsion) effects that grant the
caster ongoing control over the subject. This is where
adjudication gets trickier, because you have to decide
what “ongoing control” means. The Sage
recommends a broad definition, which includes any
non-instantaneous effect that prevents the target from
exercising full control over its own actions.
Examples would include the obvious (such as command or
dominate person), but also the less obvious, such as daze,
sleep, and Tasha’s hideous laughter. Such effects would be
suppressed for as long as protection from evil lasts on the
target.
There are still plenty of enchantment (compulsion) effects
that don’t grant the caster ongoing control over the subject.
Heroism, crushing despair, mind fog, power word blind, rage,
What exactly does the second effect of protection from
evil do, anyway?
The Sage feels your pain. While the first and third effects
of protection from evil are relatively straightforward, the
second is less clear. The key phrase that defines this particular
effect of the spell is as follows: “ . . . the barrier blocks any
attempt to . . . exercise mental control over the creature
(including enchantment (charm) effects and enchantment
(compulsion) effects that grant the caster ongoing control over
the subject . . .).”
(The spell also blocks attempts to possess the creature, but
effects that accomplish this are so few as to barely be worth
mentioning.)
The first part of this phrase describes the basic criteria by
which the DM should judge protection from evil’s effect: If the
incoming effect attempts to exercise mental control over the
creature, protection from evil likely suppresses that effect.
The parenthetical portion of the phrase provides two specific
examples (pointed, obviously, at rules elements of the PH) to
help judge what exactly is meant by that:
1. Enchantment (charm) effects. Simple enough—
protection from evil automatically suppresses any
enchantment (charm) effect, such as charm person or
enthrall.
2. Enchantment (compulsion) effects that grant the
caster ongoing control over the subject. This is where
adjudication gets trickier, because you have to decide
what “ongoing control” means. The Sage
recommends a broad definition, which includes any
non-instantaneous effect that prevents the target from
exercising full control over its own actions.
Examples would include the obvious (such as command or
dominate person), but also the less obvious, such as daze,
sleep, and Tasha’s hideous laughter. Such effects would be
suppressed for as long as protection from evil lasts on the
target.
There are still plenty of enchantment (compulsion) effects
that don’t grant the caster ongoing control over the subject.
Heroism, crushing despair, mind fog, power word blind, rage,
and touch of idiocy are examples. Protection from evil has no
effect on such spells.
But what about mental control effects that aren’t
enchantment effects, such as psionics? In such cases, the DM
must use the rules and his own best judgment in concert to
adjudicate the effect. Psionic powers of the telepathy discipline
are the equivalent of enchantment spells, for example, and thus
are affected in the same way. Nonspell effects that closely
mimic enchantment spells should be treated as if they were
spells of the appropriate subschool (charm or compulsion).
Since PF has broadened the list of spells to "enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects", that means the spell affects a larger list of abilities compared to 3.5.
And yes, that means if you have protection from good and a good bard casts heroism on you, you are not affected. This usually isn't a problem since 1) usually protection from evil is used and 2) bad guys are usually evil.