School enchantment (compulsion) [language-dependent, mind-
affecting]; Level bard 2, sorcerer/wizard 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, M (a snake’s tongue and a honeycomb)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one living creature
Duration 1 hour/level or until completed
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
You influence the actions of the target creature by suggesting a
course of activity (limited to a sentence or two). The suggestion
must be worded in such a manner as to make the activity sound
reasonable. Asking the creature to do some obviously harmful act
automatically negates the effect of the spell.
The suggested course of activity can continue for the entire
duration. If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter
time, the spell ends when the subject finishes what it was asked
to do. You can instead specify conditions that will trigger a special
activity during the duration. If the condition is not met before the
spell duration expires, the activity is not performed.
A very reasonable suggestion causes the save to be made with a
penalty (such as –1 or –2).
so im not a big fan of spells that disable pc's for hours, and this spell seems like one of them.
1 save and a duration of 1hour/lvl.... so does the spell function like i fear you can give someone an order, like sit here until the sun goes down, and they have no way(exept for makeing the will save) to get out of this mess...i for a barbarian or fighter this spells is as good as defeating them, wors than hold person since it works for hours and only have 1 save...
so how to counter it? could a bards counter song save you,...
First off the comment about the barbarian or fighter is unneeded -- anyone could fail this save -- if your fighter or barbarian is stupid has a Wis of 7 and never bothered with iron will it's the same as the wizard with a Con of 7 -- eventually they get what they get.
Now on to the spell itself -- if you are in combat and someone asks you to sit down and wait for the sun to set does that sound reasonable to you?
Even if you do sit down you can still continue fighting -- it doesn't say you perform this action to the exclusion of all other actions, and sitting isn't a difficult thing to do.
It's only as limiting as the person saying at maximum two sentences can make it and even then you are completely able to interpret it as you will.
For countering it I recommend a level 1 spell -- protection from evil -- it'll give you that extra save and it's a first level spell. Dispel magic works too as does break enchantment. Since it is language dependent not being able to hear also works.
Yes, a bard can counter this effect, it's a language-dependent effect.
Suggestion is a spell that's power is keenly tied to what a GM let's you get away with. In the middle of combat, most suggestions from an enemy spellcaster aren't necessarily reasonable. After all, you're enemies; why would you do as they suggest? But you might still get a suggestion to work in battle if you suggest that your foe surrender (if they're obviously losing), or to call for a temporary truce.
Out of combat, what you can do is much broader. The key word I think is "reasonable".
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The key to suggestion lies 100% in the hands of the GM.
What is "reasonable" to one group obviously isn't reasonable for another.
I've seen players suggest that the opposing fighters lie down arms and surrender, as fighting a far superior force will only result in their deaths. I've seen players suggest that enemy spellcasters flee and hide for the duration of the fight, because obviously the archers will kill them first if they don't. I've seen players suggest to a target that walking down the hall and scouting ahead might be a good plan of action (letting them trigger the completely unknown and unseen traps).
To some GMs these kinds of actions are entirely "reasonable", for others they break the game and are considered off-limits. Personally though, if players can't come up with creative uses like these, then what's the point of the spell?
Extra rules por Compulsion effects are written in the Special Abilities Section of the rulebook.
Unfortunatelly Compulsion orders are mandatory, only Charm effects let you free will to do different many things.
"Sit here" is an order in that case, if the minions of the caster don't attack the target of the spell he will stay here doing nothing. A more reasonable order is "get out of here and wait".
You should be able to defend yourself in any case.
There are many ways to counter those spells, i.e. dispel magic.
IMO the best use (fun-wise) of that spell is making very reasonable suggestions that take a few rounds to accomplish, increases the Save DC and doesn't ruin the encounter for a player.
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I'd suggest perhaps that you read Skip William's excellent column at Ask a Kobold. There he discusses the Suggestion spell and it's effects in a decent amount of detail, especially in what can be considered reasonable.
I'm always trying to get people to send him questions.
Considering that adventuring is a fairly unreasonable thing to be doing in the first place, I don't think many suggestions would be "unreasonable" unless they involve harming or seriously hindering self or other party members.
Nasty but reasonable suggestions would include things such as, "Don't risk your life in battle. Go back to town and help the farmers tend their cattle. "
"Your armor is heavy and restrictive. Take it off so you can move better."
"Go tell every single person in the town that there is danger!"
And for those paladins: "Your equipment could be better used to help the poor. Go forth and give one item to each poor person you meet"
Nasty but reasonable suggestions would include things such as, "Don't risk your life in battle. Go back to town and help the farmers tend their cattle. "
"Once my life is no longer in danger -- you and yours keep attacking me and my friends -- it is unreasonable to abandon my allies in the middle of combat."
"Your armor is heavy and restrictive. Take it off so you can move better."
However without it you would have sliced my guts open... it's not reasonable to listen to someone trying to kill you.
"Go tell every single person in the town that there is danger!"
There isn't a town within a hundred miles -- which one would I choose and how do you know?
And for those paladins: "Your equipment could be better used to help the poor. Go forth and give one item to each poor person you meet"
A sword is of no use to a poor person -- except to promote vigilantism and banditry.
(just having some fun -- besides a paladin fail his will save? Come on now be reasonable -- next you'll tell me a dwarf will fail it and have to go mining)
Main point is that reasonable during combat -- especially from an enemy isn't really easy -- it would be better off to suggest the fighter defend the wizard, or the cleric heal the fighter, or the wizard to cast a specific spell to aid his allies in escaping -- (or to target an other enemy with a spell they are immune to -- like telling the wizard to use a scorching ray on a demon).