Dream Spell details?

[soulnova]

Hello!
I needed some help with the Dream spell. It says the reciever remembers the message without problems. What I want to know if he realizes the message is real.

The BBEG is passing by a beautiful and pure girl and the characters are totally oblivious about this. She's gaining their trust so they help her finding some stuff for her... She's specially making the leader "fall in love" with her. I was planning she would sing a message of love to him in his dream and make him think it was just his own mind thinking about her.

Is it possible? or does he immediately realize he's under the influence of a spell?

Also, is it possible for her to use Charm spell even if they are already friendly? Like a love spell?

I would really appreciate your help with this!

[soulnova]

ó_ò ...no one?

Can someone please give me some tips on how to handle the awareness of the dream spell?? I really need help on this, the session is this Tuesday.

[Thazar]

From the base reading of the spell it states. The messenger appears in the dream and delivers the message. It also states that the communication is one way and there is no interaction back and forth.

So your BBEG could appear to the target and say "I love you, and would like to to love me too." But could not appear in another form or convince the target it is his own mind talking to himself.

Nightmare is the same level and allows a save but give more control over the dream beyond a message. I would suggest coming up with a spell called "Sweet Dreams" and treat it like a combination of Nightmare and major image. If the target fails his save the DM can then RP out the dream or give lots of details... but cause no damage. Possibly even allow a second save to allow a suggestion to be spoken in the dream... but this may increase the level by one.

[wynterknight]

Technically, I don't see that it would be a problem to have the character think it was a dream. Although the dreamer definitely remembers the entire dream, depending on his intelligence and familiarity with magic he might not realize it's a spell--especially if he comes from a culture in which dreams hold special significance or something. If you really want to, maybe have the mage make a Bluff check, or have the dreamer make a Knowledge (arcana).

Alternately, if you have Spell Compendium, there's a 6th-level spell called Dream Casting that functions just like Dream, but you can attach a charm person or fear effect to it, so the dreamer is charmed by you or afraid of you. (There's another option, too, I think, but I can't remember it right now.) Still doesn't say whether the target knows it's a spell or not, but the charm effect would work well for what you're trying to do.

Also, don't forget, if it's the Big Bad Evil sending this message, she doesn't have to play by the rules in the core rulebook. Maybe she knows a special variant of Dream that lets her hide her identity, or trick the subject into believing it's his subconscious. The players don't have to know what effect she's using.

[SouthEast Jones]

wynterknight wrote:

Technically, I don't see that it would be a problem to have the character think it was a dream. Although the dreamer definitely remembers the entire dream, depending on his intelligence and familiarity with magic he might not realize it's a spell--especially if he comes from a culture in which dreams hold special significance or something. If you really want to, maybe have the mage make a Bluff check, or have the dreamer make a Knowledge (arcana).

Alternately, if you have Spell Compendium, there's a 6th-level spell called Dream Casting that functions just like Dream, but you can attach a charm person or fear effect to it, so the dreamer is charmed by you or afraid of you. (There's another option, too, I think, but I can't remember it right now.) Still doesn't say whether the target knows it's a spell or not, but the charm effect would work well for what you're trying to do.

Also, don't forget, if it's the Big Bad Evil sending this message, she doesn't have to play by the rules in the core rulebook. Maybe she knows a special variant of Dream that lets her hide her identity, or trick the subject into believing it's his subconscious. The players don't have to know what effect she's using.

The most important question would seem to be, to my mind, how different is the BBEG from the alias that is already in contact with the party. If very different then using a third party to deliver the message would seem to be the way to go. From a quick reading of the spell (Dream) I can't see a way to cast another spell through it. However, if possible it might be better just to role-play through the BBEG slowly winning the character's confidence. Of course, that would be better for the chances of the BBEG (if slower). The BBEG using magic as a short-cut (whether through impatience or genuine lack of time) gives the characters a better chance to notice and become suspicious (and they really should have some chance, however you do it).

[soulnova]

Thank you for your information!

I'll check that 6th level Dream casting spell... is the kind of thing I want. The character is a Barbarian... very naive and outgoing. The BBEG knows this and also he doesn't seem very bright. lol She's kinda like a big bad elemental illusionist succubus (it makes sense in the game, believe me xD) so she already has charm, enthrall, suggestion, polymorph and other spells alike.

Again, thank you!!

[wynterknight]

soulnova wrote:

Thank you for your information!

I'll check that 6th level Dream casting spell... is the kind of thing I want. The character is a Barbarian... very naive and outgoing. The BBEG knows this and also he doesn't seem very bright. lol She's kinda like a big bad elemental illusionist succubus (it makes sense in the game, believe me xD) so she already has charm, enthrall, suggestion, polymorph and other spells alike.

Again, thank you!!

You know, another idea I hadn't thought of--when you cast Dream, you appear to the target and deliver your message. What if you've disguised yourself somehow before you cast the spell? If you've cast an illusion to look like somebody else, or changed your shape, does that translate to the Dream-message? That could provide some interesting and sneaky uses for the basic spell...