Allies and abilities


Rules Questions


1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

When an affect mentions the word "ally" does it mean all party members other than the originator of the effect or is the person/creature responsible for the effect allowed to count themselves as an ally.

The Exchange

wraithstrike wrote:
When an affect mentions the word "ally" does it mean all party members other than the originator of the effect or is the person/creature responsible for the effect allowed to count themselves as an ally.

Depends on the effect. Which one did you have in mind?


You can not be your own ally.


Tanis wrote:
You can not be your own ally.

Not true. The bardic ability Inspire Courage clearly adds a parenthetical clarification of the word "allies" to show that the term does include the originator of the effect.

There are equivalents in spellcasting. Bless says "Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects." Bless also says "Area: The caster and all allies within a 50-ft. burst, centered on the caster"

I would rule that you are your own ally unless the wording specifically excludes the caster, as in the case of Inspire Competence.

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Janet Kuhlmann wrote:
Tanis wrote:
You can not be your own ally.

Not true. The bardic ability Inspire Courage clearly adds a parenthetical clarification of the word "allies" to show that the term does include the originator of the effect.

There are equivalents in spellcasting. Bless says "Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects." Bless also says "Area: The caster and all allies within a 50-ft. burst, centered on the caster"

I would rule that you are your own ally unless the wording specifically excludes the caster, as in the case of Inspire Competence.

You couldn't wait 2 more weeks to Necro this thread, when it would have been dead for a full 4 years?

This was answered years ago in the FAQ. You are your own ally.


Patience is a virtue

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I would rule that this is a dumb waste of prime real estate at the top of a forum where there are actually things that haven't been officially answered being discussed.

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