Simple question: Does Channel Energy count as an attack if it could potentially harm other creatures in the vicinity? Does the nature of a spell/ability make it an attack or only its effects?
For example: If a good cleric channels during a sanctuary and there are no undead present is that an attack? Only healing is being done.
However, If there are undead present then they would take dmg from the posative channel. Does it at this point become an attack?
The question also works in reverse for Evil clerics and negative channels.
Simple question: Does Channel Energy count as an attack if it could potentially harm other creatures in the vicinity? Does the nature of a spell/ability make it an attack or only its effects?
For example: If a good cleric channels during a sanctuary and there are no undead present is that an attack? Only healing is being done.
However, If there are undead present then they would take dmg from the posative channel. Does it at this point become an attack?
The question also works in reverse for Evil clerics and negative channels.
heal or harm, but not both
When a cleric channels energy, they choose to affect either living or undead creatures. If your good cleric channels to heal, then undead are unaffected and that will not break sanctuary. If your good cleric channels to harm, then no one be healed, and it will break sanctuary. You can either channel positive energy to heal the living or harm undead, but not both.Similarly, when an evil cleric channels negative, they can either channel it to heal undead, which will not break sanctuary, and will not harm the living, or they can channel to harm the living, which will break sanctuary.
As a general rule, if the ability has a creature as a stated target, and it has a negative effect, then it counts as an attack for breaking sanctuary or invisibility. If it only indirectly deals damage (e.g., summon monster) then it does not break sanctuary or invis.
Simple question: Does Channel Energy count as an attack if it could potentially harm other creatures in the vicinity? Does the nature of a spell/ability make it an attack or only its effects?
For example: If a good cleric channels during a sanctuary and there are no undead present is that an attack? Only healing is being done.
However, If there are undead present then they would take dmg from the posative channel. Does it at this point become an attack?
The question also works in reverse for Evil clerics and negative channels.
One important thing should be cleared up first: You EITHER damage undeads OR heal living with channel positive energy, not both at once. Same goes for negative channeling.
As such, the effect you chose would at my table define whether it is an attack or not.
Ahhh, I missed the "or" in the channel description. I thought it both healed and did damage to undead. Thanks for clearing that up! :)