The Calm Emotions spell says
This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures.
This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, and also negates a bard's ability to inspire courage or a barbarian's rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell, condition, or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime.
Does this mean that the affected creatures can't make any attacks? If so, why does it even matter that the morale bonuses are suppressed? If not, what does that line mean?
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Does this mean that the affected creatures can't make any attacks? If so, why does it even matter that the morale bonuses are suppressed? If not, what does that line mean?
It does seem to prohibit attacking.
Note that bonuses to attack rolls generally also apply to combat maneuvers, and disarming someone would be (in my opinion) a sufficiently non-violent way of defending yourself. In such a case, then, you are denied the emotion-oriented bonuses to the maneuver.
Hmm. Another reading, based on the "automatically" part, is that if you fail your save, you can't attack, but that even if you make your save you don't have morale bonuses while within the affected area. It is an area spell, not a creature-targeting spell, so that would make sense too - the magical effects are calmed simply by being in the area, but if you don't make your save, you're calmed too.
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The Calm Emotions spell says
Does this mean that the affected creatures can't make any attacks? If so, why does it even matter that the morale bonuses are suppressed? If not, what does that line mean?This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures.
This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, and also negates a bard's ability to inspire courage or a barbarian's rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell, condition, or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime.
Well, I guess the morale bonuses to attack could be used for other rolls besides "violent" attack rolls. Like ... er ... throwing something away. Morale bonuses could also apply to saving throws, so that would be worth suppressing. Especially if you wanted to follow calm emotions with a charm person or something.
It doesn't mean that the affected creatures can't attack. It stops them from continuing their attack, and prevents them from attacking you unless you attack them first. If you attack them they can fight back just fine(and it automatically breaks the spell for them).
...even if you make your save you don't have morale bonuses....
I don't think this reading is correct. The spell is "will negates" not "will partial" so if you make your save then nothing should happen to you. As opposed to something like cause fear where you are still shaken even if you pass the save. I could be wrong though.
I don't think this reading is correct. The spell is "will negates" not "will partial" so if you make your save then nothing should happen to you. As opposed to something like cause fear where you are still shaken even if you pass the save. I could be wrong though.
I disagree with this assertion. I believe the reason there is simply no save for this part of the spell (the suppression) is its targeting the spell effects, and not you. You don't get a save when someone uses dispel magic on you either. You don't get a save when slow counters your haste.
Diametrically opposed spells simply cancel. Slow and Haste is a great example, this would be one too. You get a will save for the non-attacking effect, and the spell automatically suppresses the opposing spells
I don't think this reading is correct. The spell is "will negates" not "will partial" so if you make your save then nothing should happen to you. As opposed to something like cause fear where you are still shaken even if you pass the save. I could be wrong though.I disagree with this assertion. I believe the reason there is simply no save for this part of the spell (the suppression) is its targeting the spell effects, and not you. You don't get a save when someone uses dispel magic on you either. You don't get a save when slow counters your haste.
Diametrically opposed spells simply cancel. Slow and Haste is a great example, this would be one too. You get a will save for the non-attacking effect, and the spell automatically suppresses the opposing spells
Exactly - it's like a very limited form of anti-magic field. AMF doesn't give you a save, it just suppresses any spells that might be on you. This doesn't give you a save, it just suppresses any morale effects that might be on you. It *also* has a save against being unable to attack anything, which AMF doesn't have an equivalent to.
At least, that's the reading that's making more and more sense as I think about it.
This spell has needed clarification for a while. Usually when a spell say Will Negates, the entire spell is negated. If the spell has any effect if a save is made, the spell usually says Will Partial or Will Negates (see text).
My assumption has always been that this spell is the primary opposition to confusion. You cast it to remove the confused condition. That's how it gets used in my campaigns. Or in specific circumstances when dealing with a crowd you need to calm.