Does spell resistance apply to spells delivered by potion?
I have a player with a Drow PC going for the high SR. I know he can voluntarily lower the spell resistance to accept beneficial spells from allies.
However, he almost went unconcious last week. The sorc was going to pour a cure serious wounds potion down his throat. But we weren't sure if it would still have to overcome SR since he wouldn't have been able to lower it.
So you think SR would block the spells delivered by potion?
Potions are like spells cast upon the imbiber. The character taking the potion doesn't get to make any decisions about the effect—the caster who brewed the potion has already done so. The drinker of a potion is both the effective target and the caster of the effect (though the potion indicates the caster level, the drinker still controls the effect).
If potions are like spells, and if the spell required you to overcome spell resistance, then I would say the potion would have to as well.
That's what I was thinking.
I have a feeling, this is a risk he had not considered. =)
Spell Resistance
Spell resistance is the extraordinary ability to avoid being affected by spells. Some spells also grant spell resistance.
To affect a creature that has spell resistance, a spellcaster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) at least equal to the creature's spell resistance. The defender's spell resistance is like an Armor Class against magical attacks. If the caster fails the check, the spell doesn't affect the creature. The possessor does not have to do anything special to use spell resistance. The creature need not even be aware of the threat for its spell resistance to operate.
Only spells and spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance. Extraordinary and supernatural abilities (including enhancement bonuses on magic weapons) are not. A creature can have some abilities that are subject to spell resistance and some that are not. Even some spells ignore spell resistance; see When Spell Resistance Applies, below.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities.
A creature with spell resistance cannot impart this power to others by touching them or standing in their midst. Only the rarest of creatures and a few magic items have the ability to bestow spell resistance upon another.
Spell resistance does not stack, but rather overlaps.
Look at the bolded sections. First, a creature can voluntarily lower the spell resistance. Second, a creatures own items are not affected by spell resistance, so a potion taken voluntarily won't be blocked.
Except the character in question didn't volunteer, he was unconscious.
And as the creature was unconscious, he could not take the standard action necessary to drop his own spell resistance.
Except the character in question didn't volunteer, he was unconscious.
I'd go with implied consent here. And let the characters unconscious mind, aka the player make the call.
Or you could also reason that since lowering the SR can be done consciously that it isn't in effect while they are sleeping or knocked out. It makes about as much sense as it working in the same condition.
Strive for the epic, avoid the wankerly.
If you have SR, do you have to lower it to cast spells on yourself?
Regardless, Cure spells don't require spell resistance unless it does damage (such as against an undead), so the cure potion wouldn't provoke the SR if he was conscious or unconscious.
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Hate to burst your bubble...
Cure Light Wounds
School conjuration (healing); Level alchemist 1, bard 1, cleric/oracle 1, druid 1, inquisitor 1, paladin 1, ranger 2, witch 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action Components V, S
EFFECT
Range touch Target creature touched Duration instantaneous Saving Throw Will half (harmless); see text; Spell Resistance yes(harmless); see text
DESCRIPTION
When laying your hand upon a living creature, you channel positive energy that cures 1d8 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum +5). Since undead are powered by negative energy, this spell deals damage to them instead of curing their wounds.
And the [Harmless] tag just means that the recipient can choose to forgo a save if desired. But If unconscious, the character can't make that decision.
If you have SR, do you have to lower it to cast spells on yourself?
No. Spells you cast on yourself (or items you use on yourself) automatically overcome your spell resistance.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities.
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And the [Harmless] tag just means that the recipient can choose to forgo a save if desired. But If unconscious, the character can't make that decision.
If you have SR, do you have to lower it to cast spells on yourself?No. Spells you cast on yourself (or items you use on yourself) automatically overcome your spell resistance.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities.
In theory this is true - as the caster of the spell, its SR never interferes with a spell "it cast on itself".
In practice there's a danger here. If someone spiked the character's drink with a potion, there would be no SR against any bad effects.
Either way, rule with caution.
What about if he had brewed the potion of cure moderate wounds, would that bypass the SR as "its own spells, items, or abilities" kind of thing?
What about if he had brewed the potion of cure moderate wounds, would that bypass the SR as "its own spells, items, or abilities" kind of thing?
No. By "its own spells, items, or abilities", it means stuff the character is actively using on himself. If he casts a spell on himself, if he drinks a potion himself, activates on of his magic items, etc.
The creature has to voluntarily use the item. Otherwise SR comes into play. That is on reason I don't like SR. It is more trouble than its worth. I have a house rule that allows it to be dropped as a swift or immediate action. I forget which one.
I don't think that's how it's parsed. How would SR tell the difference between a potion taken willfully and a potion slipped into someone's drink or forced down their throat while unconscious? It's more reasonable to parse the list as follows:
SR doesn't work on:
1) Own spells
2) Items
3) AbilitiesAs opposed to...
SR doesn't work on own:
1) Spells
2) Potions
3) Abilities
It's a game in which a lot of things don't make sense. As an example if you try to make an attack roll versus mirror image you have to account for it, but just touching the person is not accounted for. Even if the person does not try to dodge you should still have to account for the images.
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You get a saving throw against harmful potions even if you are unconscious.
SR doesn't go away if you are unconscious, and you can't take a standard action to lower it while unconscious. SR really is a two-edged sword, the downside is pretty bad for PCs.
Keep pouring those potions until you beat his SR! A bit like an Infernal Wound.