Charm Person


Rules Questions


So. Charm Person. There's been a lot of debate among my group about how it works; namely 'in combat'. Can I get some official clarification about this?

Liberty's Edge

What are the issues your group is having?


Namely, the bonus to the save if the caster is 'threatening' the target. One of the for instances: We're fighting a group of elves, I (as the caster) have not taken any offensive action at all, but my group is engaged in combat. I approach an otherwise non-engaged elves and try to Charm Person. Would he get the extra bonus to resist?

Liberty's Edge

Your group is fighting their group. I would rule that your target gets the bonus. Though, since you're trying to be "sneaky" about it, I would allow a bluff vs. sense motive check to see if you could bypass the bonus.


It's not an exact science, but most likely yes in that circumstance they're getting the bonus.
Combat has started.
His group is actively being lethally attacked at the time.
He's going to feel threatened [because he IS threatened, men with weapons affiliated with you are killing his people.]

The spell note of "or your allies" seems to be just for situations like this.

Basically, if you were in a bar and a couple of guys started punching your friends, and one of them who maybe hadn't jumped in yet started moving towards you, what would your default assumption of his actions be? You'd feel threatened.

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