I would say yes. A jump may be made as part of movement. The jump doesn't slow him down the way using acrobatics to avoid an AoO would.
Some might argue that making an acrobatics check to jump is not included in "do nothing but move". If instead of a bear-trap there had been a narrow balance beam across a deep trench, would the commanded creature be prevented from making his balance check to cross it ? If instead of a bear-trap there had been just the deep trench, would the commanded creature be unable to jump it to fulfill the "Approach" command (and the spell would thus fail) ?
The bear trap wouldn't prevent him from reaching me even if he hit it, he would just have to double move, which is all he's able to do during 1 round spell duration anyway. Not to mention the bear trap is an attack roll. If he notices a poison dart trap trigger, would he attempt to jump over that as well?
The problem comes with in the line, "the subject moves toward you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round." If the subject knows the trap is likely going to slow it down, they'll try to jump over it in order to get to you as quickly as possible.
It's a first level spell.
Attacks of Opportunity are specifically called out as a risk that the victim must run, but for things like the bear trap, I would allow either:
a) a new save, like Dominate would, or
b) that he takes obviousd hazards into consideration during his movement.
Thanks for the input everyone. This is a society game, so I'm just trying to find the official ruling since we can't do house rules.
No official ruling. But "walk off a cliff" or "step in that beartrap" are not legit commands.
The spell is the official ruling.
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The question is, would this guy have been able to use acrobatics to jump over and avoid the trap although he provokes AOOs normally?
Spells do what they say, nothing more nothing less. (If that doesn't work it's probably a FAQ candidate)
Let's take a look...
"Approach: On its turn, the subject moves toward you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round. The creature may do nothing but move during its turn, and it provokes attacks of opportunity for this movement as normal."
So we know the movement has to be possible, no sudden death expecting a ground creature to fly across a cliff or making a sleeping person walk, but danger can be involved as long as it's a surmountable danger (a to-hit or save is involved as the obvious examples) as the spell doesn't bar them and specifically AoO's don't make it count as impossible. However we also know as long as the person moves as quickly as possible, and only moves, the spell adds no additional restrictions to how they move either.
So seeing that, yes you can force him over the bear trap square as it is surmountable however yes he can jump or acrobatics/etc, as long as his movement speed isn't slowed even if that means what he's attempting takes penalties, as jumping and acrobatics have rules including them within the games forms of movement and avoiding the obstacles would ensure he reaches you as soon as possible. (It could even be argued he HAS to attempt to jump/acrobatics over it, as letting himself take the hit could prevent him from reaching you as quickly as possible over the most direct route which is what he's being compelled to do).
Hope that helps.
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"sharp jaws spring shut around the creature's ankle and halve the creature's base speed (or hold the creature immobile if the trap is attached to a solid object);"
Clearly being hit by the bear trap will prevent him to reach you " as quickly ...as possible". It could even completely prevent him from reaching you.
We have two requirements, it should reach you
- as quickly
- as directly
with a qualification
- as possible.
It is possible to bypass the bear trap without jumping? It wouldn't be the most direct route, but it would be the quickest and directest possible route that will certainly allow him to reach you, so he could and should take it.
No way to bypass the trap without jumping? The quickest and directest possible route require the jump, as not jumping can completely prevent his move or halve his movement.
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Agreed, or if no effective method that the character has at his or her disposal exist that allow him to carry out the command, the spell should then fail as it triggers the final clause "If the subject can't carry out your command on its next turn, the spell automatically fails."
(Edit: FAQ'ing this.
It is possible to bypass the bear trap without jumping? It wouldn't be the most direct route, but it would be the quickest and directest possible route that will certainly allow him to reach you, so he could and should take it.
Not sure this is true... the spell states as a requirement they have to take the most direct route possible, correct? ("as quickly and directly", not "or") That's over the bear trap if I'm reading the placement right. It's just risky not impossible, which AoO's already tell us aren't enough to negate the compulsion. True the trap might stop you but so might damage from AoOs or trips from AoOs but the spell seems to say too bad, if you have the chance you have to go the direct route unless it's impassable not just inconvenient or reasonably risky.
In PFS I think he'd have to go directly allowing only jump or other forms of movement which don't slow him/effect the quickly requirement, I'd expect table variation on this anywhere else.
Not that it's relevant to the rules discussion but I'm not sure it's even unbalanced. Charm Person and Sleep are the same level and can be used to much nastier effect. Seems like this kind of use might be working as intended, it's some creativity on the players part to even pull off.
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It is possible to bypass the bear trap without jumping? It wouldn't be the most direct route, but it would be the quickest and directest possible route that will certainly allow him to reach you, so he could and should take it.
Not sure this is true... the spell states as a requirement they have to take the most direct route possible, correct? ("as quickly and directly", not "or") That's over the bear trap if I'm reading the placement right. It's just risky not impossible, which AoO's already tell us aren't enough to negate the compulsion. True the trap might stop you but so might damage from AoOs or trips from AoOs but the spell seems to say too bad, if you have the chance you have to go the direct route unless it's impassable not just inconvenient or reasonably risky.
In PFS I think he'd have to go directly allowing only jump or other forms of movement which don't slow him/effect the quickly requirement, I'd expect table variation on this anywhere else.
Not that it's relevant to the rules discussion but I'm not sure it's even unbalanced. Charm Person and Sleep are the same level and can be used to much nastier effect. Seems like this kind of use might be working as intended, it's some creativity on the players part to even pull off.
1) "Charm Person ... are the same level and can be used to much nastier effect." Only if you read too much in the opposite charisma check and , disregard these lines of the spell "An affected creature never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing." and "Any act by you or your apparent allies that threatens the charmed person breaks the spell."
"Suicidal", "obviously harmful" and "Any act ... that threatens the charmed person " are very strong limitations. And you never control how the charmed person will execute your request, nor change how he feel about his other allies;2) Sleep has 1 round casting time, a big HD limitation and the sleeping creature can be easily awakened and command is much more flexible.
3) You point our that it say: "("as quickly and directly", not "or")" and then decide to privilege the second part, plus you completely disregard the "as possible" part.
When there is a conflict between "quickly", "direct" and "as possible" you must weight the different factor.
a) He can reach the caster taking another route and be certain to reach him during his turn against taking a more direct route but being uncertain to reach him this turn? I.e. one rote can negate him the ability to reach the caster while the other assures that he will reach the caster?
b) If there is only a route, what action will assure that he reach the caster? He will take them as that is part of the spell requirements.
3) You point our that it say: "("as quickly and directly", not "or")" and then decide to privilege the second part, plus you completely disregard the "as possible" part.
When there is a conflict between "quickly", "direct" and "as possible" you must weight the different factor.
a) He can reach the caster taking another route and be certain to reach him during his turn against taking a more direct route but being uncertain to reach him this turn? I.e. one rote can negate him the ability to reach the caster while the other assures that he will reach the caster?
b) If there is only a route, what action will assure that he reach the caster? He will take them as that is part of the spell requirements.
You have given privilege/priority to quickly over directly, the spell does not do so. The spell lists them equally. You are allowing the possibility an event, with an attack roll to avoid, might stop the person to be something letting them choose to avoid the required wording of the compulsion, the spell gives at least one example of that NOT being true.
The spell requires quick and direct, while it requires possible it does not require assuredly getting to the caster (which you are using as your reason directly can be avoided) or AoOs would be allowed to be maneuvered around.Option A
NPC goes over trap. NPC has met the requirement of directly. NPC will possibly meet the requirement of quickly and the only risk of not doing so is using the exact same mechanic the example we're given says isn't good enough to allow the NPC to change the directly requirement. [Edit: And to OP's question, Jumping over the trap is probably allowed as long as it doesn't alter movement speed/"quickly".]
So Option A
Possible to reach caster: Yes
Direct requirement: Met
Quickly requirement: Possibly met, only risk is similar to an example the spell says is an allowable risk and not sufficient to change course.
Option B
The NPC chooses to go around the trap. This might be as quick, though if the movement adds distance it would fail that as well, but it has 100% violated the directly requirement, which the spell treats equal not lesser than the other requirements, and is doing so in a way no example in the spell says should be allowable.
So Option B
Possible to reach caster: Yes
Direct requirement: NOT met.
Quickly requirement: Possibly met, though might also be violated and in a way no example the spell uses does.
I understand you disagree, we're probably going to continue doing that, I even acknowledge I'd expect table variation on this so some tables would be using Option B like you, however by the wording of the spell Option A seems the most correct way to handle it and is what I'd expect in PFS following hard RAW.
Option A is the only way which meets all requirements of the spell and it follows closest to the additional information of the spell. The NPC can jump but he can't skirt around if the trap is directly between where he is and the caster. Only impossible to move through allows redirection. The trap is not impossible to move through it is just inconvenient and dangerous (and no more than an AoO which we're clearly told isn't good enough).