A question has arisen in our group about how Unbreakable Heart works when used against Dominate (or Charm) person.
A creature can still be charmed or otherwise magically controlled while under this spell’s effects, but if such a creature ever receives a new saving throw against that effect as a result of being ordered to attempt to harm or otherwise oppose a true ally, he can roll that saving throw twice and take the better result as his actual roll.
If you and the subject have a common language, you can generally force the subject to perform as you desire, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, you can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” You know what the subject is experiencing, but you do not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with you telepathically.
Once you have given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against DC 15 (rather than DC 25) can determine that the subject's behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect (see the Sense Motive skill description).
Changing your orders or giving a dominated creature a new command is a move action.
By concentrating fully on the spell (a standard action), you can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still can't communicate with you. You can't actually see through the subject's eyes, so it's not as good as being there yourself, but you still get a good idea of what's going on.
Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new saving throw with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as you and the subject are on the same plane. You need not see the subject to control it.
If you don't spend at least 1 round concentrating on the spell each day, the subject receives a new saving throw to throw off the domination.
Protection from evil or a similar spell can prevent you from exercising control or using the telepathic link while the subject is so warded, but such an effect does not automatically dispel it.
The specific situation we are looking at is a PC who has already been dominated (via the Dominate Person spell) and has been given the command to 'defend me' from the NPC who has dominated the PC. Then another PC cast Unbreakable Heart on the dominated PC.
My interpretation of this is that Unbreakable Heart spell has no affect on the Dominate Person spell until such time as the Dominated PC is forced to attack the other PC's (or any other ally's). At that point the PC is being forced to do something against there nature which triggers the clause in the Dominate Person spell which allows them to make another save and because that action forces the PC to 'harm or otherwise oppose a true ally' then the clause in the Unbreakable Heart spell kicks in which allows the PC to make two saves and use the better result.
Just telling the PC to 'defend me' does not allow a save vs Dominate Person and thus would not trigger the Unbreakable Heart spell. Once the other PC's attack the NPC and the dominated PC is forced to attack the other PC's then the Dominate Person save would be made and the Unbreakable Heart clause would also kick in.
The opposing point of view is as follows:
Because the Dominate Person spell was already in affect then only the first part of Unbreakable Heart spell applies:
'The target creature gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects that rely on negative emotions (such as crushing despair, rage, or fear effects) or that would force him to harm an ally (such as confusion). If the target is already under such an effect when receiving this spell, that effect is suppressed for the duration of this spell. It does not affect mind-affecting effects based on positive emotions (such as good hope or the inspire courage bard ability).'
The second part of the spell only applies when the PC is already under the affects of Unbreakable Heart and a Dominate (or Charm) Person spell is subsequently cast on them.
'A creature can still be charmed or otherwise magically controlled while under this spell’s effects, but if such a creature ever receives a new saving throw against that effect as a result of being ordered to attempt to harm or otherwise oppose a true ally, he can roll that saving throw twice and take the better result as his actual roll.'
The upshot of this in our situation being that because the PC in question was Dominated first and then the Unbreakable Heart spell was cast subsequently then the Dominate Person spell was suppressed immediately with no save as it is a spell that relies on negative emotions.
I would very much like to hear input from the community as to how they think these two spells interact. Both in light of the situation I presented but also in general.
Thank you for your time.
"If the target is already under such an effect when receiving this spell, that effect is suppressed for the duration of this spell."
If you cast Unbreakable Heart on a dominated person (=under such an effect), the domination is suppressed for the duration of Unbreakable heart (this spell).
I see no room for interpretation here.
My interpretation is based around the fact that Dominate Person does not, in and of itself, force the dominated person to harm an ally. What if the NPC casts Dominate Person on a PC and tells them to go stand quietly in the corner. Would Unbreakable Heart still suppress the spell?
"or that would force him to harm an ally (such as confusion)."
Only if that clause applies, otherwise Charm effects would work as stated in the second half.
I believe you are correct. Dominate person does not force harm like confusion does; notice that Unbreakable Heart specifically says "A creature can still be charmed or otherwise magically controlled while under this spell’s effects," which is what dominate person does. But once they're told to harm an ally, they receive the benefits of the last part of the spell-- rolling twice and taking the better result.
"If the target is already under such an effect when receiving this spell, that effect is suppressed for the duration of this spell."
If you cast Unbreakable Heart on a dominated person (=under such an effect), the domination is suppressed for the duration of Unbreakable heart (this spell).
I see no room for interpretation here.
This is incorrect; dominate person is not a negative-emotion-based effect. The second clause is the part of unbreakable heart that is up for debate; it applies to dominate person.
There's nothing in the text that implies that order matters. So long as the order to attack occurred while under the effect of unbreakable heart, the recipient should get the extra save roll.
Dominate Person is listed as: School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]
That makes Dominate Person a mind affecting spell. However, the spell does not mention emotions at all. Therefore the spell does NOT rely on negative emotions. This disqualifies the initial part of Unbreakable Heart.
If Dominate Person is not used to force harm to an ally, that disqualifies the next part. "Defend me" from an enemy does not force harm against an ally.
Since neither effect satisfies the initial condition, they do not trigger the suppression effect.
If, Dominate Person causes a saving throw opportunity due to "oppose/harming an ally", then the last clause triggers, and he gets two chances to save rather than one.
Note that the initial "Defend me" could be considered opposing an ally, but when it does not trigger a saving throw, Unbreakable Heart does nothing.
/cevah
Thank you everyone for your input.