A debate in our group - When are you required to point your finger at each person?
While casting the spell to select the targets?
OR
when you want to communicate with one of the people under the spells influence?
My take on it: If I cast Message and include my party this allows only me to whisper/communicate with each of them but they cannot talk to each other - correct?
Do all of the people under the spells influence hear everything whispered or can the person speaking choose when to 'send' a message?
(kind of like the talk button on a walkie-talkie?)
What constitutes an 'open path'? Would the message flow under a standard closed door, down the hall and down the stairs?
What happens when one of the targets moves out of range and then back into range?
Is whispering a message or replying a Free, Immediate, or Swift Action?
I know, I know...my god how many questions can be asked about whispered Message! Our group tends to be grounded in physics/reality and we get bogged down in these types of details. Thanks!
While casting the spell to select the targets?
OR
when you want to communicate with one of the people under the spells influence?
Debatable. I would say for each whispered message, but I don't think the opposite ruling would be unreasonable.
My take on it: If I cast Message and include my party this allows only me to whisper/communicate with each of them but they cannot talk to each other - correct?
Correct.
Do all of the people under the spells influence hear everything whispered or can the person speaking choose when to 'send' a message?
(kind of like the talk button on a walkie-talkie?)
Walkie-talkie style.
What constitutes an 'open path'? Would the message flow under a standard closed door, down the hall and down the stairs?
Consider an open path something you can fit through, not a crack small enough for air. If you stab a hole through a wooden door that is fine, but you can't whisper through a crack in the door unless the door is exceptionally shoddy. At least that's my take on it. Use your own discretion on what you think is a large enough hole to "whisper" through.
What happens when one of the targets moves out of range and then back into range?
You would need to recast it. But it's not a big deal since it's a cantrip.
Is whispering a message or replying a Free, Immediate, or Swift Action?
Free. Talking is a free action.
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What constitutes an 'open path'? Would the message flow under a standard closed door, down the hall and down the stairs?Consider an open path something you can fit through, not a crack small enough for air. If you stab a hole through a wooden door that is fine, but you can't whisper through a crack in the door unless the door is exceptionally shoddy. At least that's my take on it. Use your own discretion on what you think is a large enough hole to "whisper" through.
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I don't think it would be blocked by a door. Otherwise this:
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Magical silence, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal (or a thin sheet of lead), or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks the spell.
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would be completely useless text.
I think the idea is that the spell can go straight through thin layers of material, and around thick layers that block the spell(aka barriers). So long as you can draw a path between the speaker and the listener that doesn't go through 1 inch of metal, 3 feet of wood etc and that path is all within the spell's range then the listener can hear the speaker.
If the door is thin wood it will go through it. I'm just very used to metal doors in my campaigns I suppose.
***** Thank you all for your thorough responses.
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I think the idea is that the spell can go straight through thin layers of material, and around thick layers that block the spell(aka barriers). So long as you can draw a path between the speaker and the listener that doesn't go through 1 inch of metal, 3 feet of wood etc and that path is all within the spell's range then the listener can hear the speaker.
Perhaps the barriers might be cumulative. Like a wood door is 3" thick and the straightest path would go through 4 doors for a total of 12" of wood.
Thank you all for your thorough responses.
You're welcome! It's always nice to know that our responses have provided some help.
Perhaps the barriers might be cumulative. Like a wood door is 3" thick and the straightest path would go through 4 doors for a total of 12" of wood.
I think that is entirely reasonable and I would rule the exact same thing in my own games.
For 10 minutes/per level,"You can whisper messages and receive whispered replies. " The rules following that tell you how you go about using this ability that you have available for 10 minutes/level.
I.e. you do it each time you want to whisper messages and receive whispered replies.
Example timeline:
1) Cast the spell, including full volume ("strong voice") verbal component by the way.
2) Wait around 5 minutes.
3) Point at some people and whisper stuff
4) a couple minutes later, point at some different people, whisper more stuff.
I agree that the effect remains usable for the duration, no need to recast etc.
One of our sticking points is the pointing. What if you are unaware of your target's location as they skulk about?But that issue now seems moot since the caster can speak (via a whisper) to all under the influence, no need for pointing.
One of our sticking points is the pointing. What if you are unaware of your target's location as they skulk about?Then I guess you can't whisper to them. Though it doesn't say necessarily that you have to be confident in your correctness, I would at least allow a player to guess a direction and on the off chance they were right (or via educated guess), still allow it to work.
^^^ This was in reference to the spell effect already in play. which leads to my 2nd statement below vvv
But that issue now seems moot since the caster can speak (via a whisper) to all under the influence, no need for pointing.Huh? No you still need to point at some time to activate the ability that the spell gives you. You can do it while you're all standing together, then spread out yet keep being able to talk to them. But if you don't know where a person is when you activate the power (or any time you want to stop and restart with a different mix of people), you're going to have issues with that.
I totally agree that reasonably accurate pointing would be required to include a PC out of sight when casting the spell. Thanks!
I just treat it like walkie talkies. It's easiest for everyone to get their heads around.