Hi all
Can someone confirm two points for me?
a) If you change the size of a creature that has an aura, does the aura size change?
b) Does the spell Binding suppress auras?
Basically in a recent campaign I used minimus containment on a pugwampi and then wore him in a necklace to use his aura for my own benefit (I had a luck blade giving me a luck bonus so was unaffected). Very quickly this felt game breaking and I was sure I must have gone wrong somewhere.
If this is possible, are there any other creatures this would be a good trick for?
A) Normally, auras do not change size with the creatures generating them since auras are emanations.
The rules often assume that creatures are Medium or Small. In the case of a handful of spells or effects with areas that feature a “radius emanation centered on you” such as antimagic field, aura of doom, and zone of silence, as well as some of the spells presented in this section, this can result in an area that is effectively useless when coming from a Large or larger caster. As an optional rule, when a creature casts an emanation or burst spell with the text “centered on you,” treat the creature’s entire space as the spell’s point of origin, and measure the spell’s area or effect from the edge of the creature’s space. For instance, an antimagic field cast by a fire giant would extend 10 feet beyond his space (effectively increasing the emanation’s radius by 5 feet).
So, there is a rule to alter it, but technically it is an alternate rule and not the default. Not that this helps much in your example, but using the optional rule, it makes sense that an aura would similarly shrink if the creature gets smaller.
B)It depends on which version you use. If the binding puts the creature inside of a container (such as the case with the minimus containment) then the aura would not effect anyone that has full cover from it, which is everything outside the container.
A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can’t see. It can’t affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don’t extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. a burst’s area defines how far from the point of origin the spell’s effect extends.
An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Most emanations are cones or spheres.
So, you are correct in thinking that this wouldn't work, but it doesn't work because of a series of technicalities, rather then being the result of an intentional ruling.
So, if I had it in a tiny barred cage around my neck, it would work but only against things in front of me since my body would be blocking the aura for people approaching from behind...
I suppose, right up until an area affect kills it!
Yep, that all sounds right.
Thanks for your help!
Now to design a hat with a pugwampi stuck to the top...
A) Normally, auras do not change size with the creatures generating them since auras are emanations.
The rules often assume that creatures are Medium or Small. In the case of a handful of spells or effects with areas that feature a “radius emanation centered on you” such as antimagic field, aura of doom, and zone of silence, as well as some of the spells presented in this section, this can result in an area that is effectively useless when coming from a Large or larger caster. As an optional rule, when a creature casts an emanation or burst spell with the text “centered on you,” treat the creature’s entire space as the spell’s point of origin, and measure the spell’s area or effect from the edge of the creature’s space. For instance, an antimagic field cast by a fire giant would extend 10 feet beyond his space (effectively increasing the emanation’s radius by 5 feet).So, there is a rule to alter it, but technically it is an alternate rule and not the default. Not that this helps much in your example, but using the optional rule, it makes sense that an aura would similarly shrink if the creature gets smaller.
Looking at the FAQ, this appears to be the default as of 2015 rather than optional. That wouldn't cause the aura to diminish for creatures smaller than Small, though.
I'm not confident that a body would block the aura in the "tiny cage" case, either, seeing as how a Medium creature can't simply hide behind another Medium creature to avoid a great wyrm's aura(s).
This is a mind-affecting effect that does not work on animals, other gremlins, or gnolls.
Half Orc with Sacred Tattoo also works.
/cevah