Cause Fear vs. Scare (featuring the Sage's answer)

[Davelozzi]

Regarding the spells Cause Fear and Scare, am I correct in understanding that the only difference is the number of targets affected and the duration, range, and the fact that Scare has a material component?

I've been confused but was reading the Scare description as follows (emphasis mine) "This spell functions like cause fear, except that it causes all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened." Now I think it makes sense if I read it like this "This spell functions like cause fear, except that it causes all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened.

Here's the descriptions from the SRD (3.5):

Cause Fear
Necromancy [Fear, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 1, Clr 1, Death 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One living creature with 5 or fewer HD
Duration: 1d4 rounds or 1 round; see text
Saving Throw: Will partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
The affected creature becomes frightened. If the subject succeeds on a Will save, it is shaken for 1 round. Creatures with 6 or more Hit Dice are immune to this effect.
Cause fear counters and dispels remove fear.

Scare
Necromancy [Fear, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: One living creature per three levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration: 1 round/level or 1 round; see text for cause fear
Saving Throw: Will partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell functions like cause fear, except that it causes all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened.
Material Component: A bit of bone from an undead skeleton, zombie, ghoul, ghast, or mummy.

 

[Darklone]

Right. Scare is the level 2 upgrade for more victims of higher level.

 

[Davelozzi]

Right. Scare is the level 2 upgrade for more victims of higher level.

Where do you get higher level?

It seems to me that they both only affect creatures of less than 6 HD, but that they just word it differently ("Creatures with 6 or more Hit Dice are immune" vs. "causes all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened").

 

[Geoff Watson]

Frightened is much nastier than shaken, as well.

Geoff.

 

[Davelozzi]

Frightened is much nastier than shaken, as well.

Agreed, but both spells frighten anyone who fails the save. It's only those that pass it who are merely shaken, right?

Or are you saying that you interpret "all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened" to mean that creatures under 6HD don't get the save with Scare? ...and by extension, that the spell can affect creatures over 6HD -- it's just that they get the save.

If that's the case, then I have a much better understanding of the differences. Is that what you guys mean?

 

[Alchemist]

Agreed, but both spells frighten anyone who fails the save. It's only those that pass it who are merely shaken, right?

Or are you saying that you interpret "all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened" to mean that creatures under 6HD don't get the save with Scare? ...and by extension, that the spell can affect creatures over 6HD -- it's just that they get the save.

If that's the case, then I have a much better understanding of the differences. Is that what you guys mean?

No, there is nothing about targets not getting saves in there. You may target creatures of 6+HD, but it is wasted as they are immune.

AS Darklone implied and you more or less said in your first post, Scare is the upgraded Cause Fear with the only differences being in duration, range, material components and number of targets (one of less than 6HD for cause fear, number targeted of less than 6HD for Scare). Make the save, shaken. Fail it, frightened. Does that make sense?

 

[Darklone]

Where do you get higher level?

It seems to me that they both only affect creatures of less than 6 HD, but that they just word it differently ("Creatures with 6 or more Hit Dice are immune" vs. "causes all targeted creatures of less than 6 HD to become frightened").

You're right, that fooled me.

 

[Davelozzi]

Okay, I think we're on the same page now. thanks!

 

[Aaron2]

No, there is nothing about targets not getting saves in there.

I read the "all targeted creatures" to mean they don't get a save. They shouldn't have said "as cause fear" since the referenced part in only one line long. I see it as <6 HD - no save, auto frightened; >=6 HD save or frightened.


Aaron

 

[Alchemist]

I read the "all targeted creatures" to mean they don't get a save. They shouldn't have said "as cause fear" since the referenced part in only one line long. I see it as <6 HD - no save, auto frightened; >=6 HD save or frightened.


Aaron

I can see where you're coming from, but I don't agree.

Since it "functions like Cause Fear", that means that all the stipulations of Cause Fear are in effect unless superceded by the text of Scare. Creatures with 6+HD are immune to Cause Fear, and nothing in Scare says anything about changing that.

I read spells that say "functions like spell X" to be "I'm spell X, with these explicit changes". I find that never goes wrong, at least at my table.

Edit: Despite all of that, the targets line drops the 5HD or less requirement for Scare.

HOWEVER,
The quick description of Scare on p.193 says "Panics creatures of less than 6 HD". That probably communicates the intention of the designers.