Dismissal, Banishment, Dispel Evil and Holy Smite

[Scharlata]

Hi!

[...]

The situation:

A malebranche (a baatezu from MM2) is on the Prime Material Plane, unconscious because of nonlethal damage (he has regeneration 8 [holy, acid]). A trumpet archon likes to help the party to drive the creature off the Prime Material.


The spells of the trumpet archon:
Dismissal (PH, p. 222) could function: This spell forces an extraplanar creature back to its proper plane...
Banishment (PH, p. 203) should function: A banishment is a more powerful version of the dismissal spell. It enables you to force extraplanar creatures out of your home plane...
Dispel Evil (PH, p. 222) could function: Second, on making a successful melee touch attack against an evil creature from another plane, you can choose to drive that creature back to its home plane...

Now: Banishment is a more powerful version of dismissal, but it states that it drives creatures out of your home plane. Is that a glitched description or does the trumpet archon have no chance of driving the malebranche out because the archon is not on her home plane?

Next: If the archon would use a holy smite (PH, p. 241) could she deal lethal damage? The description mentions: You draw down holy power to smite your enemies. [...] The spell deals 1d8 points of damage per.... [type not further specified].
If the holy smite would deal holy damage [that the malebranche couldn't regenerate] could the archon make a coup de grace against the malebranche?

Thanx very much

 

[freebfrost]

Now: Banishment is a more powerful version of dismissal, but it states that it drives creatures out of your home plane. Is that a glitched description or does the trumpet archon have no chance of driving the malebranche out because the archon is not on her home plane?

Hrm. Good question.

The way I've run it is as it reads. Banishment only works on the home plane of the caster, so the Archon couldn't use it unless it was on its own plane. Otherwise, casters everywhere in the planes could just use this spell anywhere to eliminate outsiders, and that's a bit overpowering IMO.

Next: If the archon would use a holy smite (PH, p. 241) could she deal lethal damage? The description mentions: You draw down holy power to smite your enemies. [...] The spell deals 1d8 points of damage per.... [type not further specified].
If the holy smite would deal holy damage [that the malebranche couldn't regenerate] could the archon make a coup de grace against the malebranche?

Thanx very much

You can only perform a coup de grace upon regenerating creatures if the weapon or attack used is one that can affect the creature. So, if the archon has an attack that does holy damage (i.e. holy smite), then yes, it can coup de grace it.

 

[Gez]

You can only do coups de grâce with attacks (just like for critical hits, since a CDG is basically a critical hit with a cherry on top). If the spell requires an attack roll, I'd allow it, otherwise nope.

 

[freebfrost]

You can only do coups de grâce with attacks (just like for critical hits, since a CDG is basically a critical hit with a cherry on top). If the spell requires an attack roll, I'd allow it, otherwise nope.

Good point - missed that. I thought it was a Smite ability (a la the Paladin's Smite), and not a spell attack.

 

[Scharlata]

Thanx very much!

Kind regards

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Note that, since the Trumpet Archon is a good outsider, his natural weapons and any weapon he wields should count as [good] and should consquently deal lethal damage to the Malebranche if 3.0 regeneration 8 [holy, acid] translates into regeneration 8 [good or acid] in 3.5

 

[Scharlata]

Note that, since the Trumpet Archon is a good outsider, his natural weapons and any weapon he wields should count as [good] and should consquently deal lethal damage to the Malebranche if 3.0 regeneration 8 [holy, acid] translates into regeneration 8 [good or acid] in 3.5

Hi!

Thank you for the info, but...
1.) the 3.5 update booklet states that the Malebranche cannot regenerate acid and holy damage;
2.) the Trumpet Archon in this case is bound on a transitional dimension and can only cast spells due to the Transdimensional Spell feat. He cannot make real contact with the living around her, save for speech and spells.



Kind regards