Haste/Slow?

[kmdietri]

A character is under the effect of a haste spell.

The same character is subject to a slow effect while still under the effect of a haste spell. The two would cancel out leaving it's regular movement conditions?

If the character was subject to another slow effect, while still under the effect of the previous slow and haste, would it be slowed or would it remain at normal movement because you can't stack the same spell?

I ruled in game that the character would be slowed because the erlier two have essentially canceled each other.

The character could then have cast haste again to negate the second slow if he so chose to.

 

[Piratecat]

That's how I'd do it, too.

 

[Mekabar]

FromSRD:
Slow counters and dispels haste.
Haste dispels and counters slow.

You did it right.

 

[atom crash]

I agree. The first slow spell would dispel the haste spell, leaving the character with normal movement conditions. The second slow spell would then take effect normally.

 

[Felonious Ntent]

I on the other hand would say normal movement. Haste has a duration as does slow. When slow is cast on a hasted character it doesn't cancel it completely it just negates the effects of the haste for the duration of the slow. So if a higher level mage cast the haste eventualy the slow would wear off leaving the hasted party once again hasted. As far as I can remember you can't stack slow or haste so the second slow does nothing it is a wasted spell.

Of course all IMO.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

When slow is cast on a hasted character it doesn't cancel it completely it just negates the effects of the haste for the duration of the slow.

Except, of course, that slow specifically dispels haste.

Does that change your interpretation?

 

[Felonious Ntent]

Nope I'd rule 0 it.
If light doesn't dispel darkness why should slow dispel haste. I say this an old byproduct of 1e not picked up in conversion. I believe in 1e this is how it worked. The spells canceled each other.

Sorry spells of oposite efects shouldn't dispell the original spell just nulify it for the duration of the spell.

 

[Nail]

...unless they say so specifically in their spell description, right?

Cancel means dispel. Think of it as a "counterspell" of sorts.

 

[Felonious Ntent]

Oh I know I just think this is one of those things that wasn't fixed with 3e and is a stand over from 1e. In 3.5 I believe they fixed light canceling darkness but IMO the same holds true for hsate/slow.
I don't think spells that have oposits should cancel one and other. That is what dispel magic is for. That is why I would rule 0 haste/slow not dispeling one and other, just negating the effects for duration of spell.

 

[Quidam]

what others

While this question might belong in the HR forum, the thread doesn't, so forgive me but...

Interesting interpretation. Are there any other spell pairs with the same 'counters & dispels' text that you've ruled the same way on?