Otiluke's Resilient Sphere?

[MacMathan]

We have come up with some questions IMC, any ideas would be appreciated.

Just what is the status of the creature inside the sphere? The spell says the target may struggle but to no effect. It does not say if they are immobilized or held inside it.

Is it a hollow sphere ar a solid sphere of force that forms around the target?

Could a caster use it on themselves and then drink potions and cast buff spells?

How does it effect travel via Gate, Teleport, Gaseous Form (Since it says the subject can breathe normally) or Dimension Door?

 

[MichaelH]

We have come up with some questions IMC, any ideas would be appreciated.

Just what is the status of the creature inside the sphere? The spell says the target may struggle but to no effect. It does not say if they are immobilized or held inside it.

If they were immobilized or held, the spell description would say so.

Is it a hollow sphere ar a solid sphere of force that forms around the target?

I think of it as a hollow sphere of force, but either way is fine as long as the target can move around within the sphere.

Could a caster use it on themselves and then drink potions and cast buff spells?

Sure, the caster is in range.

How does it effect travel via Gate, Teleport, Gaseous Form (Since it says the subject can breathe normally) or Dimension Door?

I suppose the target could become gaseous inside the sphere, but he could not escape the sphere in this manner. I don't think Gate, Teleport, or Dimension Door would work until the sphere expired.

 

[der_kluge]

We are just experimenting with this spell as well.

This is what we ruled:

Anyone inside the sphere can happily cast *personal* spells on themselves to their heart's content. No spell effect can leave the sphere. Obvious ones include fireball and lightning bolt, but I also ruled that the person inside the sphere wouldn't be able to summon monsters outside the sphere. Obviously, they couldn't summon monsters inside the sphere, since the sphere only holds one creature at a time.

Likewise, I also ruled that sound could not travel outside the sphere, so whoever is trapped inside can't communicate with anyone around them.

Also, the sphere traps golems. Golems are normally immune to magic, but the sphere does not act on the golem, but rather around the golem. So, in our last game, the sorcerer trapped a stone golem inside one to great effect.

Lastly, dimension door and teleport do work inside the sphere, since the effect doesn't leave the sphere. That was my ruling. My reasoning was that I could dimension door to the other side of a Wall of Force, so I figured resilient sphere would be about the same.

 

[DreamChaser]

We are just experimenting with this spell as well.
Lastly, dimension door and teleport do work inside the sphere, since the effect doesn't leave the sphere. That was my ruling. My reasoning was that I could dimension door to the other side of a Wall of Force, so I figured resilient sphere would be about the same.

except you can't teleport or DD through a wall of force...it blocks the effect. in most cases this is irrelevant but it is not irrelevant for a cube of force. I think ORS would block movement spells.

DC

 

[Shayuri]

except you can't teleport or DD through a wall of force...it blocks the effect. in most cases this is irrelevant but it is not irrelevant for a cube of force. I think ORS would block movement spells.

DC

Actually, you can DD and teleport through Walls of Force. Neither spell requires a line of effect to function (save, perhaps, through the Astral plane...which is not generally an issue).

I see no reason one couldn't use such a spell to escape (or enter for that matter) a Resiliant Sphere.

The salient issue is that teleportation effects move the subject without crossing the intervening space. Thus it doesn't matter what's in your way. A door, a wall of stone or iron or adamantine...or of force. Thus, the spell description for Resilient Sphere that states that nothing can pass through the sphere is obviated by the logic that teleport spells don't cause the subject to pass through the sphere. Rather, they cease existing where they are, and begin existing at the target location.

It's popular to explain this by positing instant transit through the Astral Plane. Even if one decides to go that route, it still allows material plane barriers, like walls of force, to be circumvented. The only plane that force effects co-locate on is the Ethereal.

Hope this helps

 

[dcollins]

except you can't teleport or DD through a wall of force...it blocks the effect. in most cases this is irrelevant but it is not irrelevant for a cube of force. I think ORS would block movement spells.
DC

From the 3.0 description of wall of force:

Spells and breath weapons cannot pass through the wall in either direction, although dimension door, teleport, and similar effects can bypass the barrier. (3.0 PHB p. 269)

 

[Antoine]

Also, the sphere traps golems. Golems are normally immune to magic, but the sphere does not act on the golem, but rather around the golem. So, in our last game, the sorcerer trapped a stone golem inside one to great effect.

From 3.5 SRD, Golems :
Immunity to Magic (Ex): Golems have immunity to most magical and supernatural effects, except when otherwise noted.

Then, in each individual golem description :
Immunity to Magic (Ex): A […] golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance.

Again 3.5 SRD, Resilient Sphere :
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Then, it may be inferred that Resilient Sphere 'acts upon the golem', since it allows SR.

Thus, it wouldn't bypass its immunity to magic.

Stop him with a wall of force will work, however.

 

[jgsugden]

From 3.5 SRD, Golems :
Immunity to Magic (Ex): Golems have immunity to most magical and supernatural effects, except when otherwise noted.

Then, in each individual golem description :
Immunity to Magic (Ex): A […] golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance.

Again 3.5 SRD, Resilient Sphere :
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Then, it may be inferred that Resilient Sphere 'acts upon the golem', since it allows SR.

If you need a role playing 'justification' for why this spell should *not* work on golems: The spell aims at the golem and then creates the sphere a certain distance from the golem. If the spell can not aim at the golem, it can not figure out where to make the sphere.

The 3.0 version of wall of force did not have this problem, but those days are over. No spherical wall of force anymore.