Demonic Spoon
2011-04-27, 05:12 PM
So, I'm not sure how this works.
Based on my own interpretation, it sounds like the affected creature is magically compelled to do whatever the Geas tells them to. The negative effects only come into play if the subject is physically incapable of following the Geas (locked in a room). The creature does not have a choice in the matter.
However, I looked around on the internet, and some places seemed to have a consensus that a person can just choose to ignore the Geas and eat the (very, very minor) penalties which, in addition to being at odds with what it says in the PHB (at least my interpretation), makes the spell crap.
Which is it?
Bonus question: What types of tasks are timed on the Geas, and which types of tasks are permanent (until finished). If I wanted to, for example, Geas some poor bastard to serve me by finding me sources of black onyx, I'd have to keep reapplying the Geas or specify some amount of black onyx that, after being collected, would free him from the Geas?
Bonus Question 2: Why are the penalties for Lesser Geas much more impressive than the penalties for Geas? 3d6 damage/day and sickening vs a cumulative stat penalty that compounds daily?!
Thanks!
Based on my own interpretation, it sounds like the affected creature is magically compelled to do whatever the Geas tells them to. The negative effects only come into play if the subject is physically incapable of following the Geas (locked in a room). The creature does not have a choice in the matter.
However, I looked around on the internet, and some places seemed to have a consensus that a person can just choose to ignore the Geas and eat the (very, very minor) penalties which, in addition to being at odds with what it says in the PHB (at least my interpretation), makes the spell crap.
Which is it?
Bonus question: What types of tasks are timed on the Geas, and which types of tasks are permanent (until finished). If I wanted to, for example, Geas some poor bastard to serve me by finding me sources of black onyx, I'd have to keep reapplying the Geas or specify some amount of black onyx that, after being collected, would free him from the Geas?
Bonus Question 2: Why are the penalties for Lesser Geas much more impressive than the penalties for Geas? 3d6 damage/day and sickening vs a cumulative stat penalty that compounds daily?!
Thanks!