JeminiZero
2012-05-22, 07:28 AM
Comprehensive Wording of Mark of Justice and Geas-Quest
Lets say for a moment that you found yourself in Roy's position (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0295.html): You have an incredibly cunning, ruthless, and dangerous criminal (lets say a Rogue/Wizard/Unseen Seer with maxed skills and reasonable spell access). And you want to/are forced to bring along this criminal with the rest of your party. You have the options of casting Mark of Justice (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/markOfJustice.htm) (henceforth abbreviated to MoJ) and/or Geas-Quest (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/geasQuest.htm) (henceforth abbreviated to GQ) on said criminal (assume that these spells are cast at a caster level so high that the criminal cannot possibly remove these spells himself).
However, you are ALSO reliant on this criminal to actually fight for you, and bluff/spy on/steal from your enemies. Hence you cannot create blanket restrictions (e.g. do not attack any creature). How would you word the conditions of these spells so as to minimize the chances of said Criminal subverting his parole, without entirely crippling his offensive capacity? (For the purposes of wording, we use the term Very Important Persons (VIPs) to indicate any member of the party.)
Note the slight difference between MoJ and GQ: MoJ takes the form of behaviour (e.g. lying) that will trigger the mark. When translated to GQ, these instead become "do-not" restrictions (e.g. do not lie). Also, GQ is more open ended and allows positive orders (e.g. always tell the truth) as well.
Mark of Justice (Behaviour that will trigger the mark)
*Being more than 1 mile from any one VIP (rather than all VIPs, in case the party has to split up)
*Communicating any untruths to any VIP (we use communicate instead of just "speak" to cover writing and telepathy)
*Stealing from any VIP
*Attacking any VIP
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to attack any VIP
*Using an effect with NO saving throw (some abilities have multiple different effects, with some effects having a save), from any ability (defined as any spell, spell-like ability, psionic power, psi-like ability, supernatural ability or extraordinary ability), to target a VIP, or that includes a VIP within its area, UNLESS the effect only affects willing creatures (e.g. Dimension Door).
*Using an effect WITH a saving throw, from any ability, which results in any VIP ATTEMPTING to save (hence excluding effects which VIPs willingly accept with no save attempt e.g. a wanted plane shift).
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to use an effect with NO saving throw from any ability, to target a VIP, or that includes a VIP within its area, UNLESS the effect only affects willing creatures.
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to use an effect WITH a saving throw, from any ability, which results in any VIP ATTEMPTING to save
*This mark can also be triggered by a command word (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0569.html)
Geas-Quest
*(As above, but rephrased as Do-Not-XYZ. Because GQ is more open ended, you can also add the further exception to some of the above: "unless explicitly ordered to do so by the VIP in question").
*Take no action(s) contrary to the goals of the VIPs or, if that should not be possible, then take the action(s) least contrary to said goals.
*Take all reasonable steps to prevent the establishment or perpetuation of untruths upon the VIPs
*Always answer the questions of any VIP to the best of your knowledge.
*Obey the orders of a VIP to the best of your ability.
Any potential loopholes/suggestions?
Lets say for a moment that you found yourself in Roy's position (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0295.html): You have an incredibly cunning, ruthless, and dangerous criminal (lets say a Rogue/Wizard/Unseen Seer with maxed skills and reasonable spell access). And you want to/are forced to bring along this criminal with the rest of your party. You have the options of casting Mark of Justice (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/markOfJustice.htm) (henceforth abbreviated to MoJ) and/or Geas-Quest (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/geasQuest.htm) (henceforth abbreviated to GQ) on said criminal (assume that these spells are cast at a caster level so high that the criminal cannot possibly remove these spells himself).
However, you are ALSO reliant on this criminal to actually fight for you, and bluff/spy on/steal from your enemies. Hence you cannot create blanket restrictions (e.g. do not attack any creature). How would you word the conditions of these spells so as to minimize the chances of said Criminal subverting his parole, without entirely crippling his offensive capacity? (For the purposes of wording, we use the term Very Important Persons (VIPs) to indicate any member of the party.)
Note the slight difference between MoJ and GQ: MoJ takes the form of behaviour (e.g. lying) that will trigger the mark. When translated to GQ, these instead become "do-not" restrictions (e.g. do not lie). Also, GQ is more open ended and allows positive orders (e.g. always tell the truth) as well.
Mark of Justice (Behaviour that will trigger the mark)
*Being more than 1 mile from any one VIP (rather than all VIPs, in case the party has to split up)
*Communicating any untruths to any VIP (we use communicate instead of just "speak" to cover writing and telepathy)
*Stealing from any VIP
*Attacking any VIP
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to attack any VIP
*Using an effect with NO saving throw (some abilities have multiple different effects, with some effects having a save), from any ability (defined as any spell, spell-like ability, psionic power, psi-like ability, supernatural ability or extraordinary ability), to target a VIP, or that includes a VIP within its area, UNLESS the effect only affects willing creatures (e.g. Dimension Door).
*Using an effect WITH a saving throw, from any ability, which results in any VIP ATTEMPTING to save (hence excluding effects which VIPs willingly accept with no save attempt e.g. a wanted plane shift).
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to use an effect with NO saving throw from any ability, to target a VIP, or that includes a VIP within its area, UNLESS the effect only affects willing creatures.
*Allowing any creature under your command, or any creatures under their command, to use an effect WITH a saving throw, from any ability, which results in any VIP ATTEMPTING to save
*This mark can also be triggered by a command word (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0569.html)
Geas-Quest
*(As above, but rephrased as Do-Not-XYZ. Because GQ is more open ended, you can also add the further exception to some of the above: "unless explicitly ordered to do so by the VIP in question").
*Take no action(s) contrary to the goals of the VIPs or, if that should not be possible, then take the action(s) least contrary to said goals.
*Take all reasonable steps to prevent the establishment or perpetuation of untruths upon the VIPs
*Always answer the questions of any VIP to the best of your knowledge.
*Obey the orders of a VIP to the best of your ability.
Any potential loopholes/suggestions?