Daishain
2014-07-22, 09:24 AM
Greetings, I'm running through my first 3.5 campaign, and our DM is a little inexperienced as well, so we're not sure of the answer to this
Our party is in a position such that kidnapping a certain well protected public official would greatly advance our goals. My research into possible plans of action led to this question.
The mark's residence is protected by various magical wards and effects, not to mention guards. They are tight enough to make slipping in and out with him to be more than a little difficult. When out in the city, he is protected by a squad of bodyguards, including a pair of spellcasters. Our party wouldn't have too much trouble engaging them in a smash and grab, but couldn't do it fast enough to avoid getting slammed in turn by the city guard/army, and the mark pretty much never leaves the city. We're also hoping to avoid having our names and faces associated with the kidnapping. My character, a cerebromancer that specializes in telepathy, illusions, and various forms of crowd control, is the only primary caster we've got.
The basic plan we've got is as follows: According to our rogue's information gathering checks, one of the mark's bodyguards is known to spend his nights at a particular brothel. He's also known for being exceptionally loyal, if somewhat dimwitted. So we kidnap the poor sap and interrogate him by magical means. Following which I manifest true mind switch followed by imprison (via power stone and scroll, I'm not that high level) Now inhabiting the bodyguard's body, and with my old body and the bodyguard's mind safely tucked away, I should be able to waltz right in the front door. There's a check for active mind altering and polymorph effects, but this involves neither. Between the information gleaned from interrogation, what the rogue was able to pick up, and a high bluff skill, I should be able to blend in without arousing suspicion. I wait until being called up to accompany the mark out into the city, which usually happens once a day. Get close to the mark, cast the silent and stilled version of Teleport, and both of us "poof" off to a location I know well where my party is waiting for us with flying mounts. Upon subduing the very surprised subject, we haul a** to a prepared location that should be quite difficult to find by either magical or mundane means.
The catch, and the reason for this thread, is the rules as written for the spell teleport. Technically, teleport only works on willing subjects. This makes a great deal of sense for combat mechanics, otherwise a flying character could repeatedly "poof" opponents 500 feet into the air and watch them go splat. However, this is out of combat, and while the subject would not be particularly willing to go on an unscheduled trip, is not on his guard, has no idea a spell of any sort is being cast prior to it taking effect, and trusts the person casting the spell implicitly (if mistaken about actual identity). Would it make a difference if the subject was first rendered unconscious? I could probably convince our DM to just houserule it in, but I would rather stick to a plan that isn't too far off from the RAI and the way magic is supposed to work. How would you guys rule on this?
Also, if you think of an alternative neat way to pull this off that doesn't smell too much like brie, please share, especially if it relies on my character a little less. We've got time and probably another level to prepare, and I prefer to avoid stealing the spotlight too much.
Our party is in a position such that kidnapping a certain well protected public official would greatly advance our goals. My research into possible plans of action led to this question.
The mark's residence is protected by various magical wards and effects, not to mention guards. They are tight enough to make slipping in and out with him to be more than a little difficult. When out in the city, he is protected by a squad of bodyguards, including a pair of spellcasters. Our party wouldn't have too much trouble engaging them in a smash and grab, but couldn't do it fast enough to avoid getting slammed in turn by the city guard/army, and the mark pretty much never leaves the city. We're also hoping to avoid having our names and faces associated with the kidnapping. My character, a cerebromancer that specializes in telepathy, illusions, and various forms of crowd control, is the only primary caster we've got.
The basic plan we've got is as follows: According to our rogue's information gathering checks, one of the mark's bodyguards is known to spend his nights at a particular brothel. He's also known for being exceptionally loyal, if somewhat dimwitted. So we kidnap the poor sap and interrogate him by magical means. Following which I manifest true mind switch followed by imprison (via power stone and scroll, I'm not that high level) Now inhabiting the bodyguard's body, and with my old body and the bodyguard's mind safely tucked away, I should be able to waltz right in the front door. There's a check for active mind altering and polymorph effects, but this involves neither. Between the information gleaned from interrogation, what the rogue was able to pick up, and a high bluff skill, I should be able to blend in without arousing suspicion. I wait until being called up to accompany the mark out into the city, which usually happens once a day. Get close to the mark, cast the silent and stilled version of Teleport, and both of us "poof" off to a location I know well where my party is waiting for us with flying mounts. Upon subduing the very surprised subject, we haul a** to a prepared location that should be quite difficult to find by either magical or mundane means.
The catch, and the reason for this thread, is the rules as written for the spell teleport. Technically, teleport only works on willing subjects. This makes a great deal of sense for combat mechanics, otherwise a flying character could repeatedly "poof" opponents 500 feet into the air and watch them go splat. However, this is out of combat, and while the subject would not be particularly willing to go on an unscheduled trip, is not on his guard, has no idea a spell of any sort is being cast prior to it taking effect, and trusts the person casting the spell implicitly (if mistaken about actual identity). Would it make a difference if the subject was first rendered unconscious? I could probably convince our DM to just houserule it in, but I would rather stick to a plan that isn't too far off from the RAI and the way magic is supposed to work. How would you guys rule on this?
Also, if you think of an alternative neat way to pull this off that doesn't smell too much like brie, please share, especially if it relies on my character a little less. We've got time and probably another level to prepare, and I prefer to avoid stealing the spotlight too much.