Tacticslion
2023-06-05, 09:15 PM
After stumbling across a thread that revealed there were some active 1e players still lingering here recently (at least as of 2019, which is like "recently"), I decided to bring this question to this forum, as I don't really know where else to ask. I understand that 1e is a bit of a looser collection of rules than the editions I'm more familiar with, but would still appreciate guidance about these things.
Does anyone know what "beguile" means in the 1AD&D archdevil stat blocks?
It's listed under the powers of every "Arch-devil" in both the MM1 and MM2 - but I have no idea what it really is.
Most everything they have listed is a spell, but "beguile" not - it's not described under "devil," it's not described anywhere else in the MMs, and it doesn't refer to a magic item (unlike "rulership" which explicitly refers to the rod of rulership item; there are so many questions, there, too, but I'll get back to that) and it (with their other abilities) are usable "at will once per turn, or melee round."
I'll show off three examples to clarify what I mean.
First is Asmodeus,
The powers possessed by Asmodeus which are usable at will, once per turn or melee round, are: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, ice storm, wall of ice, continual light, read languages, read magic, detect invisible, locate object, invisibility, dispel magic, hold person, hold monster, shape change, beguile, rulership, mass charm, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, or (fulfill another's) wish. Asmodeus can use the following powers once per day: symbol of pain, symbol of insanity, symbol of hopelessness (save versus magic or submit to Asmodeus' will), (un)holy word. He can always summon 2 lesser or 1 greater devil. The gaze of this arch-fiend causes fear, fear and weakness or chill (slows 50% and -5 on all dice rolls) at his option. Saving throw versus magic applies.
then Baalzebul,
This arch-devil can employ any of the following powers, one at a time, as desired, during a turn or melee round, as applicable: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, continual light, read languages, read magic, detect invisible, locate object, invisibility, dispel magic, shape change, beguile, rulership (as a rod of rulership), hold person, charm monster, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, (fulfill another's) wish. Once per day Baalzebul can use: symbol of pain, symbol of insanity, (un)holy word. He can always summon 1-4 horned devils. His glance causes fear and weakness (saving throw versus magic or collapse in trembling until 1-4 melee rounds after the gaze is lifted) whenever he directly stares at any person.
and finally Dispater,
The following powers are possible at will for Dispater, one at a time per turn or melee round, as applicable: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, light, read magic, read languages, detect invisible, shape change, beguile, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, (fulfill another's) wish.
Also Geryon in the MM1, and the other arch-devils in MM2. This isn't an ability the tanar'ri or anyone else in the MMs have, as far as I can tell.
That's certainly not the only question I have about those, but that bothers me because I can't find anything except maybe a rod of beguiling, but that seems kind of mad. (Also the lack of alphabetization does not help in keeping my sanity.)
Obviously Asmodeus' "rulership" ability isn't clarified, but I feel certain it's a rod of rulership from context of the other arch-devils - though I'd be happy to be proven wrong; and I really don't know how (or even if Gygax expected we should) apply the limits of the rod. Similarly if anyone wants to clarify other things I'm more than happy to listen - I'm not entirely familiar with "raise dead fully" for example, though the gist functions "enough" for me to hum a few bars and fake it: I'm familiar with 2e AD&D (though hardly a master of the system) and I'm sure numerous quirks from 1e still escape me.
Also, does "one at a time" mean, for example, Dispater can have a wall of fire or he could have a geas in effect (one must be extinguished or ended for the other to come online); or does it mean on turn 3 of combat Dispater can use wall of flame, and on turn 4, while the wall of flame was still going he could then use geas safely from the other side of said wall?
And does "(fulfill another's) wish" simply refer to the ability that, when someone else casts the spell wish they are able to grant that as they see fit (presumptively if within "their region" or their area of power or whatever) or that, say, they can grant the expressed desires of another creature once each round (presumptively the other creature may or may not need to say, "I wish..." first)?
Thank you for your help, and God bless you!
Does anyone know what "beguile" means in the 1AD&D archdevil stat blocks?
It's listed under the powers of every "Arch-devil" in both the MM1 and MM2 - but I have no idea what it really is.
Most everything they have listed is a spell, but "beguile" not - it's not described under "devil," it's not described anywhere else in the MMs, and it doesn't refer to a magic item (unlike "rulership" which explicitly refers to the rod of rulership item; there are so many questions, there, too, but I'll get back to that) and it (with their other abilities) are usable "at will once per turn, or melee round."
I'll show off three examples to clarify what I mean.
First is Asmodeus,
The powers possessed by Asmodeus which are usable at will, once per turn or melee round, are: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, ice storm, wall of ice, continual light, read languages, read magic, detect invisible, locate object, invisibility, dispel magic, hold person, hold monster, shape change, beguile, rulership, mass charm, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, or (fulfill another's) wish. Asmodeus can use the following powers once per day: symbol of pain, symbol of insanity, symbol of hopelessness (save versus magic or submit to Asmodeus' will), (un)holy word. He can always summon 2 lesser or 1 greater devil. The gaze of this arch-fiend causes fear, fear and weakness or chill (slows 50% and -5 on all dice rolls) at his option. Saving throw versus magic applies.
then Baalzebul,
This arch-devil can employ any of the following powers, one at a time, as desired, during a turn or melee round, as applicable: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, continual light, read languages, read magic, detect invisible, locate object, invisibility, dispel magic, shape change, beguile, rulership (as a rod of rulership), hold person, charm monster, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, (fulfill another's) wish. Once per day Baalzebul can use: symbol of pain, symbol of insanity, (un)holy word. He can always summon 1-4 horned devils. His glance causes fear and weakness (saving throw versus magic or collapse in trembling until 1-4 melee rounds after the gaze is lifted) whenever he directly stares at any person.
and finally Dispater,
The following powers are possible at will for Dispater, one at a time per turn or melee round, as applicable: pyrotechnics, produce flame, wall of fire, light, read magic, read languages, detect invisible, shape change, beguile, geas, restoration, raise dead fully, (fulfill another's) wish.
Also Geryon in the MM1, and the other arch-devils in MM2. This isn't an ability the tanar'ri or anyone else in the MMs have, as far as I can tell.
That's certainly not the only question I have about those, but that bothers me because I can't find anything except maybe a rod of beguiling, but that seems kind of mad. (Also the lack of alphabetization does not help in keeping my sanity.)
Obviously Asmodeus' "rulership" ability isn't clarified, but I feel certain it's a rod of rulership from context of the other arch-devils - though I'd be happy to be proven wrong; and I really don't know how (or even if Gygax expected we should) apply the limits of the rod. Similarly if anyone wants to clarify other things I'm more than happy to listen - I'm not entirely familiar with "raise dead fully" for example, though the gist functions "enough" for me to hum a few bars and fake it: I'm familiar with 2e AD&D (though hardly a master of the system) and I'm sure numerous quirks from 1e still escape me.
Also, does "one at a time" mean, for example, Dispater can have a wall of fire or he could have a geas in effect (one must be extinguished or ended for the other to come online); or does it mean on turn 3 of combat Dispater can use wall of flame, and on turn 4, while the wall of flame was still going he could then use geas safely from the other side of said wall?
And does "(fulfill another's) wish" simply refer to the ability that, when someone else casts the spell wish they are able to grant that as they see fit (presumptively if within "their region" or their area of power or whatever) or that, say, they can grant the expressed desires of another creature once each round (presumptively the other creature may or may not need to say, "I wish..." first)?
Thank you for your help, and God bless you!