And is also really confusing.
"..under absolute control of the caster.
.....
The player (not the character) has the choice to use or not use per-day skills and spells while under the effect of Corrupt, and will use magic items based on the orders they are given."
So I am under absolute control, but I can choose to use spells or not, but I have to use my one shot life items as Corrupt spells if instructed?
Player choice? What do you choose when told "serve me to the best of your ability."?
This is not even close to the first reference to player choice in the rule book. I've seen it on various command/greater command effects over the years, on mental abilities, on gypsy curses (at various points in the past), resurrection, etc. The concept that the player can make decisions that are inconsistent with character decisions, for the purpose of customer service, has been a staple of the game for decades.
Per the ARB 2.0 v09.fAs to the last point, no you don't, because spells cast in items aren't reversible. If you have a life item, it is only a life item and not a Corrupt item. As to the more general point, though, assuming one-shot items still exist in 2.0 (I haven't looked into the rules carefully enough to know one way or another), yes you do. Your build purchased skills are fully optional use. Your magic items aren't.
-MS
- Command: After several years of text updates and clarifications to make the intent clear and remove loopholes, Charm is updated to state that the specific commands which the ARB 1.2 Dominate can be used for may not be refused by the subject of a Charm. This makes Dominate duplicative and results in its removal. Finally, Command effects no longer override each other. This restores the original intent of spells like Shun (which are currently used as a substitute for Awaken).
This effect makes the victim subject to specific commands of the person who administered the effect. For the elixir, it would be the person who administered the elixir, which would include placing it within food or drink, even if that person is not in view at the time.
The target of a Dominate will not attack the person who administered the Dominate while it is in effect. The administrator can give the target multiple commands within the ten minute period, but the victim will only follow the last one given.
While following these commands the target is in a trance and performs the last order until that order has been completed. Afterward the target will stand and await the next order.
After ten minutes (or after the effect is countered), the victim comes out of the trance and acts as normal, and has full knowledge that he or she was dominated and what was done during that time.
While dominated, the victim must perform actions to the best of his or her ability and knowledge, including the use of spells and skills. The victim does not have the ability to pick and choose less effective abilities to use,nor may they choose to not perform certain commands due to their personality or race. For example, if the victim knows that the person who Dominated them is undead, and that person commands the victim to heal them, they will not only cast necromancy on that person but will not be able to choose to use less powerful spells if they have more powerful ones available that are needed. Similarly, if a Flame Elemental Dominated someone, and that character knew that Flame Elementals are healed by Flame, they would do their best to use Flame to heal the Elemental if commanded.
The victim can defend themselves from any attackers, but if the caster attacks the victim the Dominate effect ends.
This effect can be removed by an Awaken, a Break Command, a Dispel, or a Purify. Note as well that only one Command effect may be active on the victim at any one time. The most recent Command effect takes precedence. This spell is not strong enough to override any Greater Command effect such as Enslavement.
The death of the administrator will not necessarily end the Dominate. For instance, Darlissa is Dominated to Vorin who commands her to heal him. She stands behind him and throws healing into him as he needs it in battle. Vorin is killed by Rendal, and Darlissa immediately throws a Life spell at Vorin and then heals him up. Vorin’s death did not stop the Domination.
This spell only works on creatures that have a mind as defined by the game. Many creatures (such as lesser undead, golems or insects) do not have a mind that can be affected by this effect. The only valid commands that a caster can give a target while they are dominated are listed below. Note that the wording of a command does not need to exactly match the following but it should be similar enough to it so that the target can understand what is meant.
Defend me: The target must protect the caster from all attacks to the best of their ability, even if it requires using spells and magic items. During this time, the target will not attack anyone who is not attacking them or the caster.
Follow me: The target must follow the caster. The target will not attack anyone who is not attacking them.
Give your to me: The target must give the named item to the caster.
Heal me: The target must make every attempt to heal or Life the caster. During this time the target will not attack anyone and will do everything possible, including fighting their allies, to prevent the healing from being stopped.
Return to normal: This command ends the Dominate effect.
People are really missing the biggest issue with this spell, It is a Full Heal. The first in the game. NPCs can have 1000s of body. And now can be full healed repeatedly by nercomancers. Sit back and think about how powerful this spell really can be in the hands of someone wanted to really abuse it.
I think one of my biggest issue with corrupt is that you are not visibly undead. It will result in many resses that could have been easily fixed. And its pvp applications are insane, or if you have a really cruel plot.
Consider these:
"X person needs a life spell" "I got it!" Casts corrupt over life, tells person act normal, ask for no healing. Person dusts randomly 10 mins later.
Hit someone with a corrupt, "Run west" Enjoy the res.
Corrupt someone. Act normal, Go assault Noble Z while calling him an oppressor of the people. Person looks normal, attacks noble, could easily go undetected and ruins the character IG rep.
Corrupt person, Go into your warded cabin and bring out any formal scrolls, components, coin, or chests.
Why does corrupt kill a living thing and turn it undead but a life hitting a corrupt does nothing? They are reserves of each other, why not have life pop a corrupt right back to alive?
People are really missing the biggest issue with this spell, It is a Full Heal. The first in the game. NPCs can have 1000s of body. And now can be full healed repeatedly by nercomancers. Sit back and think about how powerful this spell really can be in the hands of someone wanted to really abuse it.
It also has writing issues. "They retain the same intelligence and knowledge as the original creature, but operate without any memory of their living state. " This is a flat paradox. Edit: To clarify, I assume this should read 'the same intelligence and game skills' not knowledge, but the text is unclear.
Well, no. There's also the (largely NPC) ability of Renew. Which also refreshes your skills, I believe.People are really missing the biggest issue with this spell, It is a Full Heal. The first in the game. NPCs can have 1000s of body. And now can be full healed repeatedly by nercomancers. Sit back and think about how powerful this spell really can be in the hands of someone wanted to really abuse it.
Per the ARB 2.0 v09.f
"Enchant - When a reversible spell is activated out of an Enchant, either version may be activated no matter which version was put into the Enchant (e.g. a Life spell put into an Enchant may be activated as either a Life or Corrupt)."
Well, no. There's also the (largely NPC) ability of Renew. Which also refreshes your skills, I believe.
Sure but an npc might have one of those for themselves, this is a 9th spell which a big bad could have 10+ of for their minions or self in a pinch.
I may need to go back to notes, but one of the things I thought the owners asked to be tested was a change to both Create Undead and Corrupt to pause counts upon effect, including death/resurrection/etc. That appears to be the intent of the "restore to the status prior to the spell" line.
If that is accurate, does that change people's opinions?
...implies that the death counter is still running.This means that if during the five minute Death Countdown the creature is reduced to 0 Body Points and then given a Life spell, they will reawaken alive but with no knowledge of their time spent as Undead.
I may need to go back to notes, but one of the things I thought the owners asked to be tested was a change to both Create Undead and Corrupt to pause counts upon effect, including death/resurrection/etc. That appears to be the intent of the "restore to the status prior to the spell" line.