Questions tagged [possession]

For questions primarily about possession in RPGs, the act of taking control of someone's body or mind (usually supernaturally, by an evil spirit of some kind).

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On what initiative order do you act after possessing a creature?

In a ongoing campaign I'm playing a character themed around ghosts and possession. I'll later gain access to the Possession spell. But I don't have a grip on how it's supposed to work regarding ...
Snappie's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
4k views

After a Ghost possesses an armored character, is it basically limited to a single attack per turn with disadvantage?

The Possession trait of the ghost says: Possession (Recharge 6). One humanoid that the ghost can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by the ghost; ...
BlueMoon93's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
471 views

What happens when a character that is currently possessed by a ghost receives a communication via the Sending spell?

I am running a D&D 5e campaign. I'm pretty certain my player will try to contact one character they've met previously through the sending spell. That character is a ghost hunter. It would fit ...
Pepsy's user avatar
  • 193
8 votes
1 answer
562 views

Does the victim of a Carrionette's Soul Swap, get a Carrionette's actions, when it gets control of its body?

The Carrionette listed in Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft, is given a Challenge Rating 1 (!?!) and features a pair of actions which seem very powerful: Silver Needle. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, ...
ProphetZarquon's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
340 views

Can a Carrionette use its Soul Swap on a creature, when it already has control of another creature's body?

The carrionette listed in Van Richten's Guide To Ravenloft, is given a Challenge Rating 1 (!?!) and features a Soul Swap ability that seems very powerful: Targeting a creature within 15 feet that's ...
ProphetZarquon's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
538 views

Can a Magic Jar-possessed body level up?

I was looking over the Magic Jar spell, and there are lots of ways to simulacrum and cheese and clone shenanigans. But I haven't seen this question yet and I was wondering... Simulacrums specifically &...
AvariceDM's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
122 views

What are some alternative methods for running encounters where a PC loses control of their character? [closed]

There are a number of spells and monsters in various fantasy and sci-fi RPGs that can significantly influence a PC's behavior, take control of a PC altogether, or even replace a PC without the ...
ruffdove's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
1k views

Can possession by a ghost be broken with magic circle?

The magic circle spell has the following effect in its description: The creature can't willingly enter the cylinder by nonmagical means. So the theory is that if someone possessed by a ghost is ...
aquavitae's user avatar
  • 857
8 votes
2 answers
501 views

Who do you reach with Sending, when the target's soul is in another body?

Snurgle, a 11th level Necromancer, uses the Magic Jar spell to possess the local parish priest, Father Benedict, trapping poor Benedict's soul in an ornate reliquary. Your body falls into a catatonic ...
Nobody the Hobgoblin's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
710 views

If a PC uses the Magic Jar spell to possess another PC, what happens to their HP?

My Necromancer is a level 13 player character, and he will use the magic jar spell on fellow 13th-level PCs. The issue is that HP for PCs is calculated and based on a class feature (monsters without ...
Unkept Jupiter's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
2k views

How do I handle my possession mechanic fairly?

In my campaign, the goal is to find ten major god-level artifacts, each linked to a specific god in the setting. Each artifact has a part of the soul of the god it’s linked to, and that soul has the ...
Bardic Wizard's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a ghost possess a vampire or any other undead?

In my campaign, I'm planning to have an NPC ghost possess an NPC vampire. Is this even possible?
iamlonelyhellothere's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a cursed artifact that successfully possesses the user attuned to it still use its own properties normally?

In the campaign I'm running, one of the villains is a cursed artifact that could (and did) take control of its user. For an easier time on explaining my problem with those mechanics, I'll simply use ...
ProjectApex's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
89 views

Can an Intellect Devourer use racial abilities while piloting a body?

My specific situation is that an intellect devourer is hiding inside a crystal dragon, hoping to wait until the other gem dragons enter their first dragon sleep in order to use them to help grow its ...
gatherer818's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
843 views

What happens if a kalashtar becomes possessed?

Kalashtar have Quori spirits inside of them. How would the Quori spirit react to being possessed? Eberron: Rising from the Last War says that there can be adverse effects if a kalashtar ends up being ...
Howdy's user avatar
  • 284
4 votes
1 answer
330 views

When using Magic Jar, what effects follow the user across bodies? [closed]

There's a similar question for 3.5e where the answer is 'unanswered', but I'm hoping there's something in 5e that's different. To set an example scene: You're a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer with ...
bowlowl's user avatar
  • 297
-1 votes
2 answers
731 views

Under what conditions can a ghost possessing a creature attune to a magic item?

A ghost can possess people ('humanoids'). It can also go onto the Border Ethereal, phasing between two planes of existence. This means its interaction with physical objects varies based on where it ...
Timm Jimm Grimm's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does a creature that has Possessed a character gain access to the character's feats?

The Possession action, typically found on Ghosts, includes the following description of the effects of successfully possessing a creature: The ghost now controls the body but doesn't deprive the ...
Ifusaso's user avatar
  • 41.8k
2 votes
3 answers
388 views

Does the host or guest own a Familiar cast via a possessing ghost?

Grundy the Grumpy Ghost a (formerly) chaotic evil 1st level wizard makes use of the nearby ritual spell Find Familiar carved in a stone wall. As a ghost he cannot cast such spells, so he takes control ...
Timm Jimm Grimm's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can a ghost possess someone in the material plane while in the ethereal plane?

The possession ability of a ghost (DnD 5e) states that it can possess one humaniod it can see within 5ft. I interpreted that a ghost could use its possession ability from the etherial plane itself, ...
EdGaming's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How does the "willing creature" aspect of the Protection from Evil and Good spell work with a creature that's already possessed?

The following scenario happened in an old game; The DM already made a ruling on the issue, which is fine - but I was curious how the "willing creature" aspect of the protection from evil and good ...
AJ Boucher-Hamilton's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
498 views

If a body possessed by a user of Magic Jar is Feebleminded, and the possessor leaves the host body, who was Feebleminded?

Consider that I am possessing a host using magic jar, and that while I am possessing the host, I am subjected to the feeblemind spell and fail my saving throw. For whatever reason after this, I ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
627 views

If my Simulacrum possesses me via Magic Jar, to whom will my magic items attune?

I have a high level Arcana Cleric/Wizard. Using wish to create a simulacrum, I can have a body double. Since I also took magic jar, my copy knows it, too. I wanted to know what would happen if I ...
user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
4k views

How do Magic Jar and Clone interact?

If I possess a body via Magic Jar, and I cast Clone on myself in the new body, into what body would the clone grow? Would it grow into the body of the creature that I currently possess, at the time ...
Sam Lacrumb's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can a ghost (undead creature) take over a clone body (resultant component from spell)?

Lore wise, spirits, ghosts and demons have powers of ownership & possession - and this translates readily into game mechanics. In fiction-fantasy: ghosts, spirits and demons take over various ...
Timm Jimm Grimm's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
5k views

What happens if you use the Magic Jar spell to possess a creature which has Spellcasting?

I would like to know what happens if you use the Magic Jar spell to possess a creature which is capable of casting spells. Below are 3 different situations. I post all these questions in the same ...
Enderluck's user avatar
  • 143
7 votes
3 answers
7k views

What spells or class abilities can prevent possession by a Ghost?

What spells or class abilities can prevent multiple Ghosts from possessing a character? To set the scene: You find yourself drifting on a raft and can't believe your luck as you come across a rock ...
Senmurv's user avatar
  • 9,354
2 votes
2 answers
6k views

How does a fiend possess a creature? [closed]

Since 1974 fiendish creatures have evolved, gaining and losing many powers and spells down through the ages. Through all of this, the mechanics of possession are ellusive. Please note all editions ...
Timm Jimm Grimm's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can a corpse possessed by a Dybbuk be turned via Turn Undead?

Will Turn Undead work on a corpse possessed by a Dybbuk (a demon listed in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, p. 132)? Background: I thought yes, as the creature is a raised corpse, an undead. However I ...
findusl's user avatar
  • 6,447
5 votes
1 answer
272 views

Is there a 4e magic item or ritual with effects similar to the Magic Jar spell of most other D&D versions?

Magic Jar spell allows possession of another body in most versions of D&D. Is there a magic item or ritual that allows possession in 4e? I tried searching but the only information I could find ...
ZwiQ's user avatar
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29 votes
7 answers
9k views

Does a humanoid possessed by a ghost register as undead to a paladin's Divine Sense?

A Ghost (MM, p. 147) can possess a humanoid as per their Possession action: Possession (Recharge 6). One humanoid that the ghost can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving ...
NathanS's user avatar
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13 votes
2 answers
2k views

What happens when a ghost uses the "Possess" action on a victim of an intellect devourer?

The intellect devourer's Body Thief action states that the Intellect devourer "takes control of the target's body." We know that the victim's body is still alive and counts as a creature. The ghost's ...
Lumenbeing's user avatar
  • 1,255
7 votes
2 answers
865 views

How does ability damage interact with the Possession spell?

Let's say that a wizard casts possession on a bugbear. Now, this bugbear has spent some time in questionable places and has contracted both Filth Fever and Mindfire, the first being a disease causing ...
Snappie's user avatar
  • 4,063
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What magic items give the owner the ability to possess others like the spell Possession?

Are there any items that allow the wielder to possess another as if casting the spell Possession? Pathfinder or D&D 3.5 items are accepted.
JoshuaD's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
5k views

How can I make a possessed character while remaining AL compliant?

I've always loved the idea of possession so I thought what if I made a character that's possessed by something. How can I pull this off without breaking AL rules? My initial idea was to reskin the ...
Mage in the Barrel's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can I use a Magic Jar to share a body?

Magic Jar says You can attempt to possess any humanoid within 100 feet of you that you can see ... The target must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failure, your soul moves into the target's ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why do effects that overcome the willpower of their target use Wisdom, while resisting possession requires Charisma saves? [closed]

The PHB defines WIS as following (excerpt): Wisdom reflects how attuned you are to the world around you and represents perceptiveness and intuition. and CHA like this: Charisma measures your ...
PixelMaster's user avatar
19 votes
4 answers
9k views

Does the Protection from Evil and Good spell protect against the Staff of the Forgotten One from Tomb of Annihilation?

Under the item description of the Staff of the Forgotten One in the ToA Hardcover, we see that a spirit inside the staff might try to possess the wielder: The Protection from Evil and Good spell can ...
Mikko's user avatar
  • 635
3 votes
1 answer
21k views

Removing Ghost possession without a Cleric or Paladin [duplicate]

I have a small group of adventures. One of them is playing Matt Mercer's "Blood Hunter" class also described on Geek & Sundry. A large part of the story for him is hunting undead creatures. One of ...
Jeff's user avatar
  • 2,190
10 votes
3 answers
73k views

Are There Any Mechanics for Removing Possession?

So I'm thinking of a few adventure hooks for my players, and I thought about the possibility of them removing a demon that has possessed a noble. Are there currently any mechanics or rules surrounding ...
Jamie Brace's user avatar
  • 8,442
16 votes
3 answers
10k views

How does Magic Jar possession actually interact with your stats?

Magic Jar lets you possess a creature, potentially permanently. Spell text is: Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the creature though you retain your alignment and your ...
Justin T's user avatar
  • 3,278
6 votes
9 answers
3k views

Is there a way to become immune to Possession all the time?

I'm going to be running an Eberron game soon, and one of the players has expressed an interest in playing one of the Inspired 'gone rogue'. Unfortunately, the rules for Possession of the Inspired are ...
Scrollreader's user avatar
  • 1,134