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).
41
questions
19
votes
4
answers
3k
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; ...
- 45.2k
9
votes
1
answer
208
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 ...
- 193
8
votes
1
answer
374
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, ...
- 691
4
votes
1
answer
291
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 ...
- 691
2
votes
2
answers
314
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 &...
- 21
3
votes
0
answers
117
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 ...
- 5,969
9
votes
3
answers
928
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 ...
- 671
8
votes
2
answers
384
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 ...
1
vote
2
answers
535
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 ...
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 ...
- 4,309
11
votes
2
answers
1k
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?
5
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 600
5
votes
1
answer
82
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 ...
- 21.7k
3
votes
1
answer
752
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 ...
- 284
4
votes
1
answer
262
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 ...
- 297
-1
votes
2
answers
554
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 ...
- 4,171
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 40k
2
votes
3
answers
349
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 ...
- 4,171
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, ...
- 61
5
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
9
votes
2
answers
443
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 ...
user62407
9
votes
1
answer
560
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 ...
user62407
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 ...
- 10.8k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 4,171
7
votes
3
answers
4k
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 ...
- 143
7
votes
3
answers
6k
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 ...
- 7,614
2
votes
2
answers
5k
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 ...
- 4,171
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 ...
- 6,339
5
votes
1
answer
258
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 ...
- 21.4k
29
votes
7
answers
8k
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 ...
- 77.7k
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 ...
- 1,245
7
votes
2
answers
821
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 ...
- 3,914
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.
- 4,355
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 ...
- 2,830
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 ...
user47897
6
votes
1
answer
925
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 ...
- 25.3k
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 ...
- 635
3
votes
1
answer
20k
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 ...
- 2,180
10
votes
3
answers
67k
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 ...
- 8,432
16
votes
3
answers
9k
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 ...
- 3,274
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 ...
- 1,096