Adjustments to Turning

[Wolfgar]

Is turning affected by anything? In the DMG p 66 it mentions evil areas and temples making it harder to turn undead. But what about other dice adjustments? Would a luck stone give the cleric a bonus to turn? If an undead was in possession of a luck stone or a ring of protection would that reduce its chance of being turned? Would casting Bless, Chant or Prayer first before attempting to turn make it easier to turn?

More specifically since Paavo is a "Fate Reaver" and has +2 on all saves does that make it harder for evil priests to turn him?

[venger]

There are only a couple places in the campaign world evil enough for undead to receive a bonus vs. turning.

I think a reverse application of the the UA Ceremony spell could unconsecrate ground and make it more difficult to turn things.

And I'd say likewise there are some good aligned areas where an evil cleric would have similar difficulty turning a paladin or controlling undead.

Otherwise no, no bonuses apply vs turning. It just is what it is.

***And yes, I'm going to try to turn you!

[Wolfgar]

How do they know Paavo is a paladin or even which one is Paavo? Does his fame proceed him? Or is his goodness palpable?

[venger]

Oct 3, 2011 14:39:56 GMT -5 Wolfgar said:

How do they know Paavo is a paladin or even which one is Paavo? Does his fame proceed him? Or is his goodness palpable?

I gave that some consideration awhile back-

1) The Heroes of Willowsby have developed some local fame. Paavo hasn't been shy about announcing himself for Ukko.
2) Cathbad was your prisoner for a time.
3) Paavo turns undead and carries a two-handed sword.
4) Paavo generates a PfE 10' radius at all times which is easily recognizable to undead and lower planar creatures.

[Wolfgar]

I don't have a problem with someone attempting to turn Paavo if it makes sense that they would know that he is a paladin. Especially if the Patriarch wants to spend a round standing still while Paavo's friends wail on him. None of the other clerics should be high enough level to have any effect.

[venger]

It's a fair point. I don't really have a mechanism with which to measure your notoriety but I'm comfortable with the Aldagmorons recognizing you guys as local heroes.

Paavo turns as a vampire (hah), so it's not the best odds anyway.

[Ginger]

Maybe the clerics notice that he has suspiciously few magic items.

[Wolfgar]

Can the effects of turning on a paladin be countered by remove fear or dispel magic?

[venger]

I don't think so. The only thing I can give you would be DMG. pg 66 "Counter-Affecting." A good-aligned cleric could un-Turn Paavo.

[Wolfgar]

Thanks. I didn't recall that. Unfortunately Paavo now turns as a lich which means Dan would need a 19 to counter-turn him. Though I guess if Moram is around he would have to be turned before Paavo could be turned. I guess Dariel and the Lions of Mitra can also be turned. Dariel would count as special but the Lions would be the same range as Paavo since they have 10 hit dice. Not sure about Holomir.

[venger]

So if all three paladins were the same level would I roll a d12 to turn them all?

Dariel can't be turned. He falls under the exception to Special by dint of his -6 AC.

[Wolfgar]

Yep. Same as if there were three liches.

[Wolfgar]

Does it matter that paladins are not the same as Lions of Mitra?

Another example: if you had three huecavas (FF p 51) and four wights, would you have to turn them separately or could you turn them all at the same time?

[Dead Greyhawk]

Tricky question.

So sayeth the DMG:

There is also an exceptional case where turning may be practiced more than once by each and every cleric concerned. This occurs in cases where multiple forms of creatures subject to turning are involved. If the cleric attempting the turning is successful against any or all types within the group of multiple forms of undead, that type or multiple types, to the maximum number indicated by the dice roll or otherwise indicated by the rules, are turned, and on the next round the cleric so successful may attempt to turn other undead of the group. This process may continue as long as each successive attempt is successful and the cleric lives. Undead so turned (from the group of multiple types) are lowest hit dice types to highest hit dice types, i.e. first listed to last listed an the table. Any failure to turn undead disallows a further attempt by the same cleric.

The part about "any or all" and "lowest hit dice to highest hit dice" implies, imnsho, that btb you would turn creatures of equivalent HD at the same time.

Of course, the DMG then says:

If the undead are in a mixed group - for example, 1 vampire, 3 ghosts, and 8 ghouls - you may opt to disallow any turning or other effect if the most powerful member - in the example above, the vampire - is not affected by the cleric. Naturally, this rule applies only to groups of mixed undead where the lesser are following or serving the greater.

The relationship between the Lions of Mitra and the paladins may be more important than their relative HD.