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Druid and Ranger "Charm Person or Mammal"

LemernisLemernis Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
in General Discussion (Spoiler Warning!)
Does this spell really work on people? Or does the target usually make the save against it? I have a game going with Faldorn, and it occurred to me that I've never really tried using this spell on humanoids. Is it a waste of a spell slot? (Other than for animals, I guess; because having a bear help out in a wilderness fight could certainly be an asset.)

Comments

  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    edited March 2014
    In general I'd say people tend to save against it.

    Its not really that big of a waste since there isn't much else to choose from, but I wouldn't expect to get much use out of it.

    One good thing is that it is the longest lasting charm spell (apart from control undead).
  • bbearbbear Member Posts: 1,180
    The target gets a save bonus +3 from this charm spell and the casting time is long. It's worthwhile when everyone is neutral, but not when battle has already started.
  • lunarlunar Member Posts: 3,460
    I use it at low levels with Jaheira. It is equivelant to a charm person, that can also affect wolves and bears. Pretty handy. Other 2nd level spells are rubbish, really. Barkskin has a very short duration. I generally have lots of antidote potions and bhaal power so no slow poison. Charm spell has a long casting time but it is doable. I succesfully charmed gnolls and flinds and their ilk with it. Won't be effective on some enemies like dread/vampiric wolves, ogres, wyverns, or undead of any sort.

    Does it work on huge/giant spiders? No, they are not mammals. BUT they are animals, so I always thought ranger charm animal ability should affect them. Never tried though. Maybe game thinks they are monsters instead of animals. Afterall, real animal spiders are usually harmless.
  • ZaknafeinBaenreZaknafeinBaenre Member Posts: 349
    In BG1 I also use it on bears plus the bears come in handy with those random hordes of knolls and bandits. It's pretty satisfying watching a charmed bear maul a bandit into an explosion of gore. Gives you that "yea" feeling.

    In BG2 it's completely worthless in combat and there aren't too many situations where you are charming neutral people, but when you do, you can use ring of human influence for that
  • ZaknafeinBaenreZaknafeinBaenre Member Posts: 349
    That wouldn't be a fake account, it would be a "double-like" account, which I wholeheartedly support for such deserving insight !
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    jackjack said:

    I use it on Bears because I feel bad killing them :(

    I kind of wonder if anyone has used bears to take out a certain Drow (assuming there are any on the map), and no I'm not talking about Werebears...

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