Status of the ethereal spells

[Valefort]

Etherealness and Ethereal Jaunt, mechanically they prevent you from being attacked directly.

But what do these spells do ? Do they transport you in the ethereal plane or are they sanctuary spells ? A clear ruling would be welcome, thanks !

[Passiflora]

They were supposed to be changed for 'sanctuary' if they're not.

I'd also like to know exactly what's going on with this -clearly-, because they can't really bring you in the ethereal plane, as you can't pass walls in nwn2 with this spell.

If Novus or a senior DM could awnser this with a definitive awnser, as my own view was from staff discussion from... two or three years ago, It'd be fun.





As for the discussion from the past about etherealness, I can bring up a small sumary of what was decided.


-Etherealness spells were supposed to -all- be replaced with greater sanctuary spells, as by the staff's decision.

-One or two ethereal spells were forgotten.

-No one spoke about it for a while, and they never got their names changed.

That was pretty much it.

[Heartfilia]

Also once the status of the spells is clarified we should ask about what this means. Sanctuary basically puts the caster under a veil, and cannot be attacked unless the attacker has significant will to overcome his desire not to do so.

That being said, Dimensional Anchor/Lock would not stop you from using these spells like they stop Ethereal spells. Does dimensional lock stop these spells mechanically or is this just an RP concern?

[Deathgrowl]

I'd also like to know exactly what's going on with this -clearly-, because they can't really bring you in the ethereal plane, as you can't pass walls in nwn2 with this spell.

... I mean... So what if you can't walk through walls? It should still be Etherealness. If a player wants to RP it as walking through walls, they need a DM. Who can say "sorry, warded". Otherwise they can't. But at least it is somewhat lore appropriate, then.

[PeeHell]

All that spell changing is great, unless you play a Red Wizard with the school of transmutation and count on the spell ,and it enhanced duration due to Spell power and what it'S suposed to do.

Perhaps mechanically you can't walk throught doors/walls, but Rply, during events, you could?

Also, you can'T set fields on fire with fireball spell, mechanically,but you can if supervised by a Dm during an event.

I think you can make a compromise without screwing that school (and Red Wizards of that school of magic) further more.

[7threalm]

I do not know what they do, I just know the sound they make when I run away,

[ohboy007]

They were supposed to be changed for 'sanctuary' if they're not.

I'd also like to know exactly what's going on with this -clearly-, because they can't really bring you in the ethereal plane, as you can't pass walls in nwn2 with this spell.

If Novus or a senior DM could awnser this with a definitive awnser, as my own view was from staff discussion from... two or three years ago, It'd be fun.





As for the discussion from the past about etherealness, I can bring up a small sumary of what was decided.


-Etherealness spells were supposed to -all- be replaced with greater sanctuary spells, as by the staff's decision.

-One or two ethereal spells were forgotten.

-No one spoke about it for a while, and they never got their names changed.

That was pretty much it.

That's pretty much what I got out of it. I veiwed it as a sanctuary spell.

PS bug: Do not use it in with invisibility on and the other person can see through invisibility. You will remain targetable.

I did have one DM that I believe treated it as a ethereal spell because he had the NPC cast dimensional anchor on my sorc to prevent her from going ethereal, or at least teleporting. To be clear, I'm not sure that's what he was going for but as you can see, it will be important to make these distinctions when certain situations are brought to characters. Some even take issue with the fact you can use dominate attacks, and a few other "offensive" spells, while staying concealed. Be nice to get a ruling on that as well.

[Valefort]

*bump* Heartfilia noticed the NPC guards react as if they don't see you when your character is under sanctuary.

Are these spells some kind of invisibility+sanctuary ?

[Heartfilia]

*bump* Heartfilia noticed the NPC guards react as if they don't see you when your character is under sanctuary.

Are these spells some kind of invisibility+sanctuary ?

Also quite curious about this! I hate not knowing what I'm supposed to RP.

[Silver_Lining]

I would very much like a staff member to clarify this please.

I recently ran into a PC who ran up to my PC and cast buffs on her then ran away. (I did not know at the time that she had an ethereal spell cast on her. )


My PC got angry, b/c she doesn't allow just anyone to cast on her, and she was never asked if this was something she wanted to allow, it was just done to her then the pc ran off.

The player then sent me a tell saying 'first off, I can't see them b/c they're ethereal'.

I explained that if they are in the ethereal realm, nor could they be casting on my pc. You can't cast on people across planes.

Then the player said that the spell is treated like sanctuary here.

Casting on an unwilling recipient, to me, weather intended as such or not, can be taken as a hostile action. a) you can't preform hostile actions against anyone while in sanctuary or the sanctuary ends immediately and b) if it was just a sanctuary spell (under the mechanics of Ethereal) that I most certainly can see them b/c you can see people with the sanctuary spell on them.

I would very much like to know how the staff would like us to handle this spell.
If this is supposed to be sanctuary perhaps we can have it renamed in the game so it's clear, with a clear definition of how it is to be used and what can/can not be done while under this spell to others, and if in fact, you can be seen..

This would be a HUGE help should this situation ever again arise..

[DM Narshe]

Even "nonhostile" spells such as buffs can be resisted either through saves or spell resistance. NWN2 doesn't support those mechanics, but you're welcome to roll dice for it ingame if you wanted.

[NegInfinity]

I explained that if they are in the ethereal realm, nor could they be casting on my pc. You can't cast on people across planes.

Well, you can, but that requires metamagic feat ("transdimensional spell", page 84) that is not implemented here.

Maybe it would make sense to change the spell back, so it isn't a sanctuary anymore, but a proper etherealness? Doesn't really matter if you can't pass through the walls, it could be explained as local magical disturbance of sorts.

[Valkyrie]

Will the Spotter Script affect the new Sanctuary spells? And can we expect randomly assigned NPC True Seeing to thwart the spells?

[Aelcar]

Will the Spotter Script affect the new Sanctuary spells? And can we expect randomly assigned NPC True Seeing to thwart the spells?

No, and no.

In particular, there is currently only one place on the server with mobs that can see and attack ethereal characters: the road to Darkhold. And I think it was removed, or it will be, because it's ill advised.

[DM Setanta]

Magic missile and other force spells are supposed to effect creatures on the ethereal plane as well. Making the whole thing even more complicated.