[RPG] Can a wizard use offensive spells and effects from inside a Resilient Sphere

pathfinder-1espells

There are plenty of discussions and chats throughout the internet of how Resilient Sphere spell works etc.

You can read that:

  1. The sphere functions as a wall of force
  2. It can be negated by dispel magic
  3. Inside the sphere subject can breathe normally
  4. The sphere cannot be physically moved either by people outside it or by the struggles of those within
  5. Spells cannot pass through a wall of force in either direction, although dimension door, teleport, and similar effects can bypass the barrier
  6. Gaze attacks can operate through a wall of force.

One of my players' characters frequently uses Resilient Sphere spell which makes him in game terms a godlike creature. Inside the Sphere he casts Summon Monster spells, uses psionics, etc. I am just trying to figure out what exactly he can do inside the sphere.

What about offensive mind affecting spells such as Phantasmal Killer, Suggestion, Charm Person, Hold Person, Lock Gaze, or sonic spells such as Wail of the Banshee?

Is it a question of Line of Effect / Line of Sight rules?

What types of spells and effects (hex, gaze attacks etc.) can be used by a wizard in offensive way through a Resilient Sphere?

Best Answer

Not many.

Since Resilient Sphere is essentially a spherical wall of force, and wall of force breaks line of effect, you cannot cast through it. Any spells targeting an enemy through the sphere fizzle.

Summon monster should not be able to summon anything outside of the sphere. The caster needs line of effect to the point where the monster will be summoned, and resilient sphere prevents this.1

Psionics, if they count as spells, also cannot pass through, unless they specifically ignore line of effect (I don't have the occult book so I don't know much about Pathfinder psionics).

Hexes are a gray area. There is very little information on how they interact with magic, other than them being supernatural abilities. Since they should still follow the general magic rules, I believe they must also have line of effect.

Gaze attacks are specifically called out as working through wall of force, but I don't know of a way to gain a gaze attack off the top of my head. There are no spells that qualify as gaze attacks, either, as far as I know.


1 This is debatable, but probably how I would rule it. The question is, is this spell similar at all to teleport or dimension door? It could be considered either. On one hand, you are designating a location, just like Dimension Door. On the other hand, the range is much shorter. The major difference is, Dimension Door targets you, and you are already inside the sphere.