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Can dragons, demons & liches really be held?

Discussion in 'Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition' started by Eyebreaker7, Dec 9, 2016.

  1. Eyebreaker7

    Eyebreaker7 Someone clean my litter box Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    I'm reading the description of hold monster and it says "1d4 creatures of ANY type"?? Yes they would have a saving throw to resist but can it really work on dragons? Or are they not considered monsters for some reason? It does say undead are not effected so next question is:

    What about hold undead working on named demons or liches? Or are demons & liches not considered undead?
     
    Eyebreaker7, Dec 9, 2016
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  2. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Never really tried hold monster, can't really comment on it. The BG2 spell reference doesn't seem to think much of it, though it doesn't elaborate.

    Same with hold undead, haven't tried it myself, guide says it's pretty bad. Hold undead wouldn't work on liches anyway, as liches are typically immune to lvl 5 spells or less.

    Demons are not undead, they are planar creatures.
     
    henkie, Dec 9, 2016
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  3. xosmi Gems: 20/31
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    No, the hold person spell only works on humanoids that are human-sized or smaller.
    So you can hold orcs, goblins or even a dryad, but not large creatures like ogres or dragons.

    As henkie mentioned, liches wil generally be immune to the spell hold undead because of its spell level - it should work on other undead like vampires though.
     
    xosmi, Dec 9, 2016
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  4. Keneth Gems: 29/31
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    He said hold monster, not hold person.

    As far as the rules are concerned, any creature type is subject to hold monster. That said, many have blanket immunity.

    Undead are immune to mind-affecting spells, so they're immune to hold monster (but not hold undead).

    Dragons are probably immune to it. They're immune to paralysis effects in 3E, so I'm guessing they're immune to it in 2E as well.

    Demons (and other planar beings) should be subject to hold monster, but outsiders usually have good saves against effects like that.

    2E isn't really all that consistent when it comes to magic rules and it's not a very effective spell anyway.
     
    Keneth, Dec 9, 2016
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