Forcecage, formerly known as Valdick's forcecage, was an evocation spell that fashioned a cube of force to imprison all within it.[2][1]
Effects
A forcecage spell created an immovable, invisible prison composed of pure force, similar to a wall of force. It could take one of two forms, as chosen by the caster. The first was a barred cage, a 20-foot-wide (6.1 meters) cube made of 0.5-inch-wide (1.3 centimeters) bars the same distance apart. The other was a windowless cell, only 10 feet wide (3 meters) but lacking any gaps or exits.[2] A forcecage could also be a rather ornate, round "birdcage"-like structure, with visible bars.[8]
Any creature within the affected area at the time of casting was trapped inside, unless they were too large (in which case the spell failed), or they could pass through the slits in the barred cage. It was also possible to escape with teleportation spells or astral travel, though the force blocked ethereal travel.[2]
A captive could still use spells or breath weapons through the barred cage, and weapons could potentially fit through.[2]
The forcecage was immune to dispel magic, but it could be destroyed with disintegrate, or with a sphere of annihilation or a rod of cancellation. It usually lasted a matter of hours, according to the power of the caster, unless dismissed ahead of time.[2] However, a forcecage could also fade with the death of its caster.[8]
Material components
In addition to verbal and somatic components, the spell required 1,500 gp worth of ruby dust, which had to be thrown into the air and vanished after the spell was cast.[2]
Users
The forcecage spell could be cast by wizards and sorcerers, and clerics who commanded the craft domain.[2] In the time of Netheril, it could be cast by arcanists of the Inventive specialization.[4]
History
The spell was named for Valdick, and it was introduced in 2048 NY (−1811 DR) under the name Valdick's forcecage. It later became known simply as forcecage.[1][9]
Forcecage was a common spell in Faerûn in the 1360s DR.[5]
Realmslore
The extraplanar magic-user Imgig Zu placed his captive Cybriana inside a forcecage during his Great Awakening of his bound people. Trapped inside, Cybriana was unable to stop him, but was able to use a simple bloom spell, scattering flowers outside to form a trail for her friends. The forcecage faded with Imgig's death, allowing her to escape.[8]
Appendix
Appearances
- Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 184. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 149, 151, 153. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 125–126. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 153. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Michael Fleisher (March 1989). “Sorcerer's Moon”. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons #4 (DC Comics) (4)., pp. 5, 12, 18.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.