This powerful spell enables the caster to bring into being a cube of force,
but it is unlike the magical item of that name in one important respect: The
forcecage does not have solid walls of force; it has alternating bands of force
with ½-inch gaps between. Thus, it is truly a cage, rather than an enclosed space
with solid walls. Creatures within the area of effect of the spell are caught
and contained unless they are able to pass through the openings--and, of course,
all spells and breath weapons can pass through the gaps in the bars of force
of the forcecage.
A creature with magic resistance has a single attempt to pass through the
walls of the cage. If the resistance check is successful, the creature escapes. If
it fails, the creature is caged. Note that a successful check does not destroy
the cage, nor does it enable other creatures (save familiars) to flee with the
escaping creature. The forcecage is also unlike the solid-walled protective
device, cube of force, in that it can be gotten rid of only by means of a dispel magic spell or by the expiration of the spell.
By means of special preparation at the time of memorization, a forcecage spell can be altered to a forcecube spell. The cube created is 10 feet on a side, and the spell then resembles
that of a cube of force in all respects save that of the differences between a
cast spell and the magic of a device, including the methods of defeating its
power.
Although the actual casting of either application of the spell requires no
material component, the study required to commit it to memory does demand that the
wizard powder a diamond of at least 1,000 gp value, using the diamond dust to
trace the outlines of the cage or cube he desires to create via spellcasting at
some later time. Thus, in memorization, the diamond dust is employed and
expended, for upon completion of study, the wizard must then toss the dust into the
air and it will disappear.
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