Spells and Knockdown Dice

Clearly, not every spell has the potential for a knockdown. Enchantments such as charm person or slow may create serious difficulties for the victim, but they’re not going to throw him to the ground in the process. Other spells cause ‘knockdowns’ just by their nature; sleep, grease, and ice storm can put creatures on the ground by virtue of their normal effects. Table 44 : Spells with Knockdown Effects list spells that actually use the knockdown rules.

For spells from other sources, use your best judgment in assigning a knockdown die. First of all, the spell must deliver energy to the target or cause a physiological reaction that might cause the subject to lose control of his limbs—for example, the agony associated with Abi-Dalzim’s horrid wilting or throbbing bones has a chance to distract even the stoutest warrior, despite the fact that neither spell actually strikes the victim with a tangible blow. You may observe that lightning bolts are particularly good for knockdowns, because they strike the target with an immense amount of energy and electrocute the victim at the same time!

Spells that stun, daze, sleep, confuse, charm, hold, trip, fumble, or tangle the opponent don’t need a knockdown die; if the spell succeeds, the victim is hindered by the action of the spell itself, and a knockdown would be redundant. Last but not least, spells that simulate weapons (Mordenkainen’s sword, for example) can use a knockdown die based on the weapon itself; see Player’s Option: Combat & Tactics for a complete listing of weapons and knockdown ratings.

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