At a glance
Level3
SchoolEnchantment/Charm
Range120 yds.
ComponentsV / S / M
Duration2 rds./level
Casting time3
Area of effect1–4 persons, 20-ft. cube
Saving throwNeg.
ReversibleNo
SourcePHB p. 193
Description
This spell holds 1d4 humans, , or humanoid creatures rigidly immobile for five or more .
The hold person spell affects any bipedal human, demihuman or humanoid of man size or smaller, including brownies, dryads, dwarves, elves, gnolls, gnomes, goblins, half-elves, halflings, half-orcs, hobgoblins, humans, kobolds, lizard men, nixies, orcs, pixies, sprites, troglodytes, and others.
The spell is centered on a point selected by the caster; it affects persons selected by the caster within the . If the spell is cast at three or four people, each gets an unmodified . If only two people are being enspelled, each makes his saving throw with a –1 penalty. If the spell is cast at only one person, the saving throw suffers a –3 penalty. Saving throws are adjusted for . Those succeeding on their saving throws are unaffected by the spell. Undead creatures cannot be held.
Held beings cannot or speak, but they remain aware of events around them and can use not requiring motion or speech. Being held does not prevent the worsening of the subjects’ condition due to wounds, disease, or poison. The caster can end the spell with a single utterance at any time; otherwise, the duration is 10 rounds at 5th , 12 rounds at 6th level, 14 rounds at 7th level, etc.
The spellcaster needs a small, straight piece of iron as the of this spell.