Does attacking a being break a CONFUSION spell?

[teaman]

If a being under a CONFUSION spell is attacked, the rules state that it retaliates the next turn.

Does that mean the spell is 100% broken, or just that it attacks for the single next round?

Thanks for any clarity. I made a quick ruling last night, but it would be great to know for the future.

[Seven]

The idea behind that rule is that you can't cast confusion on a monster and then whack it while it's defenseless. At the same time, you don't want a bunch of confused monsters to whack one another and escape the spell that way.

If attacking a being would break confusion, there would be no need for a retaliation attack. The un-confused being would decide how best to retaliate on its own at it normally does. It clearly states that the retaliation only happens if the confusion has not expired.

[teaman]

The idea behind that rule is that you can't cast confusion on a monster and then whack it while it's defenseless. At the same time, you don't want a bunch of confused monsters to whack one another and escape the spell that way.

If attacking a being would break confusion, there would be no need for a retaliation attack. The un-confused being would decide how best to retaliate on its own at it normally does. It clearly states that the retaliation only happens if the confusion has not expired.

Thanks for that interpretation. All the best!

[Solomoriah]

Excellent logic, Seven!

[teaman]

Excellent logic, Seven!

Thanks Solo, sounds like the official ruling to me.

[Seven]

One of my favorite spell. The normal reflex is to slap the confused person around.
That doesn't do any good.

It's also a great trap to use as one confused overpowered PC is a lot of fun.

[SmootRK]

[teaman]

One of my favorite spell. The normal reflex is to slap the confused person around.
That doesn't do any good.

It's also a great trap to use as one confused overpowered PC is a lot of fun.

Yes, the party had to knock a fellow member out once after a confusion spell.