- For Other Power Word Spells, see Power Word Spells.
This spell is like the normal 1st-level sleep spell, but it needs no somatic or material components.
When the power word sleep spell is cast, one or more creatures (other than undead and other creatures specifically excluded from the effects) fall into a comatose sleep. All affected creatures must be within 30 feet of each other. The spell affects 2d4 Hit Dice or levels of creatures. Those with 4+3 Hit Dice or more are unaffected. The center of the area of effect is chosen by the spellcaster. The creatures with the least Hit Dice are affected first, and partial effects are ignored.
For example, a wizard casts power word sleep at three kobolds, two gnolls, and an ogre. The roll (2d4) result is 4. All the kobolds and one gnoll are affected (1/2+1/2+1/2+2 = 3-1/2 Hit Dice). Note that the remainder is not enough to affect the last gnoll or the ogre.
Slapping or wounding awakens affected creatures but normal noise does not. Awakening requires one entire round.
Notes: Common for the Red Wizards of Thay, uncommon for conjurers from the Forgotten Realms setting: otherwise, virtually unknown.