Usually not when actually playing, though sometimes it can be. For example, by RAU, if you cast Imprisonment (Slumber) on an elf, they’ll be immune to the part that makes them sleep, but still get immunity to aging and hunger. It’s not OP for a ninth-level spell, and it has interesting worldbuilding implications, so you can just run with it.
Fey Ancestry just says magic can’t put them to sleep. It doesn’t cancel all magical effects that include putting them to sleep.
But it’s more complicated than that. Imprisonment has the phrase “While affected by this spell, the creature doesn’t need to breathe, eat, or drink, and it doesn’t age.” So, if you get rid of the only other effect (sleeping), does that mean they’re not affected by the spell, and thus they do need to breathe, eat, etc.? Or does the spell affect them, because it still makes it so they don’t need to eat, breathe, etc.?
Though you could argue that that’s not the only effect of the spell. It also makes it so that you’ll be detected by Detect Magic. Being an elf doesn’t stop that, so you still won’t need to breathe, eat, etc. Unless someone casts Nystul’s Magic Aura.
This is a supremely silly thread and I am enjoying it greatly. Thanks for catalysing these cool discussions OP.
Steels my resolve in pushing my group past 5e
Happy to be of service. Arguing over RAU (Rules As Unintended) is very fun at times.
Usually not when actually playing, though sometimes it can be. For example, by RAU, if you cast Imprisonment (Slumber) on an elf, they’ll be immune to the part that makes them sleep, but still get immunity to aging and hunger. It’s not OP for a ninth-level spell, and it has interesting worldbuilding implications, so you can just run with it.
As hilarious as that is, are you sure that being immune to the form of imprisonment doesn’t just make the spell fail?
Fey Ancestry just says magic can’t put them to sleep. It doesn’t cancel all magical effects that include putting them to sleep.
But it’s more complicated than that. Imprisonment has the phrase “While affected by this spell, the creature doesn’t need to breathe, eat, or drink, and it doesn’t age.” So, if you get rid of the only other effect (sleeping), does that mean they’re not affected by the spell, and thus they do need to breathe, eat, etc.? Or does the spell affect them, because it still makes it so they don’t need to eat, breathe, etc.?
Though you could argue that that’s not the only effect of the spell. It also makes it so that you’ll be detected by Detect Magic. Being an elf doesn’t stop that, so you still won’t need to breathe, eat, etc. Unless someone casts Nystul’s Magic Aura.
I’d say RAI the answer is obvious. But by RAW it’s unspecified, so both could be true.