Question about break enchantment

[morbiczer]

Hi all!

I was checking the description of the break enchantment spell, and I found something strange.

First it says (from the PHB):

Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous effect, such as flesh to stone.

So long, so good. That's basically what break enchantment is for. But then it goes on in the next paragraph:

If the spell is one that cannot be dispelled by dispel magic, break enchantment works only if that spell is 5th level or lower.

Flesh to stone is a spell, which can't be dispelled by dispel magic, since it's duration is instantaneous, and it is a 6th level sorceror/wizard spell, so according to the previous quote it shouldn't be affected by break enchantment, but the description of it lists it as an example of a spell it can counter.

I'm confused. Is there some errata for this? I checked the PHB errata I have on my computer, it didn't adress this problem. Note that the SRD doesn't contain flesh to stone as an example in the first quoted sentence, but other, similar parts of the original spell description are also missing, so I don't think that flesh to stone was delibaretly left out because someone realized a mistake had been made.

 

[sledged]

If there's no errata or clearification in the FAQs try changing the line to:

If the spell is neither reversable nor one that can be dispelled by dispel magic, break enchantment works only if that spell is 5th level or lower.

That's all I can think of.

 

[Scharlata]

If there's no errata or clearification in the FAQs [...]

Hi!

There is only confirmation but no clarification in the actual FAQ. See below:

The text on page 289 in the Dungeon Master’s Guide
says a supernatural ability cannot be dispelled. Table 8-1 on
the next page, however, says it can. Which one is right? If
supernatural abilities cannot be dispelled, can they be
removed or countered in other ways? What would happen,
for example, if a medusa turns my character to stone? Can
anything restore my character?

The table is wrong. While you cannot dispel a supernatural
ability with the dispel magic spell, you can remove or reverse
its effects on an area, object (but not one in the supernatural
ability user’s possession), or creature (but not the ability user
itself) in other ways. For instance, the petrified victim in your
example can be restored through a break enchantment spell or a
stone to flesh spell. Supernatural effects are not subject to
counterspelling, but some of them can be countered in other
ways if they have the right descriptor (or if they duplicate spells
with the right descriptor). For example, the darkmantle’s
supernatural darkness ability duplicates the 2nd-level darkness
spell, which has the darkness descriptor. This ability counters
and dispels any light effect of its level or lower, and the 3rdlevel
daylight spell (which counters and dispels all darkness
effects of its level or lower) negates the darkness created by a
darkmantle’s darkness ability.
Likewise, spells such as dispel evil can remove
supernatural enchantment effects if they duplicate spells that
can otherwise be dispelled. For example a dispel evil spell will
remove a vampire’s dominate person effect from a victim.
Similarly spells that block mental control, such as protection
from evil or magic circle against evil, suppress the effects of a
vampire’s dominate person ability, as noted in their spell
descriptions.

Break Enchantment is even cheaper than Stone to Flesh

Kind regards

 

[morbiczer]

Thanks, but the medusa doesn't use the flesh to stone spell, so I never doubted that that if someone would be petrified by the gaze attack of the medusa, then a break enchantment would help him.

But what about the interaction of break enchantment and flesh to stone? How do these two spells work together?

Anyone else has any thougths about this?

 

[dcollins]

This has been discussed quite a bit before. The main problem is that (as I understand it) someone over-edited the 3.5 text. In the 3.0 PHB it was clear, the key sentence in break enchantment read this way:

If the spell is one that, as a special property, cannot be dispelled by dispel magic, break enchantment works only if that spell is 5th level or lower

By "special property" they meant specific mention in the spell versus dispel magic, such as wall of force or the like. I presume the same is meant now, excepting an over-eager editing job.