D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 arcane friend or foe marking

[RedTonic]

I've been playing Tales of the Abyss lately. A small note in the fluff on the game's magic system intrigued me: 'friend or foe' marking, whereby a magic seal is placed on individuals caster A may want to selectively affect or shield from an AOE (which caster A casts). For example, the caster does an area buff: only individuals with the marking are affected, not enemies, versus an area attack: the spell doesn't affect the marked individuals.

I realize there are some metamagic feats (namely shape) which handle this on a larger level, but I wondered if some of the more experienced game mechanics in this forum could appropriately spec this out.

I can't even decide if I'd want it to be a temporary spell one could bind with "permanence," or to make it a specific metamagic feat, or do a ritual. I do want it to be expensive and potentially permanent (barring affects like 'disjunction') so it's not practical for a mage lord to apply to, say, an entire army without going totes bankrupt.

 

[Greenfield]

The majority of the area buffs already aid friends only.

Bless, Prayer, Haste, Bull's Strength Mass, etc, all allow the caster to select who is affected and who isn't. Same for mass cure spells.

Damage spells are less selective. Buffs aren'ta problem that way.

 

[RedTonic]

I was just explaining the concept as it applied to the source game.

 

[Nebten]

What is wrong with Sculpt Spell from Complete Arcane?

Otherwise you are looking at "Master of Shaping" power from Archmage PrC.

 

[Andras]

The Feat Extraordinary Spell Aim lets you exclude one creature from the effects of an area spell. I don't recall what book it's in off the top of my head.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

HR a Metamagic feat- prereq being able to make some kind of arcane mark on a person or object- and spells modified by this feat do not affect targets with that mark. I'd make the spell level adjustment depend upon the exact arcane marking spell you chose to use for the prereq. If the mark fades over a short period of time, you'd make the level adjustment low. If the mark lasts a long time or does not fade, then make the adjustment fairly high.

 

[Greenfield]

Arcane Mark
Universal
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 0 ft.
Effect: One personal rune or mark, all of which must fit within 1 sq. ft.
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell allows you to inscribe your personal rune or mark, which can consist of no more than six characters. The writing can be visible or invisible. An arcane mark spell enables you to etch the rune upon any substance without harm to the material upon which it is placed. If an invisible mark is made, a detect magic spell causes it to glow and be visible, though not necessarily understandable.
See invisibility, true seeing, a gem of seeing, or a robe of eyes likewise allows the user to see an invisible arcane mark. A read magic spell reveals the words, if any. The mark cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed by the caster or by an erase spell.
If an arcane mark is placed on a living being, normal wear gradually causes the effect to fade in about a month.
Arcane mark must be cast on an object prior to casting instant summons on the same object (see that spell description for details).

This seems like what you're talking about.

 

[jefgorbach]

[MENTION=6669384]Greenfield[/MENTION] ... correct, however I can't think of any way of using it to target subsequent spells so the effect ONLY hits/avoids the marked subjects like [MENTION=98994]RedTonic[/MENTION] desires.

My suggestion would be an in-house metamagic feat doing so. Offhand it seems as useful
as Maximize or Widen; which apply a +3 effective level to the affected spell.

 

[RedTonic]

Hey, thanks for all the replies, folks!

TBH I'd forgotten about Complete Arcane; I'll review the PrC. At least as much as anything else, though, I find the 'flavor' of the marking more compelling than Sculpt. A +3 adjustment and 'arcane mark' requirement may do the trick.

Also, I had a dyslexic moment and gave someone a . I meant . . . Please don't take it the wrong way. XD