An easier counterspell

[Ciaran]

Does this look balanced? I figure that using dispel magic for counterspelling purposes is overkill...

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Counterspell
Abjuration
Level: Brd 2, Clr 2, Drd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One spellcaster
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell functions like dispel magic, except that it may only be cast as a counterspell.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Yep, it looks good.

Dave

 

[Staffan]

It looks pretty fine to me. It should probably be 3rd level for druids, since their dispel magic is 4th.

On the other hand, as a dedicated counterspell I would prefer making it 3rd level, or possibly 4th, mimic dispel magic's counterspelling function, but being castable as an immediate action. That means you don't have to ready a counterspelling action.

Because if you want to ready an action to stop any spell your foe might want to cast, there's a first level spell you might want to look at. It's called magic missile, and at 5th level it will force your opponent to make a DC 20ish+spell level concentration check. Against an equally 5th level caster casting a 3rd level spell, that's about a 60% chance of success (as opposed to 50% with a dispel magic, and even if he succeeds you still get ~10 points of damage in. Or if you're a cleric, there's always silence.

 

[Ciaran]

On the other hand, as a dedicated counterspell I would prefer making it 3rd level, or possibly 4th, mimic dispel magic's counterspelling function, but being castable as an immediate action. That means you don't have to ready a counterspelling action.

Brilliant! An immediate action doesn't take up your normal action for the turn, right? Assuming this to be the case, I'd put it at 4th level.

Because if you want to ready an action to stop any spell your foe might want to cast, there's a first level spell you might want to look at. It's called magic missile, and at 5th level it will force your opponent to make a DC 20ish+spell level concentration check. Against an equally 5th level caster casting a 3rd level spell, that's about a 60% chance of success (as opposed to 50% with a dispel magic, and even if he succeeds you still get ~10 points of damage in. Or if you're a cleric, there's always silence.

Hey now, there's no need to be condescending. When you've spent five years playing a wizard with evocation as your banned school and you put up a shield spell at the start of every major combat, the magic missile-as-counterspell technique doesn't come up very often...

 

[Staffan]

Brilliant! An immediate action doesn't take up your normal action for the turn, right? Assuming this to be the case, I'd put it at 4th level.

Right, an immediate action is like a feather fall. It takes up your swift ("free action but you only get one") action for the next round, though.

Hey now, there's no need to be condescending. When you've spent five years playing a wizard with evocation as your banned school and you put up a shield spell at the start of every major combat, the magic missile-as-counterspell technique doesn't come up very often...

Yeah, shield would work well as a counter-counterspell in that regard. And most other spells require hit rolls and/or give saves, so they are a little more risky. Just thinking a little outside the box.

Silence is still a pretty good option for the cleric, though.