Can't touch this... (conjuration spells & incorpreal)

[Fallenibilis]

Recently my DM came to me and asked since Conjuration spells (which my wizard specializes in) ignore spell restince are non magical and thus don't effect incorpereal foes. ( according to him the spell conjures the elemnts being used and thus any element is REAL and not magical thus an Orb of Cold can't effect an Allip).

Well as you can assume next session we faced off against an Allip and two spectors which reduced my character effectivness no near uslessness. I just went with my DM's choice not wanting to cause a fuss but i still doesn't seem right to me so i was wondering your thoughts on this ruling.

Fallenibilis

 

[Dandu]

So an Orb of Force would not affect ghosts?

 

[Fallenibilis]

Top be honest im not sure what he would say about that.

 

[Dandu]

This really does seem like something you would have to decide on a case-by-case basis. A Wall of Stone should not affect ghosts, but Melf's Unicorn Arrow (PHB2)? Mage Armor (the spells that specifically says it applies to attacks by incorporeal entities)? Faithful Hound (creates a phantom watchdog)?

 

[Greenfield]

It sounds to me like your DM needs a serious talking to, but not at the game table. An at-the-table confrontation puts him on the spot, and emotions get involved.

I'll agree that summoned creatures don't inherently qualify as "magic weapons", but to argue that all Conjuration effects fall into that same category? Heck, many of the creatures on the Summon Monster tables are using primarily spells or spell like effects, and some from the Planar Ally table specifically come with magic weapons.

Ask him to explain when/where/how/why some magic isn't "magic".

Note that there's no SR v the power of a magic sword, or against the elemental damage done by a Flaming, Cold or Shocking weapon.

Also ask, if your spells aren't "magic", will he allow them to function in an Anti-Magic effect?

It sounds almost like he has it in for you and/or your character.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

So an Orb of Force...

Should be an evocation spell, along with every other orb spell except perhaps acid (but I'd give it acid, too, cause... **** conjuration. seriously.)

But yeah, force effects should work 100% regardless of if there's SR or not. And other energy damage should be 50% chance of working.

Also, by the OP's DM's reasoning, a ghost can pass through a Wall of Force. It allows no SR, so clearly it's not magical. Right? Right?

[sblock]Wrong.[/sblock]

 

[Niccodaemus]

If I recall correctly in AD&D, monsters counted their level as "pluses" when it came to hitting other monsters. That is, a monster who could only be hit by a plus one weapon could also be hit by a first level monster. (Otherwise, the monsters, even if they were the same type, wouldn't even be able to fight each other!).

An elemental is a pretty powerful monster and should be able to hit near anything. At least that's my position.

 

[Empirate]

I agree with Dandu that this can, sadly, only be handled on a case-by-case basis.
I also agree with SotS on the Conjuration thing. Wholeheartedly.