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<blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 3119365" data-attributes="member: 22424">Interesting article. In particular, I noted that he denied both the PCs and the dragons any ability to dispel magic. Conversely, he left Energy Drain in (although I think that decision was addressed in the previous column). Both of these can cause havoc at the table, as the DM has to radically refigure the stats for his critter. The worst, of course, is when the PC wizard successfully dispels some but not all of the BBEGs suite of buffs.I wonder if perhaps the Dispel Magic spell should be split in two: have a standard-action Counterspell Magic spell which has the counterspelling utility of the existing Dispel Magic, but can't dispel operational spells (perhaps set at 2nd level), and increase the casting time of the regular Dispel Magic to 2 (or more) full rounds. That way, the ability to dispel magic exists, but is probably not a combat option. I'm not sure what impact that would have on the game.As for Energy Drain... I'm not sure. In general, spells that provide a bonus to friendlies are easier to deal with than spells that provide a penalty to unfriendlies (and personal buffs are easier still). So, where possible, I would like to see these emphasised. Where a penalty must be applied to the other side, it should be as simple as possible. So I think Energy Drain needs rethought. At the very least, a fixed number of negative levels per casting is probably a good idea.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="delericho, post: 3119365, member: 22424"] Interesting article. In particular, I noted that he denied both the PCs and the dragons any ability to dispel magic. Conversely, he left Energy Drain in (although I think that decision was addressed in the previous column). Both of these can cause havoc at the table, as the DM has to radically refigure the stats for his critter. The worst, of course, is when the PC wizard successfully dispels some but not all of the BBEGs suite of buffs. I wonder if perhaps the Dispel Magic spell should be split in two: have a standard-action Counterspell Magic spell which has the counterspelling utility of the existing Dispel Magic, but can't dispel operational spells (perhaps set at 2nd level), and increase the casting time of the regular Dispel Magic to 2 (or more) full rounds. That way, the ability to dispel magic exists, but is probably not a combat option. I'm not sure what impact that would have on the game. As for Energy Drain... I'm not sure. In general, spells that provide a bonus to friendlies are easier to deal with than spells that provide a penalty to unfriendlies (and personal buffs are easier still). So, where possible, I would like to see these emphasised. Where a penalty must be applied to the other side, it should be as simple as possible. So I think Energy Drain needs rethought. At the very least, a fixed number of negative levels per casting is probably a good idea. [/QUOTE]

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