Death Ward vs. Blasphemy

[Cyri'kazzen the Drow]

Hi all. Quick question, would the spell Death Ward work against the Blasphemy spell. In particular the death effect of the Blasphemy spell. So as an example, an evil high priest casting Blasphemy on a low-level character where Death would occur. But the low-level character has death ward going. What would be your ruling? Does it negate the spell at all? Would the character still be affected by other Blasphemy effects? Thanks in advance!

 

[moritheil]

Hi all. Quick question, would the spell Death Ward work against the Blasphemy spell. In particular the death effect of the Blasphemy spell. So as an example, an evil high priest casting Blasphemy on a low-level character where Death would occur. But the low-level character has death ward going. What would be your ruling? Does it negate the spell at all? Would the character still be affected by other Blasphemy effects? Thanks in advance!

This would seem to suggest that the other effects still hit:

The effects are cumulative and concurrent.

Meaning the victim is still paralyzed, weakened, and dazed.

 

[pallandrome]

Meaning the victim is still paralyzed, weakened, and dazed.

And probably still dead, but just one round later.

 

[frankthedm]

Death ward won't stop blasphemy from killing you. There are some debates, but it really looks like a spell or effect has to have a [death] descriptor or be be specified as a 'death effect' to be blocked by death ward.

Massive damage
Vorpal
Phantasmal killer
Holy Word/Blasphemy/Dictum/Word of Chaos

All still can kill someone with death ward up.

 

[Sejs]

Not negative energy, and isn't a [Death] spell. Death Ward will not protect against a Blasphemy.


A bard, however, will. Go go Gadget Countersong.

 

[moritheil]

Ah, good catch.

 

[Pyrex]

Agreed. The "Killed" effect of Blasphemy is (somehow) not a [Death] effect, therefore Death Ward does you no good.

I'd be tempted to rule that that effect of Blasphemy is a [Death] effect, but if your party is 7th plus level (to be casting Death Ward) and you're facing a 17th+ CL caster with Blasphemy it really doesn't matter much anyway; it's still a TPK.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd be tempted to rule that that effect of Blasphemy is a [Death] effect, but if your party is 7th plus level (to be casting Death Ward) and you're facing a 17th+ CL caster with Blasphemy it really doesn't matter much anyway; it's still a TPK.

How about a party facing a CR11 Hezrou that gets Blasphemy 3/day though?

 

[MarkB]

How about a party facing a CR11 Hezrou that gets Blasphemy 3/day though?

Hope he's had a long day.

 

[Pyrex]

How about a party facing a CR11 Hezrou that gets Blasphemy 3/day though?

Hezrou has a Caster Level of 13 for it's Blasphemy, so any party capable of casting Death Ward is high enough level to be out of the 'Killed' range anyway.

A party of 3rd level characters (low enough for the 'Killed' result) will be TPK'd with or without scrolls of Death Ward.

If your party is 8th level or lower they'll still be boned by the Paralyzed result.

If they're 9th level or higher (which they should be if they're fighting a Hezrou) then Blasphemy is not such a big deal.