Dispel Magic (Area)

[Ogrork the Mighty]

From the SRD:

Area Dispel: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot radius.

For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level. If that check fails, you make dispel checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell (which discharges the dispel magic spell so far as that target is concerned) or until you fail all your checks. The creature’s magic items are not affected.

I just noticed the bold part and I always thought the dispel check was first made against the highest level spell. So if someone has fire shield (4th-lvl spell, caster level 7) and mage armour (1st-lvl spell, caster level 10), it would be the mage armour that the dispel check is made against first?

 

[James McMurray]

Yep, Mage Armor is first.

 

[hong]

We generally play it as descending caster level, then descending spell level, then random.

 

[Rystil Arden]

We generally play it as descending caster level, then descending spell level, then random.

We play it the same as hong, based on the non-bolded reference to "weaker spells".

 

[Infiniti2000]

I houserule that caveat away and just randomize all the spells. I don't like the idea of the most powerfully casted spells being the most vulnerable. It makes no sense.

 

[Bad Paper]

I houserule that caveat away and just randomize all the spells. I don't like the idea of the most powerfully casted spells being the most vulnerable. It makes no sense.

Think of it as a feature (not a bug) of dispel magic. You are automatically going after the richest caster level. This also works for game balance: otherwise everyone would drink a weak-ass potion going into combat as "dispelling fodder."

I run it like Hong does, but I also find other ways of trying to sort, either by caster, source, or alphabetization. Trying to impose a random sort in the middle of a game is madness when your BBEG has twenty spells on him.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Think of it as a feature (not a bug) of dispel magic. You are automatically going after the richest caster level. This also works for game balance: otherwise everyone would drink a weak-ass potion going into combat as "dispelling fodder."

Well, I certainly don't advocate the reverse, either.

 

[IcyCool]

Well, I certainly don't advocate the reverse, either.

Your method does still benefit from the "Dispelling Fodder" mentality though. The more spells to choose from, the less likely you'll get your important spells nailed.

Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you.

 

[pallandrome]

Trying to impose a random sort in the middle of a game is madness when your BBEG has twenty spells on him.

You kiddin me? If he's got twenty spells on him, just roll a d20!

 

[Infiniti2000]

Your method does still benefit from the "Dispelling Fodder" mentality though. The more spells to choose from, the less likely you'll get your important spells nailed.

I don't agree that it's the same mentality. The three methods are high CL spells first, low CL spells first, or pure random.

With low CL spells first, it is easiest to create the fodder (because you are not wasting much). To create the fodder with the high CL spells first (i.e. RAW), you just need to either be able to cast a few spells at higher than normal level or cast all your other buffs at lower level. Obviously, this will affect duration, capability, etc., but someone with the Good domain, for instance, will find this much easier (prot evil could be become your fodder). Another example with psionics would be to overchannel a fodder buff and then drink a potion of healing. With my method, the only way to create fodder is to overbuff with a lot of spells/items. That itself is difficult because you are wasting lots more resources (as opposed to just one necessary for the other two methods), requiring more buff time, and you still aren't guaranteed fodder success.

But, quite frankly, IME it rarely comes up in game. I see more targeted dispelling than area dispelling.