Dominate Person (Su) - Dispellable or not? (seems to be some confusion)

[ciaran00]

C'mon - is that necessary? ....... I tried to search for other threads earlier today and if I missed the thread you're referring to I apologize. How about a link?

Actually I was admitting that I'd given you a wrong answer. 3.5 MM disagrees with me, and I think that this should be acceptable (as a conclusion)?

ciaran

 

[Ferox4]

Actually I was admitting that I'd given you a wrong answer. 3.5 MM disagrees with me, and I think that this should be acceptable (as a conclusion)?

ciaran

I took it in the wrong context (obviously). I thought you were being glib instead of realizing that you indeed did not "have it covered." Sincere apologies, ciaran.

Cheers,
F4

 

[MichaelH]

The problem comes from the chart in the 3.5 DMG on page 290. The text on page 289 says that Supernatural abilities cannot be dispelled, but the chart reads that they can be dispelled. I think the text description is correct and the chart is a misprint.

 

[Ferox4]

In part, yes. However, after seeing the text in the PHB, and in the SRD, I had written the chart of as errata.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Are there other examples of (Su) abilities that duplicate spell effects? If not, this would be a good basis for the arguement that this is a misprint, and it is supposed to be a (Sp) ability.

 

[Flyspeck23]

Are there other examples of (Su) abilities that duplicate spell effects? If not, this would be a good basis for the arguement that this is a misprint, and it is supposed to be a (Sp) ability.

You've only got to look as far as the vampire
Gaseous form is SU, and it does (more or less) dublicate the spell.

"Dominate (Su)" isn't a typo. IMHO of course.

 

[Len]

Where did you find the DMG 3.5 errata? I didn't think it had been released yet, and I don't see it in the errata section of the WOTC website.

It's in the FAQ:

The text on page 289 in the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide says a supernatural ability cannot be dispelled. Table 8-1 on the next page, however, says it can. Which one is right? If supernatural abilities cannot be dispelled, can they be removed or countered in other ways? What would happen, for example, if a medusa turns my character to stone? Can anything restore my character?
The table is wrong. While you cannot dispel a supernatural ability with the dispel magic spell, you can remove or reverse its effects on an area, object (but not one in the supernatural ability user’s possession), or creature (but not the ability user itself) in other ways.
[snip]
Likewise, spells such as dispel evil can remove supernatural enchantment effects if they duplicate spells that can otherwise be dispelled. For example a dispel evil spell will remove a vampire’s dominate person effect from a victim. Similarly spells that block mental control, such as protection from evil or magic circle against evil, suppress the effects of a vampire’s dominate person ability, as noted in their spell descriptions.

 

[Len]

Double, double toil and trouble;
Server burn and forum bubble.

 

[Ferox4]

Even a cursory glance through the MM will show numerous Supernatural abilities that duplicate spell effects:

Phase Spiders have the Ethereal Jaunt (Su)

Satyrs have Pipes (Su) - this has the option of mimicking Charm Person, Sleep, or Fear

Ice Devils have the Slow (Su)

Quasits have Alternate Form (Su) - mimicking 12th caster level of Polymorph

Darkmantles have the Darkness (Su) - mimicks spell of same name

All the eye rays of a Beholder are Supernatural

you get the idea - and not one of the Su are dispellable by Dispel Magic!

Supernatural Abilities are very powerful if you don't have the equivalent magical antithesis.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

1) My understanding is that supernatural abilities cannot be dispelled unless stated otherwise.

2) There are exceptions to the rules, as the first post has already noted.