Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 913505" data-attributes="member: 63">In the sequel book, we were already planning to present mp-based usages for as many skills as we could.  Usually the mp would just provide a brief, magical bonus to your skill check, kind of like how the Jump spell gives you a bonus to your jump checks.  However, we plan to get rid of a few spell lists, like Sight, and replace them with magical usages of Spot and Search. Dispel Magic gave us some trouble in figuring out how to balance it.  To take a logical munchkin-ized extreme, imagine a 20th level Mage, +23 from skill ranks, +5 from an ability score, and +2 skill focus to boot.  With a +30 skill check, he could counter anything for only a few mp.  Obviously not a good idea.We're revising it, however, and this is a substantial revision, so we weren't originally going to post it here, but I can give you the overview.  And, as with everything else, this will probably get tweaked before we release the final revisions, so don't take this as gospel yet. Dispel Magic (Cha, exclusive skill, trained only)Use this skill to end ongoing spells that have been cast on a creature or object, temporarily suppress the magical abilities of a magic item, end ongoing spell effects within an area, or counter another spellcaster’s spell.A dispelled spell ends as if its duration had expired.  Some spells, as detailed in their descriptions, cannot be defeated by Dispel Magic.  Dispel Magic can dispel (but not counter) the ongoing effects of supernatural abilities as well as spells.  Dispel Magic affects spell-like abilities just as it affects spells.  Spells with an instantaneous duration can be countered but not dispelled, since their ongoing effects are real and not magical.Note that whenever the text refers to a spell, it can also apply to spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities, unless stated otherwise.Normal Check:  There is no way to use this skill without expending MP.Magical Check: You can choose to Dispel Magic in one of three ways - targeted dispel, area dispel, or counterspell.  The maximum range for any of these abilities is 100 ft. plus 10 ft. times your caster level.  You can counterspell a spell if either the caster or target is within range.  Generally the DC of a Dispel Magic check is 16 + the caster level of the spell being dispelled.  For spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities, use the creature's caster level if it has one, or its Challenge Rating.Any of the three ways incurs an attack of opportunity.  You suffer a penalty to your Dispel Magic check equal to the amount of damage dealt to you while attempting to use this skill.  You can attempt to use Dispel Magic defensively, with a Concentration check (DC 15 + 1/2 the amount of mp spent on this skill [see below]).  This counts as spellcasting for the purposes of the Combat Casting feat and similar abilities.Your ability to dispel is based both on your skill ranks and on your magic points.  Whenever you make a Dispel Magic check, you can choose to use some or all of your skill ranks.  Using this skill costs 1 MP, plus 2 additional MP for every 5 skill ranks you use (or fraction thereof).  You must choose how many ranks you are using when you declare your action, and even if you fail your attempt, or if your attempt is disrupted by damage, you still lose that MP.  You still add your Charisma modifier and any other bonuses even if you choose to use no ranks.For example, Leska is a skill Orcish Inquisitor, a 20th level Mage with 23 ranks of Dispel Magic, an 20 Charisma, and Skill Focus (Dispel Magic), for a total Dispel Magic check of +30.  Dueling against a rebel sorcerer, Leska uses Spellcraft to see that he is protected by several defensive spells to combat Leska's charm magic.  The wards are weak, but a nuisance, so Leska attempts to dispel them with a Targeted Dispel (see below).  Figuring the effort will be simple, she only devotes 5 ranks to countering the spell, costing 3 MP.  She still has a +12 Dispel Magic modifier from her ability scores and feats, so she easily dispels the defenses.Later, Leska is confronted by a rival Inquisitor who attempts to dominate her with a powerful spell.  Not wanting to take any risks, Leska attempts to counterspell it, using her Reactive Counterspell feat.  She uses her full 23 ranks for the Dispel Magic check, spends 11 MP, and uses her full +30 Dispel Magic bonus.Targeted Dispel: As a standard action, you may attempt to dispel any of the magic on a creature or object, or to dispel a freestanding magical effect.  This usage of Dispel Magic can only affect one creature, object, or freestanding spell at a time.You can make a Spellcraft check in advance to determine what spells are affecting a creature or object (see the Spellcraft skill, below), and if you succeed in identifying a spell, you may choose to ignore it.  Similarly, you can choose not to affect your own spells that are active on the target.  For each other spell active on the target, however, make one Dispel Magic check (DC 16 + that spell's caster level).  If you succeed, that spell ends as if it duration had run out.For creatures and items that have magical abilities with a permanent duration (such as a flaming sword's flame, or the fire resistance of a Mage who has chosen certain boons), that effect is suppressed for 1d4 rounds.  If you succeed a Dispel Magic check against a summoned creature, that summon spell ends, and the creature vanishes.If you attempt to dispel one of your own spells, you do not need to make a check.  Thus, if you aren't trying to dispel any other effects, this usage only costs 1 MP. Area Dispel: You affect everything within a 30 ft. radius burst.  For each creature or object that is the target of one or more spells, you make a Dispel Magic check (DC 16 + caster level) against the spell with the highest caster level.  If that fails, you make Dispel Magic checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell or fail all your checks.  Only one spell can be dispelled per creature or object.  Magic items are not affected by area dispels.Any and all area effect spell within the area dispel can be affected, but only the part of the spell that is within the 30 ft. radius burst.  Thus, part of an area effect spell may still be in effect even with a successful Dispel Magic check.As with a targeted dispel, you can automatically dispel your own spells.An area dispel usage of Dispel Magic costs an additional 2 MP. Counterspell: Normally, you can counterspell if you know the same spell that another spellcaster is casting.  However, if you don't know the spell, don't have enough MP to cast it, or failed your Spellcraft check to identify the spell, you can attempt to make a Dispel Magic check to counter the spell.  You must use a readied action to counterspell, unless you have the Reactive Counterspell feat.Make a Dispel Magic check (DC 16 + opposed caster's caster level).  If the opposed caster has 5 or more ranks of Dispel Magic, increase the DC by +2.  If you succeed, the spell is countered, the opposing spellcaster's MP or spell slot being wasted with no effect. Feat: Reactive CounterspellYou can counterspell even if you haven't readied an action.Prerequisite: Dispel Magic 8+ ranks.Benefit: As long as you are not flat-footed, you may attempt to counter a spell as a reaction, without having to ready an action.  If you do so, on your next action you are treated as if you have already taken an attack action, leaving you with just a move action in normal cases (you could still cast a quickened spell that turn, however).You decide whether you want to use this feat after you make a Spellcraft check to try to identify the spell being cast.  However, if you do use this feat, you lose your action next turn even if your counterspell attempt fails.  You can only use this ability once per turn.</blockquote>

Verification