Fighting a nightwalker, questions

[Gwarthkam]

Last session my group of 5 12-13 level characters was lucky enough to survive fighting two Nightwalkers (in a row, not simultaneously).

A couple of questions arose during that fight:

1: would a summoned celestial Dire Bear (Summon Monster VI) bypass the Nightwalkers DR, or would it be immune to the Summoned Monster because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

2: would Greater Magic Weapon (+4 in this case) cast on a weapon make the weapon bypass the Nightwalkers DR, or would it be immune because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

3a: Would it be immune to damage dealt through hurling a large object at it via Telekinesis because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

3b: If it is not immune to the above, would the Nighwalkers DR be put into play against the hurled objects?

4: One of the magic weapons in the fight emulated a Flameblade-like spell but wasn't exactly flameblade (alot better), how would you determine if a spell-like ability of any kind is considered above or below a 6. level spell?

5: What would you do if you had to fight a Nightwalker with a level 12 party who had run out of it's good magic weapons (the Nightwalker took out all the best weapons)?

Thank you in advance

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Last session my group of 5 12-13 level characters was lucky enough to survive fighting two Nightwalkers (in a row, not simultaneously).

A couple of questions arose during that fight:

1: would a summoned celestial Dire Bear (Summon Monster VI) bypass the Nightwalkers DR, or would it be immune to the Summoned Monster because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

Spell immunity does not apply to spells that are not subject to SR. The summon monster spells are not subject to SR. The celestial dire bear has a DR of 10/+3, so it bypasses the nightwalkers DR, since its attacks are considered to be equivalent to +3 weapons when fighting other creatures with DR.

2: would Greater Magic Weapon (+4 in this case) cast on a weapon make the weapon bypass the Nightwalkers DR, or would it be immune because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

GMW is not subject to SR (see above), so the weapon would strike the nightwalker as a +4 weapon and bypass its DR.

3a: Would it be immune to damage dealt through hurling a large object at it via Telekinesis because of it's immunity to spells of level 6 and below?

No, because the telekinesis is affecting the object, not the nightwalker.

3b: If it is not immune to the above, would the Nighwalkers DR be put into play against the hurled objects?

Yes.

4: One of the magic weapons in the fight emulated a Flameblade-like spell but wasn't exactly flameblade (alot better), how would you determine if a spell-like ability of any kind is considered above or below a 6. level spell?

Hard to say without knowing what it is. Perhaps some more details would help. The nightwalker has fire resistance 50, so the weapon might be useless anyway.

5: What would you do if you had to fight a Nightwalker with a level 12 party who had run out of it's good magic weapons (the Nightwalker took out all the best weapons)?

Run.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

4: One of the magic weapons in the fight emulated a Flameblade-like spell but wasn't exactly flameblade (alot better), how would you determine if a spell-like ability of any kind is considered above or below a 6. level spell?

Most spell-like abilities either emulate a given spell or are stated as being "as thus-and-such a spell, except..." In those cases, the level of the ability is clear. If the exceptions are particularly significant, this might lead to an incongruously high or low level, but there's nothing that fundamentally prevents that.

It is not necessarily the case that a spell-like ability not defined in this way actually has a level, however. This is probably often an oversight, and can be inconvenient, but doesn't necessarily mean you can't apply the rules in question. Strictly speaking, a spell-like ability without a level cannot be "6th level or lower," meaning the nightwalker is not immune to it.

If this ability was created by the DM of the campaign, he should consider whether it has a level and if so, what it is. If he cares to define it as "like a flame blade, except..." then it has the same level as flame blade unless a different level is one of the exceptions.

 

[Hammerhead]

Apply Greater Magic Weapon spells liberally and then use such weapons until it dies. Mass Haste can really help.

I hope you can see invisible.

 

[Gwarthkam]

thanks for the answers, it was very clear and helpfull

That it wouldn't be immune to spells that isn't subject tp SR had somehow eluded me.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

For further clarification, read the spell description for Spell Immunity in the PH. Essentially, the nightwalker has the effects of this spell for all spells of 6th level or lower. Except, of course, for those not subject to SR.