Haste/slow countering

[Belares]

In our last game we ran into a situation that I thought was easy to remedy. The party was hasted and the NPC caster cast slow on some of us so it was cancelled. One of the other players said it was not cancelled unless we failed the save on the slow spell. I have always assumed a spell such as haste/slow or darkness/daylight counters each other out no save. I know dispel magic can be readied and you have to make a caster level check to dispel it, am I wrong about this?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Your sentence talking about dispel magic makes me think that you are confusing the counterspell action with the concept of two spells countering each other. They are not the same thing. Haste counters slow and vice versa, no save/SR allowed. The spells work on each other, not on the target. The relevant quote from the SRD is (my emphasis):


Spells with Opposite Effects
Spells with opposite effects apply normally, with all bonuses, penalties, or changes accruing in the order that they apply. Some spells negate or counter each other. This is a special effect that is noted in a spell’s description.

 

[dcollins]

I have always assumed a spell such as haste/slow or darkness/daylight counters each other out no save...

You are correct. From the 3rd Edition Main FAQ:

When an opposite spell is used to negate an effect that is
already in place (such as using slow spell to counter and
dispel a haste spell), is the success of the dispel automatic,
or is a level check required? Does the subject or the caster
of the spell being countered and dispelled get a saving
throw?

Two opposite spells simply negate each other. No dispel
check is required, no saving throw is allowed, and spell
resistance does not apply.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, no save/SR allowed.

The big question, however, is, if A and B are hasted (from the same Haste spell) and then A is slowed (from a Slow spell), what happens with B?

Bye
Thanee

 

[dcollins]

The answer has to be "nothing happens to B". Once the spell is active on a target, there's no relation to any other targets of the same spell. Same thing with summon monster and having the monsters wander off to different locations -- if you catch one in a dispel magic the spell on it is broken but the other is unaffected.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, that's what I think as well (asked that a while back already).

I just think it's an issue, that would better be covered, as it will come up eventually.

Bye
Thanee