How exactly does a dispel magic tied to Unhallow work?

[Mort]

Unhallow increases the duration of a spell tied to it to 1 year. The application is pretty obvious for most of the spells listed (as they run continuously for a set duration) but how does this work with dispel magic (an instantaneous effect)?

Does it just dispel the first spell cast and then need to be reset? which is pretty lame.

Does it work as a constant counterspell effect - meaning anytime an affected party casts a spell it gets counterspelled? - Which is quite powerful.

Does it work as a continuous area dispel - meaning affected parties spells will not stay up for long? - Also quite powerful.

Something else?

 

[frankthedm]

Very vauge.

I'd go with Area dispel once per round.

 

[SteelDraco]

Personally, I've always assumed it targeted each creature that enters the area with a targeted Dispel Magic. As specified in the Unhallow spell, you might be immune, based on the caster's choices when they cast the spell. But that's how I've always ruled it. The text isn't very specific, though - I can see a constant area dispel magic, active every round, as just as viable.

 

[mvincent]

From the 3.5 FAQ (if desired):
"When I affix a dispel magic to my hallow spell, what
type of dispel effect is it—a targeted dispel, area dispel, or
counterspell? Can I choose when I create the hallow?
A dispel magic fixed to a hallow or unhallow spell may be
treated only as an area dispel, not as a targeted dispel or a
counterspell.

When a spell effect is fixed to a hallow spell, how do
unusual durations (such as those of protection from energy)
or instantaneous durations (such as those of dispel magic)
work?
The spell effect fixed to a hallow or unhallow spell is
treated as being cast on any eligible creature each time it enters.
In the case of “ablative” spell effects that are used up gradually
(such as aid or protection from energy), the full effect of the
spell is renewed each time the eligible creature re-enters the
hallowed/unhallowed area (with the newer version entirely
replacing the older version). In the case of instantaneous effects
(such as dispel magic), the spell affects eligible creatures each
time they enter."

If a spell that targets a creature (such as cause fear) is
tied to the area of an unhallow spell, does it target creatures
inside the area every round, or only when they enter the
area?
A spell tied to unhallow picks its targets only when they
enter the area, not every round they remain within. In the case
of cause fear, each creature entering the area with fewer than 6
Hit Dice would be required to attempt a will save against the
effect, but once within the area would not be required to save
against the effect again. If a creature left the area and returned
later, the spell would be effectively “cast” again, targeting that
creature once again.
Spells that don’t have targets (such as invisibility purge)
simply apply their effects continuously within the area of the
unhallow spell. A character who turned invisible after entering
an unhallowed area with invisibility purge tied to the area
would be rendered instantly visible by the purging effect.

 

[Pyrex]

Personally, I've always assumed it targeted each creature that enters the area with a targeted Dispel Magic.

What he said.

Or, for more clarity:

Any Targeted effect (Aid, Death Ward) Targets the specified creature each time it enters the area of the Unhallow.

Any Area affect of non-instantanous duration (Invisibility Purge, Daylight) is constantly in effect within the entire area of the Unhallow

Based on those two premises, I'd rule that the Area version of Dispel Magic is invalid in conjunction with Unhallow and that only the Targeted version applied.

 

[Pyrex]

From the 3.5 FAQ (if desired):
"When I affix a dispel magic to my hallow spell, what
type of dispel effect is it—a targeted dispel, area dispel, or
counterspell? Can I choose when I create the hallow?
A dispel magic fixed to a hallow or unhallow spell may be
treated only as an area dispel, not as a targeted dispel or a
counterspell.

So every time, say, a non-evil (assuming it's attuned that way) creature enters an Unhallow, the entire 40' radius of the Unhallow is blanketed with an Area Dispel?

Yikes.

 

[Plane Sailing]

What he said.

Or, for more clarity:

Any Targeted effect (Aid, Death Ward) Targets the specified creature each time it enters the area of the Unhallow.

Any Area affect of non-instantanous duration (Invisibility Purge, Daylight) is constantly in effect within the entire area of the Unhallow

FWIW that's the way I run it too

 

[SteelDraco]

Wait a minute, what? This FAQ quote doesn't make any sense to me.

"When I affix a dispel magic to my hallow spell, what
type of dispel effect is it—a targeted dispel, area dispel, or
counterspell? Can I choose when I create the hallow?
A dispel magic fixed to a hallow or unhallow spell may be
treated only as an area dispel, not as a targeted dispel or a
counterspell.

Isn't that contradicted by...

The spell effect fixed to a hallow or unhallow spell is
treated as being cast on any eligible creature each time it enters.

What's the logic here, I wonder? Why is Dispel Magic (which can be cast as a targeted spell) not treated the same way?

 

[mvincent]

So every time, say, a non-evil (assuming it's attuned that way) creature enters an Unhallow, the entire 40' radius of the Unhallow is blanketed with an Area Dispel?

I believe the intent was that it acts as an area dispel only on the creature entering.

 

[Pyrex]

I believe the intent was that it acts as an area dispel only on the creature entering.

So you're proposing that when a creature enters the area he's Targeted with an Area Dispel that only affects him?

Yeah, cuz that's totally clear after reading Unhallow and the FAQ entry. :\

I like my answer better. *gets out black sharpie to cross that section out of the FAQ*

(Note: Please don't construe the above as a personal attack. It's just my irritation with badly written rules coming out to play)