I know that this is wrong, but I think it works. Ways to stop Dispel and Disjunction

[Greenfield]

Line of Effect is an interesting thing. We normally think of it being stopped by "hard cover" like a foot of stone, an inch of iron or other metal, or a thin plate of lead or gold.

We also think of it as the line from the caster to the target. But in the case of burst or emanation type spells, it's also the line from the focal point to items or creatures in the area.

So presume a tower shield, which can provide 100% cover (says so right in the description). Presume a tower shield covered in hammered gold, or with a lead foil lining.

If you suspect that someone is going to cast a spell like Dispel Magic or Disjunction, and you ready action, could you (subject to Spot and Spellcraft checks) face your shield in the right direction and crouch down behind it, thus getting 100% hard cover to interrupt the Line of Effect?

Bye the way the rules are written, the answer seems to be yes.

Some spells, like Fireball are "spreads" rather than "burst". These wrap around corners.

Dispel Magic, Greater Dispel, and Disjunction are all "burst, so they don't wrap around corners.

Somebody please tell me why this doesn't work. Please?

 

[Vegepygmy]

Line of Effect is an interesting thing. We normally think of it being stopped by "hard cover" like a foot of stone, an inch of iron or other metal, or a thin plate of lead or gold.

I'm not sure where you got that idea; a line of effect is canceled by any solid barrier. A one-inch thickness of stone works just as well as iron does. But whatever.

Somebody please tell me why this doesn't work. Please?

Why wouldn't it work? It says right in the rules for bursts: "[A burst spell] can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners)."

And the tower shield rules say: "[Y]ou can instead use it as total cover."

Therefore, if your tower shield is placed to provide total cover from a burst spell's point of origin, it can't affect you.

 

[howandwhy99]

If you suspect that someone is going to cast a spell like Dispel Magic or Disjunction, and you ready action, could you (subject to Spot and Spellcraft checks) face your shield in the right direction and crouch down behind it, thus getting 100% hard cover to interrupt the Line of Effect?

You are correct sir!

But it's not just Tower Shields, which allow wielders to crouch behind them for Total Cover. Any and all environment which can afford a PC Total Cover can be used as well.

Readying your action is a little harder. I *believe* 3.5 has discerning the type of spell being cast as a Spellcraft Check, so a Standard Action. You probably don't want to duck every time some starts casting (or maybe you do!), but making the Spellcraft check will allow for clues on whether to do so or not. Then you can take the rest of your action and Move to cover before the spell was finished.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Readying your action is a little harder. I *believe* 3.5 has discerning the type of spell being cast as a Spellcraft Check, so a Standard Action.

From the d20SRD:

Identify a spell being cast. (You must see or hear the spell’s verbal or somatic components.) No action required. No retry.

 

[delericho]

If you suspect that someone is going to cast a spell like Dispel Magic or Disjunction, and you ready action, could you (subject to Spot and Spellcraft checks) face your shield in the right direction and crouch down behind it, thus getting 100% hard cover to interrupt the Line of Effect?

Yes. Note, however, that this only works against the "area dispel" version of the spell - the Tower Shield specifically can't be used to block targetted spells (right there in the Tower Shield description, the next sentence after it granting total cover!). Which is the least effective version of that spell anyway.

Somebody please tell me why this doesn't work. Please?

Because you're giving up your turn on the off chance that an enemy spellcaster might cast an area effect spell, that spell needs line of effect, and you successfully identify that spell when incoming? IOW, it's a defence that works, but costs way too much to be worthwhile.

 

[Nagol]

If you carry/find total cover, negate taking any actions yourself, make a Spellcraft check, and correctly guess the direction to protect yourself from then you too can avoid a burst effect.

OK. Sounds like its possible but sub-optimal.

 

[Greenfield]

I suspect that the next DM in our campaign (we trade off) is planning to use Disjunction to strip the group of magical gear in mid battle.

My Bard will throw buff spells and play Bard songs, after finding himself a corner and hiding behind said tower shield. The shield won't interfere with the music at all, and he can watch from behind it using a mirror, popping up to throw spells as needed before retreating once more to cover.

Let some summoned monsters do some of the fighting for him, and be the pure support caster that Bards are supposed to be.

We, as PCs, tend to avoid treasure destroying tricks like Disjunction and Sunder, and I have reason to believe that the DM sees that as a blind spot. He thinks we won't expect it because we wouldn't do it.

I'm just thinking of ways to mess with him.

 

[Umbran]

If you carry/find total cover, negate taking any actions yourself, make a Spellcraft check, and correctly guess the direction to protect yourself from then you too can avoid a burst effect.

OK. Sounds like its possible but sub-optimal.

Also note that the tower shield weighs 45 pounds, and unlike other shields it does limit max dex bonus, and imposes a 50% arcane spell failure chance! You cannot do anything else with your shield hand (so, music might be an issue if you use a two-handed instrument), and you also take a -2 to-hit penalty using the shield...

 

[Alzrius]

My Bard will throw buff spells and play Bard songs, after finding himself a corner and hiding behind said tower shield. The shield won't interfere with the music at all, and he can watch from behind it using a mirror, popping up to throw spells as needed before retreating once more to cover.

You're going to be pretty limited in doing a lot of that if you want to ready an action to use your tower shield as cover each round, since that means giving up a standard action to ready.

 

[Greenfield]

Actually, in that mode, I don't need to Ready an Action at all. I'm already under hard cover.

My actions will be limited by physical position and perspective, but not by the action economy.

And, of course, if he throws something at me that can mash my little Bard flat against the wall, shield and all.