Is it acceptable for a DM to use disjunction on the PCs

[Cedric]

I voted:

I think it's ok to use in some circumstances, such as a game that has gotten too item dependent.

That's the choice that most closely matches my feelings on the subject. However, I do not think the game becoming too item dependent is a valid reason for the GM to drop Disjunctions. That's punishing the players for the GMs mistake and I would never do it.

Now...if the players have quested long and hard to craft some item that destroys liches almost instantly, then they take this item and head off after a famous lich. If the Liche's spies have returned news of this rumor back to him, you better believe he's going to pull out all the stops against the PCs, including dropping a Disjunction on them.

Once they were high enough level, I had a group where the Wizard kept Disjunction memorized 24/7 just to use it as a counterspell against Disjunction.

 

[Delta]

I vote: "It's acceptable because PCs need to be taken down a notch."

 

[Artoomis]

I cannot vote. I'd vote "Yes, but only when teh NPC is truly in extremis and this looks like the ONLY way out."

Everyone seems to keep ignoring the personal cost involved to the spell caster - the very real chance of losing all spell casting ability forever in a way that is more permanent than death, even.

I do not think any spellcaster would ever have this spell prepared, though it might be on a scroll for emergencies.

 

[Slaved]

Everyone seems to keep ignoring the personal cost involved to the spell caster - the very real chance of losing all spell casting ability forever in a way that is more permanent than death, even.

Are artifacts really that common in your experience? Even if they are it is pretty likely that there is a less than 1% chance of losing spellcasting abilities. After that it is possible that the powerful being that is called could be happy that it is gone and either restore your spellcasting or send you on a quest to get it back.

People were talking about how easy it was simply to make a quest to get back equipment. That makes it sound like it should be easy enough to get a quest to restore the lost ability.

I personally have not seen artifacts to be that common. It would be interesting I suppose if every threat that came across a party had one though. At some point artifacts become common, especially if the party is already carrying around a few dozen. Does that sound like a typical campaign?

 

[Quartz]

I am, unsurprisingly, in favour of using it.

 

[el-remmen]

This isn't really a "rules" thread as there is no question how it works.

So I will move this to General where it might get more action. . .

Oh, and I voted an unequivocal "Yes"

 

[Nifft]

I vote an unequivocal yes.

However, I'm of the opinion that it should not be used often... as in, not as the default first spell of every Wizard who can cast it. But there should be some opponents who love the spell, and some who find the very idea repellent ("A spell that uses my reward for killing you as its material component? How awful!") -- just like there should be for most tactics.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Mithran]

I vote Other. I don't actually agree with any of the options, because both the options that say it's acceptable add in an extra caveat. I think it's acceptable for a DM to use, since they are ultimately in control of the world. But I have my doubts about both the 'added dimensions of play', and Disjunction as a tool to avoid 'item-dependence' options.

 

[Corsair]

Yes. If it makes sense, use it!

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I voted as 'acceptable', altho my standard is that it would have to make sense from the NPC's point of view.

Consider this, you are a mage capable of casting Disjuntion and you know a group of well-equiped adventureres have trashed your first two lines of defense.... casting the spell will destroy some of your cool stuff, but may save your life...

In play, since I tend to run lower level games, I have only had the spell come into play once... and it was due to being asked to guest-GM a game that had gotten out of hand due to magic equipment...with the specific intent of brining the game back down to a power level the normal GM was comfortable with.
[sblock]I wasn't too mean. Had a Lich BBEG that the group successfully trounced. Then they looted his treaure trove, an underground chamber replete with throne. The throne had a hidden chamber with an ornate locked box, trapped with some pretty nasty poisen. The Rogue, of course, found the hidden chamber and opened the box to find a Ring and a note. The note said that this ring would bring great power to the wearer when activated and had the command word.
Player assumed it was a Ring of Wishes

It was a Ring of Disjunction, and the treasure chamber was dug under an unstable shelf of rock that was magically supported.

Give you one guess what the player did
[/sblock]