Is there errata for the Nightmare spell PHB p.232

[JacktheRabbit]

Is there any rules errata for the nightmare spell in the Players Handbook?

If not then I have to say that this spell is the single biggest piece of BS ubercrap in the entire PHB.

Unlimited Range

No required link to target

No real defense against spell

The only counter doesnt do squat if you are getting hit with the spell my a mage safe in his tower.

What a complete stinking load of crap.

 

[Piratecat]

What are you complaining about? It has a will save and it's a 5th lvl spell; seems perfectly balanced to me.

I can only imagine it's being used against you by your rat bastard DM.

- PCat

 

[JacktheRabbit]

If I wanted stupid smartass comments I would ask my neighbors 8 year old kid.

What are you complaining about? It has a will save and it's a 5th lvl spell; seems perfectly balanced to me.

I can only imagine it's being used against you by your rat bastard DM.

- PCat

 

[IceBear]

Nightmare

Illusion (Phantasm) [Mind-Affecting, Evil]
Level: Brd 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Unlimited
Target: One living creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

The character sends a hideous and unsettling phantasmal vision to a specific creature whom the character names or otherwise specifically designates. The nightmare prevents restful sleep and causes 1d10 points of damage. The nightmare leaves the subject tired out and unable to regain arcane spells for the next 24 hours.

Dispel evil cast on the subject while the character is casting the spell dispels the nightmare and stuns the character for 10 minutes per caster level of the dispel evil. While the character is stunned, the character can’t act, the character loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, and attackers get a +2 bonus against the character.

If the recipient is awake when the spell begins, the character can choose to cease casting (ending the spell) or enter a trance until the recipient goes to sleep, whereupon the character becomes alert again and completes the casting. If the character is disturbed during the trance, the spell ends.

If the character chooses to enter a trance, the character is not aware of the character's surroundings or the activities around the character while in the trance. The character is defenseless, both physically and mentally, while in the trance. (the character always fails any saving throw, for example.)

Creatures who don’t sleep or dream (such as elves, but not half-elves) are immune to this spell.

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1) Well, he needs to know the target's name so he just can't cast it on anyone.

2) It's a 5th level spell that only causes 1d10 points of damage.

3) Mind Blank would stop it (sorry, had to throw that in)

4) I think Protection from Evil would block it

Anyway, it's a spell that is a nusiance, but if the character goes and visits a local temple he can probably make it not worth the spellcaster's effort to keep up the assault. Also, if the spellcaster knows the character's name, it is likely that the characters are aware of the caster and could eventually ferret out his location and "permanently" persuade the caster to stop casting the spell

IceBear

 

[Zhure]

It only does 1d10 of damage at 5th level. Blah blah blah.

Will negates. Most arcane casters have a high will save. Everyone else will suck up the 1d10 and not give a rat's whiskers.

10 minute casting time. Not something does on a whim.

Presumably, Mind Blank will help stop this affect. I really don't want to discus that though, lol.

Spell Resistance has to be checked.

Elves are immune.

Dispel Evil cast on the target dispels the nightmare, but has a horrific long-term (10 minutes per caster's level of the Dispel Evil) stunning affect.

The target has to be asleep, else the effect won't work. The caster gets to know if the target is asleep, otherwise the caster goes into a trance until the target does sleep. If none of that is followed, the spell fails, or if the trance is interrupted. Being in a trance makes the caster defenseless. (Note: this is evidence Mind Blank will protect against it.)

Here's the scenario.

Day 1. Nightmare, out of the blue. ACK, my mage can't recover spells.

Day 2. Either avoid sleeping (which screws the nightmare sender), or sleep in short bursts, hopefully screwing up the nightmare caster. Also, get a friend to cast Dispel Evil. Perhaps get it on a scroll if you don't know the spell yourself. Perhaps a Limited Wish, or any number of Contingencies. An anti-magic shell will do the trick, as well.

Save boosting spells (like Protection from Evil) will allow the target a better save, and a chance to recover his spells.

Day 3+. Eventually, the target makes his save, gets a good night's sleep and can use the ideas listed under Day 2 to defend himself. Obviously at that point, it's time for revenge.

Since the caster is using a 5th level spell, one can assume the target probably has access to Nightmare as well.

I'd like to think mages really frown on this sort of behavior so fellow mages would be helpful in acquiring defenses, or scrolls of Nightmare (for either vengeance or counterspelling).

Hope that helps,
Greg

 

[Zhure]

LOL@Multiple Mind Blank references

 

[Cloudgatherer]

I didn't see any errata on the spell. A Will save does negate the effects, as does a "protection from evil" type spell (as it is a Mind-affecting spell).

Plus, it can be turned against the caster. Use dispel evil, caster is stunned for 10 minutes per level. The party now has a good chunk of time to get to the stunned wizard/sorcerer/bard and beat him down.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Gee I guess all your foes live 10 minutes from where you sleep at night.

Currently I have a lich archmage in a hidden lair casting this spell on me every night. Even if I made the will save she could have her minions cast it 4 or 5 times and I will eventually fail a save.

I could care less about the minor damage. The real danger is the inability to mem spells the next morning or did you guys miss that part of the spell description?

Also Prot from Evil last a very short period of time. The window of opportunity for this spell is the entire night you are sleeping.

 

[Galfridus]

• Sleep inside a Rope Trick, the extraplanar boundary negates the infinite range.
• Use divination spells (Commune, etc.) to find out who's casting the spell. These are high level -- spend some money at the local temple if need be.
• Get a Ring of Sustenance; sleep for 2 random hours during the day, spend 8 hours resting at night to get spells back.
• If this is a problem more than once, research a Detect Scrying like spell that works against Nightmare.

EDIT: Almost forgot: Legally change your name.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

All wonderful solutions that won't do squat short term while you don't get spells memorized and you get easily cut down.

• Sleep inside a Rope Trick, the extraplanar boundary negates the infinite range.
• Use divination spells (Commune, etc.) to find out who's casting the spell. These are high level -- spend some money at the local temple if need be.
• Get a Ring of Sustenance; sleep for 2 random hours during the day, spend 8 hours resting at night to get spells back.
• If this is a problem more than once, research a Detect Scrying like spell that works against Nightmare.

EDIT: Almost forgot: Legally change your name.