Mind Blank defeats the effect of a True Strike?

[Xahn'Tyr]

If the "True Strike Doesn't Target the Defender" argument is the best you can come up with, then I'm just going to consider this argument won. Niether Commune nor Augury target the defender. Hell, even "Detect Thoughts" has no target; it's an area of effect spell. But since those don't target the defender, I guess Mind Blank doesn't work against them.


The game design favors defense over offense. Common sense says a level 8 spell should be slightly more powerful than a level 1 spell. It looks like the burden of proof is on those of you who think True Strike is more powerful.

So far, the only argument has been that True Strike tells the caster about the future. The problem is, it tells him about the future with respect to his sword and the guy he is swinging at. If you take the guy he is swinging at out of the picture (because a divination spell cannot provide any information about him), then who cares where your sword is going to be? Sure, you can see where everything in the whole universe, other than the defender is going to be in a fraction of a second. That is not going to give you any bonus to his the guy you have no imformation about.

To get a +20 to hit the defender, you need to know where he is going to be. If he is Mind Blanked, then you're first level divination spell cannot provide you that information.

To change my mind on this, you're going to have to show me how you can claim a +20 to hit the guy without considering him at all in the process.

 

[IceBear]

Irrelevant post

 

[Tom Cashel]

I don't believe true strike divines anything about the targets future, it divines something about the person doing the attack's future. A minor but important difference.

Should antimagic shell be effective against TS? What about spell resistance?

If the attack takes place within the antimagic field? Absolutely.

"An invisible barrier surrounds the character and moves with the character. The space within this barrier is impervious to most magical effects, including spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. Likewise, it prevents the functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines."

Spell resistance is irrelevant.

"Spell resistance is a special defensive ability. If the character's spell is being resisted by a creature with spell resistance, the character must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) at least equal to the creature's spell resistance rating for the spell to affect that creature. "
There is no resistance involved.

True strike doesn't target the defender.

Legend lore doesn't target anyone but the caster; I think we agree that it would be blocked by Mind blank.

 

[IceBear]

Geesh - duplicate post

 

[Zenon]

This is a tough one. Both side have good points in their favor, but as a gut reaction I would tend to side with the "Mind Blank does not protect you from True Strike".

Caliban! Someone summon Caliban!

I'd be curious to see what he has to say on it....

 

[Tom Cashel]

That was my gut reaction too, Zenon...but consider:

1. The 8th level spell that protects from all Divinations should protect you from the 1st level Divination, shouldn't it?

2. In the words of The Sage, "defense over offense."

3. Who the Divination targets is irrelevant since most, if not all, Divinations target the caster.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Will True Strike work on a Golem or other mindless creature? If it does then it will work on someone with a mind blank since it proves that the spell is not tapping into anything about the target.

 

[IceBear]

I don't think Mind Blank (despite the name) requires you to be able to read the mind of the creature. It just prevents divination spells from working where the Mind Blanked creatures is involved. Thus, if I were Mind Blanked and in Toronto, and you cast Commune and asked your god whether or not I was in Toronto, it wouldn't be able to answer yes or no. Thus, whether or not the target is an object or mindless is irrelevant.

IceBear

PS I'm a big lover of D&D, but I don't believe that any of the above spells could really be cast in real life it was just an example .

 

[Xahn'Tyr]

True Strike

[he character gains temporary, intuitive insight into the immediate future.

But that must be a future devoid of any Mind Blanked creatures. So how is this insight going to give you a bonus to hit them?

The fact that True Strike works on mindless creatures and yet is foiled by Mind Blank only shows that Mind Blank provides additional protection beyond those associated with the brain; just as the spell description suggests:

This spell protects against all mind-affecting spells and effects as well as information gathering by divination spells or effects.

It's the "as well as" part that would benefit your golems.

 

[Number47]

Scry, Legend Lore and Discern Location will work on a golem. These do not work on somebody Mind Blanked. The argument that these are relevant is without merit.