Nystul's Nonfunctional Aura

[Nareau]

I'm been mulling this spell around in my head for a while. Its primary use is as an area-effect Dispel Magic soaker. When the Dispel goes off, this spell gets targeted first. The duration should be high enough to let your wiz/sor cast it on the whole group when you've got a day to prepare. But it should be useful enough that you might cast it on the rogue to keep his Improved Invisibility protected from the dispel-happy enemy cleric.

I could also see it being used in certain roleplaying situations. I was even thinking of letting it emulate the appearance of any other spell (chosen at casting) when studied with Detect Magic. So, for example, you could cast this and make it look (under a Detect Magic) like you were under the effect of a Geas, Polymorph, etc.

Finally, I might be tempted to raise the level and make it more useful--ie, it would automatically negate an entire Dispel Magic spell (even when targeted on the subject). Or possibly let the spell be cast on other spells to help keep them around. It would become a one-shot anit-dispel.

Any comments are welcome. I think this is the very first spell I've ever written.


Nystul's Nonfunctional Aura
Illusion (Glamer)

Level: Magic 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or object touched
Duration: 24 hours (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)

You create an invisible, powerful magical aura around the target. This aura radiates Strong magic of whatever school you select during the casting. It functions as a 9th level spell for most purposes, including Dispel Magic, Detect Magic, etc. Only one nonfunctional aura can be in place on the target at any given time.

Note that the actual caster level of the nonfunctional aura remains unchanged.

If the object bearing magic aura has identify cast on it or is similarly examined, the examiner recognizes that the aura is false and detects the object’s actual qualities if he succeeds on a Will save. Otherwise, he believes the aura and no amount of testing reveals what the true magic is.

If the targeted item’s own aura is exceptionally powerful (if it is an artifact, for instance), nonfunctional aura doesn’t work.

Note: A magic weapon, shield, or suit of armor must be a masterwork item, so a sword of average make, for example, looks suspicious if it has a magical aura.

Focus: A moth's wing

 

[Nifft]

Just glancing at it, I'd balance it against the Psionic power "Dispelling Buffer", which I can't look up now because I'm at work.

-- N

 

[the Jester]

iirc Relics & Rituals has a very similar spell in it- I think it's called ghost dweomer.

 

[yennico]

But it should be useful enough that you might cast it on the rogue to keep his Improved Invisibility protected from the dispel-happy enemy cleric.

If the improved invisibility spell is cast by high level pure spellcaster the spell has a good chance to resist the dispel.
Your spell favors non-pure spellcasters. Low caster level normally means the spells are easy to dispel. With your spell these casters can protect their low caster level spells from dispelling.

I was even thinking of letting it emulate the appearance of any other spell (chosen at casting) when studied with Detect Magic. So, for example, you could cast this and make it look (under a Detect Magic) like you were under the effect of a Geas, Polymorph, etc.

It is a nasty spell if you can emulate the apperance of a target of the spell to look like being under effect of an geas spell. To breaka geas except with remove curse the spellcaster needs to expend Xps.

Finally, I might be tempted to raise the level and make it more useful--ie, it would automatically negate an entire Dispel Magic spell (even when targeted on the subject).

To negate a dispel magic spell a wizard can counterspell the dispel magic spell of the enemy caster.
An automatic negation is like making all spell effects on a target permanent.

Or possibly let the spell be cast on other spells to help keep them around. It would become a one-shot anit-dispel.

A one-shot anti-dispel exists: Ring of counterspelling filled with a dispel magic

Nystul's Nonfunctional Aura

This spell is exactly like the magic aura spell except the level, the duration and SR.
Your spell function as a level 9th spell. That means caster level 17. To cast your spell a spell caster has to be level 7. A spellcaster level 7 dispels a spell with dispel magic +7. So this spellcaster has only a 50 % chance to dispel your spell.

I would change your spell this way.
Drop the 9th level function of your spell: Write: this spell is the first target of an area affecting dispel magic spell.
To increasee the difficulty to dispell this spell a spellcaster can heighten this spell with the heighten feat.