Protection From Targeted Dispell

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I'm playing a melee combat cleric and a few times in the last few fights I've found something unfortunate.

Targeted Dispell Magic can wreak absolute freaking havok with melee combat clerics.

One targeted dispell just runs through every single spell with a pretty good chance of hitting each one. We've been getting into a few fights with creatures that have DM as a SLA, so it isn't just one or two ... I got hit with SIX once.

So far it hasn't been a huge problem ... I've got alot of redundant systems in place, and usually an extra of any particular buff memorized, and the worst thing that happened was a plummet 60', but it can be pretty dangerous if I'm going to be fighting in lava or in the air or surrounded by level draining monsters and suddenly the spell I'm relying on gets yanked out from under me.

Right now I'm planning on two Rings of Counterspell with DMs in them, which will give me two layers of defense, but, as I said, I've seen SIX tossed at me before. Is there any other protection? And we're getting into levels that Greater Dispell may start making appearances, and IIRC, RoCounterspells only holds 3rd level spells, so is there a protection against that one?

In the end, if the enemy is spending its time stripping all the spells off of me, it gives the rest of the team time to rip him a new one (and in the last fight, that's what happened, the monster spent two rounds systematically trying to neutralize my powers, and managed to succeed in knocking me out of the fight and down three stories, but the rest of the team killed it that round) ... I don't want to get killed when my Protection From Energy fails in the lava pit or my Lesser Holy Transformation fails 500' above the ground.

And getting nerfed sucks.

--fje

 

[mikebr99]

The ring of counterspells can hold 2 spells up and including 6th level.

THere's a necklass of some sort that gives another ring slot... mage hand or some sort.

so, 3 rings of counterspells w/6 greater dispels in them. and just sweat through the normal dispels

Mike

 

[Plane Sailing]

Have you considered a Rod of Absorbtion?

This rod acts as a magnet, drawing spells or spell-like abilities into itself. The magic absorbed must be a single-target spell or a ray directed at either the character possessing the rod or her gear. The rod then nullifies the spell’s effect and stores its potential until the wielder releases this energy in the form of spells of her own. She can instantly detect a spell’s level as the rod absorbs that spell’s energy. Absorption requires no action on the part of the user if the rod is in hand at the time.

It's a steal at 50,000gp...

 

[Iku Rex]

Using 2 rings of counterspells with the same spell is kind of tricky, rules wise, as there's really no reason (that I can see) why they wouldn't trigger simultaneously.

What you want is the spellblade weapon ability from Player's Guide to Faerun (+6000 gp). You choose one spell, and when you're hit by that spell it's absorbed by the weapon. You can redirect the absorbed spell at an opponent as a free action on your next turn.

 

[resscane]

Good replies here. My group is playing the Shackled City Path and we have been getting killed w/ Dispel Magic and Greater Dispel Magic. But we use the tactics ourselves, so fair is fair. My wizard already has 1 ring of counterspells- dispel magic. I dont have PLayers Guide to Faerun, (not sure the DM will allow it either) but what are the details of it, spell blade, that is?

Also, would a contingency spell cast w/ dispel magic or even Greater dispel magic work here? Im not sure about the particulars of the timing of the spell, as Im at work and dont have the book in front of me. Can contingency work like that, almost like a counter spell?

Also, you can always have some spell caster hold their action and counter the dispel magic as its cast, although I've yet to see a counter spell used in actual play.

 

[starwed]

What you need is access to the psionic power Dispelling Buffer. Perhaps research a spell equivalent to it? (Although you might be too low of a level for right now.) Also, the long duration makes items of it relatively affordable.... if someone has UMD, that works with psionic power stones.

I thought at first that Spell Immunity could be used against Dispel Magic. But dispel has SR:none, so no dice.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Buy a bunch of scrolls of dispel magic to cast into the rings after every encounter?

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Rod of Absorbtion, why didn't I think of that? Now, to save up 50,000gp.

I think we have two items in the whole party worth that, at this point. The fighter-type's Holy Mage-Bane Dwarven Waraxe +1. And my Legacy item. And neither of those were paid for through normal means.

It's a toss-up. As a GM myself, I don't want to become immune to it, really. It's an attractive option, as a player, but the GM needs some way to punk my character from time to time.

Just knowing that the Ring of Counterspells goes to 6 helps. I can, at least, keep one regular DM and a GDM.

We'd just had a battle 500' off the ground, though, and I realized that it was far too easy for the spells I rely on not to instantly die were a little fragile if one or two targeted dispels were going to scour off my whole buff suite. This time it was a 60' drop ...

EDIT: I probably wouldn't even need scrolls, to be honest. Because of the "D&D Day", we usually rest before I've used up all of my 3rd level slots. I regularly keep 2 DMs in there to remove bad stuff and, in the past, burst DM. But we haven't gone up against anything human in four RL months, so there's been nobody to debuff myself. They'd be there to cast into the rings after combat on my own.

I think the first DM I'd used myself since 7th level (we're 13th) was that combat to suppress the demon's magic blade. Demons, Elementals, and Constructs don't have buffs to scour off, usually.

--fje

 

[frankthedm]

Targeted Dispell Magic can wreak absolute freaking havok with melee combat clerics.

One targeted dispell just runs through every single spell with a pretty good chance of hitting each one. We've been getting into a few fights with creatures that have DM as a SLA, so it isn't just one or two ... I got hit with SIX once...

Right now I'm planning on two Rings of Counterspell with DMs in them, which will give me two layers of defense, but, as I said, I've seen SIX tossed at me before. Is there any other protection?

Avoid Babau demons.

Be less tempting of a target for dispells. If foes see you cast, cast, cast and then enter melee, they know those spells have to go. Be less dependant on spell buffs. Spread the magic around the party.

I don't want to get killed when my Protection From Energy fails in the lava pit or my Lesser Holy Transformation fails 500' above the ground.

That is what is supposed to happen!

And getting nerfed sucks.

IMHO If you use your spells as such a crutch that both ring slots are getting RoCispel Magic, you deserve it.

 

[Artoomis]

Rod of Absorbtion, why didn't I think of that? Now, to save up 50,000gp.

...It's a toss-up. As a GM myself, I don't want to become immune to it, really. It's an attractive option, as a player, but the GM needs some way to punk my character from time to time....--fje

Don't worry about it. If the DM lets you have it, go for it.

It's pretty well-balanced.

50 levels max absorbed (16 Dispel Magic or 8 Greater Dispel Magic or some combination) for 50,000 gp.

Seems fair enough. Plus, of course, the "free' spells you get to cast.

It would appear that this Rod is an automatically functioning item, so those emergency Cure spells will get absorbed, too. In fact, there seems to be no way to turn it off short of sticking it in a bag of holding or putting it down so it's not on you any more.

EVERY targeted spell (with you as the only target) will get absorbed.

It's a decidely mixed blessing. I'd allow it - what fun!