Researching Spell: Supress Magic

[Mr.Binx]

I'm creating an 8th level spell that is almost identical to Mordenkainen's Disjunction except that it will supress magic rather than disjoin it. The percentage chance remains the same to affect artifacts but the caster will not risk losing any spellcasting abilities. Anything that is successfully supressed will have their durations suspended until the spell expires (i.e. a 5 round duration spell that is supressed on it's second round will still have 3 rounds remaining whenever the magic supression fades). This spell will be dispellable. I'm looking at setting a dismissable duration of 1 minute per caster level. I want to make sure there isn't anything I've missed before it goes into playtesting. I'm looking for input here; good or bad. Any suggestions? Does this seem reasonable for an 8th level spell to the majority?

 

[gfunk]

Here's the thing, I understand that you are trying to make a slightly weaker version of M's Disjunction to justify the spell level of 8. However, I would contend that this spell is superior to M's Disjunction in many ways:

1. No chance of permanently losing spellcasting or angering deities by destroying artifacts. At high levels, this is a major balancing factor to this spell. High level combat (e.g. 18+) is almost sure to involve minor or major artifacts every now and then.

2. No chane of losing powerful items in the hands of enemies. One of the significant downsides of M's Disjunction is the elmination of potential treasure. Sure that 18th level Fighter might have an ass-kicking weapon or that 20th level Cleric has an ultra-powerful staff, but on Disjunction could deny those powerfu items to you and your party. I've heard members of BADD argue that a Great Wyrm Dragon wouldn't take this spell b/c it could eliminate potent treasures it could collect for its hoard.

3. The proposed duration (1 min/level) is much longer than high level combats last. Generally, these are quick and bloody. Taking out all of a spellcaster's protections for 1 min/level is virtually as good as dispelling them.

4. This fact that the spell is dismissable is a major positive factor. For instance, you can cast Supress Magic on a group of powerful monsters/NPCs with potent items. In the meantime, your high-level PC Monks, Fighters, or Rogues can effectively disarm them and pick up the items. Since your opponents have all of their protective spells stripped, this shouldn't be too difficult, particularly at the levels we are talking. The minute your PC Fighter picks up the +10 Everdancing Vorpal Sword, his buddy the mage can dismiss the Supress Magic spell. Ouch!

If you want my opinion, I think this spell should be Epic.

 

[James McMurray]

I would have to agree with gfunk on most counts. Perhaps if the spell were an emanation (and thus gave people within it the chance to move elsewhere) it would not be so powerful. Of course, if that were the case though, it would be more like an anti-magic field that could affect artifacts (and presumably has greater than personal range), which doesn't sound like what you're looking for.

What about this:

Suppress Magic
Abjuration

Illusion (Figment)
Level: Sor/Wiz 8, Magic 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet / 2 levels)
Effect: 10' radius emanation sphere
Duration: 1 round per 2 levels
Saving Throw: Will negates (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes

Suppress Magic temporarily suspends all spell effects within the area of effect. While the duration lasts, all spells within the area which were in the area at the time of casting cease to function. In addition, all magic items within the area at the time of casting are also temporarily rendered non-magical if they fail a will save (or if their holder fails a will save in the case of attended items). Items of artifact or higher power (is there a "higher" power?) have a 1% chance per caster level of being suppressed.

A suppressed spell has its duration temporarily placed "on hold" until either the duration ends or the spell leaves the area of effect. Magic items are likewise rendered ineffectual until the duration expires or the spell effect ends.

The spell's emanation can be targetted upon a single creature, which will then become the center of the area of effect, but that creature is entitled to a willsave, and spell resistance (if any) applies.

That would still allow you to suppress spells and items, but would leave the foe a way out. The duration is much lower, and thus would sometimes run out before a fight ended. Even at a bare minimum of 7 rounds, many high level combats will be over before the spell ends.

The abillity to target someone means you can place it on a a friend who is in combat with someone and have it act as a select anti-magic field. New spell effects will work, but anything that was up when it was cast is down for the count.

I don't know though, in some ways it can still be seen as too powerful (remove the foe's protections without destroying their items). In other ways it could be seen as too weak (anti-magic field does so much more at two levels less, and its only (albeit major) downside is the personal range.

 

[Mr.Binx]

Yeah, the overpowered aspect is what I was expecting this to get nailed on. Turning it into a antimagic effect isn't what I'm really looking for. I'm trying to make something that can be used both offensively and as an abjurative utility spell in conjunction with other magics. How about this:

Suppress Magic
Abjuration
Level: Sor/Wiz 8, Magic 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/2 levels)
Target: One creature, object, or magical effect
Duration: 2D4 rounds + 1 round/2 levels (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: No

Suppress Magic temporarily suspends the duration of all magical effects currently active upon the target at the time of casting. These effects cease to function while this spell remains active. Also all magic items, excluding artifacts, in contact with or carried by the target at the time of casting are temporarily rendered non-magical for the duration of this spell. A creature's spellcasting abilities and natural ability to generate magical effects are not supressed by Suppress Magic. Magic items and effects not present at the time of casting that later come into contact with the target remain unaffected by this spell. An artifact is not supressed in any case unless it has been individually singled out and targetted by Suppress Magic. All magical items and effects act as if they had been dispelled for the duration of this spell and resume their normal durations when the spell ends (for instance, a 5 round duration spell that was suppressed on it's second round would still have 3 rounds remaining when the supression ends).

 

[James McMurray]

That's definitely better.

 

[gfunk]

I would knock the duration down to 1 round/2 levels and dump the 2d4 rounds. By the time you are high enough level to cast this spell (15), 7 rounds of supression will be plenty.

Otherwise, I think it's balanced for its level.

 

[Mr.Binx]

If the 2D4 portion seems overpowered for some odd reason I could knock the variable duration down to 1D4 rounds + 1 round/2 levels. I wanted to keep the duration variable to some extent mainly for story purposes and to keep some degree of randomness when dealing with magic supression (Dispel Magic for instance).

 

[James McMurray]

You could also increase the duration but require a caster check against all spells and items in the area. That would greatly increasse the randomness. If you did this, you might even be able to get away with increasing it to 1 target per 3 levels or something along those lines.

 

[Mr.Binx]

WoOt! Here we go. I think I've got it nailed down. I went ahead and went with the caster level check and got rid of the saving throw since it gives the caster a little bit more leeway over the dweomers and items he/she can affect. I increased the range to be on par with the dispel magic line. I also kept the random 1D4 seed but left the second half of the duration equation alone. Finally I added a lesser version for targetting single effects and items. All in all, I think it came out pretty solid. Now on to the playtesting... I'm highly optimistic at this juncture. Thanks for your help guys.

Bim's Magic Suppressor
Abjuration
Level: Sor/Wiz 8, Magic 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 feet level)
Target: One magical object or one magical effect or all magic items and effects upon one creature
Duration: 1D4 rounds + 1 round/2 levels (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Bim's Magic Suppressor attempts to temporaily suppress all magical effects and magic items active upon or carried by the target at the time of casting. A suppression attempt is treated exactly as a targetted dispel attempt by the spell Greater Dispelling except that all magic items on the target are also included in the attempt. Any magical items or effects that are successfully suppressed act as if dispelled for the duration of this spell and resume their normal durations when the spell ends (for instance, a 5 round duration spell that was suppressed on it's second round would still have 3 rounds remaining when the supression ends). A creature's spellcasting abilities and natural ability to generate magical effects are not supressed by Bim's Magic Suppressor. Magic items and effects not present at the time of casting that later come into contact with the target remain unaffected by this spell. Lesser and major artifacts cannot be supressed by Bim's Magic Suppressor unless it is the sole target of this spell.

...and...

Bim's Lesser Suppression
Abjuration
Level: Sor/Wiz 5, Magic 5
Target: One magical object or effect

As Bim's Magic Suppressor except that only one magical effect or item may be affected per casting and the maximum bonus to the caster level check is +15. Artifacts are unnaffected by this version of the spell.

 

[gfunk]

I like it! Good job!