Sage Response: More on Mind Blank

[Ristamar]

Monte probably ruled differently because of the aforementioned funked up flavor text. That stupid bit about information gathering, if followed literally, makes Mind Blank a munchkin's dream come true, blocking out all spells like True Seeing, See Invisibility, True Strike, (arguably) Detect Magic, etc, etc. It seems to me that's not what they REALLY meant.

BTW, I think Xarlen makes a good point. R&R sets a nice example. It'd be great to see WotC (and everyone else) follow it.

 

[IceBear]

Wait a sec, if you though the repercussions were that bad, which they obviously were as Mind Blank was quickly becoming the Uber Munchkin/Defeat-all-magical-and-mundane-attacks spell, why did everyone carry on so long about it? It seems to me that there was never anything wrong with Mind Blank, but it was the description of True Strike that was the real problem. So, change the +20 insight bonus to a morale, competence, luck, whatever bonus and have a good day. Besides, like the sage said, there wasn't anything wrong with True Strike either. At least, I didn't see a problem with it. But I didn't over-analyze or rape the spell beyond belief. Man, Skip has got to hate us by now.

Because I didn't think of the repercussions until the Mind Blank vs True Seeing thread

Also, in my campaign the Mind Blank spell has never been cast and probably won't be (we don't play high levels) so I really didn't think too hard about it other than how the two spells work

Also, I think True Strike would have to be another school (maybe Enchantment or Transmutation) in order to give a +20 Enhancement bonus.

IceBear

 

[IceBear]

Monte probably ruled differently because of the aforementioned funked up flavor text. That stupid bit about information gathering, if followed literally, makes Mind Blank a munchkin's dream come true, blocking out all spells like True Seeing, See Invisibility, True Strike, (arguably) Detect Magic, etc, etc. It seems to me that's not what they REALLY meant.

BTW, I think Xarlen makes a good point. R&R sets a nice example. It'd be great to see WotC (and everyone else) follow it.

Yup

IceBear

 

[kreynolds]

I agree. I really like the format R&R uses for their spells. But I was flipping through the book yesterday at Barnes & Nobles and noticed that they don't list prices for magic items, at least not on the 15 or so items I saw. They weren't even artifacts. Is it like that throughout the whole book?

 

[Xarlen]

That was Errata'd. Look on the Scarred Land's website; they listed the magical item pricings.

Which, came too late, for I hath given my PCs an item I thought cost less then it did. Ah, well.

 

[Ristamar]

Wait a sec, if you though the repercussions were that bad, which they obviously were as Mind Blank was quickly becoming the Uber Munchkin/Defeat-all-magical-and-mundane-attacks spell, why did everyone carry on so long about it? It seems to me that there was never anything wrong with Mind Blank, but it was the description of True Strike that was the real problem. So, change the +20 insight bonus to a morale, competence, luck, whatever bonus and have a good day. Besides, like the sage said, there wasn't anything wrong with True Strike either. At least, I didn't see a problem with it. But I didn't over-analyze or rape the spell beyond belief. Man, Skip has got to hate us by now.

If you go back and look, you'll see a few of us did mention 'designer intent.' Regardless, it's always best to ask if unsure, IMO.

 

[kreynolds]

If you go back and look, you'll see a few of us did mention 'designer intent.' Regardless, it's always best to ask if unsure, IMO.

I realize you mentioned 'designer intent' but rape of a spell is rape of a spell man. A long time ago, a very wise DM said to me, "Don't read too much into it. You'll just get confused. Trust me." Then he smiled and clapped me on the shoulder. Hey...wait a sec...that son-of-a-troll!

 

[kreynolds]

I think because he thought about *HOW* True Strike works and I don't get that impression from The Sage's answer.

IceBear is right. Monte looked at this problem from the rear, True Strike, while everyone else was working on the front, Mind Blank. So, he had a completely different perspective.

 

[Vanye]

While, by the rules, I don't think it's the right answer - I still don't see how True Sight works without divining something about the target - it's probably the most reasonable. Especially how it seems that Mind Blank would become nearly unstoppable otherwise.

According to the SRD:
Target: The character

So, the spell inspires you to the best possible future that you can have in the next six seconds, combat wise. It doesn't tell you anything new about yourself, just that *this* (the +20 bonus) is the most optimal thing you can do at that time.

Makes sense to me....

 

[kreynolds]

Hold the phone! I have an idea. Why don't we create a new thread, such as "True Strike - Insight bonus or other?" and move this there? Just having Mind Blank up there in the title taints this beyond belief.