Spell Resistance Question

[Baalzebul]

Re: Re: Re: Spell Resistance Question

The reason a creature's SR never interferes with its own spells is evident by the fact that a cleric can cast a heal spell on himself and his SR never gets in the way (he doesn't have to lower it at all). Any spell the cleric casts automatically bypasses his own SR, including flamestrike.

This is how I originally read it, but I'm curious about where the example of the cleric with SR casting heal on himself comes from. I took a hunt through my books in the places I'd expect to find examples while trying to determine whether my original interpretation of the rules was correct or not but came up dry. If you could provide a reference I'd appreciate it.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spell Resistance Question

This is how I originally read it, but I'm curious about where the example of the cleric with SR casting heal on himself comes from.

It wasn't a referrence. It was a statement. It is a fact that SR does not interfere with your own castings. You can't "raise" it for some of your spells (flamestrike) and let others slip through (Heal). All of your spells always bypass your own SR. Just the way it is.

I took a hunt through my books in the places I'd expect to find examples while trying to determine whether my original interpretation of the rules was correct or not but came up dry. If you could provide a reference I'd appreciate it.

Like I said, there isn't a passage that I know of in the books that uses an example similar to mine, but everything you need to know about SR is on DMG page 81.

 

[Lela]

Originally posted by Joust
Yeah, I read that. It says "A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities." But I interpreted that as meaning at the time of casting or using abilities, not when a spell effect comes back on the caster.

It looks like you're purposfully interpreting the rule in your favor. What does "A spell effect comes back on the caster" mean anyway? Regardless, in this case, it's not coming back to anyone. He cast it on himself, just as if he were casting a healing spell on himself.

If you're looking to see what would happen if a spell was "turned back at you" there might be something in the Spell Turning[/i spell description. Other than that, you'd follow the rule.

Quite straight forward. "NEVER interferes with its own spells." He cast it, it was his own spell. Never interferes. Just because it wasn't benificial doesn't matter. It cuts both ways.

It would have helped if he had fire resistance, cast Spell Immunity (new idea!), or had evasion.

But strictly according to the rules, SR doesn't apply.

 

[hong]

What convinced me was that lots of demons have teleport without error as a spell-like ability. If SR applied when you targeted yourself with your own abilities, a demon would have to make a caster level check every time it tried to bamf out. That strikes me as wrong.

 

[Lela]

What convinced me was that lots of demons have teleport without error as a spell-like ability. If SR applied when you targeted yourself with your own abilities, a demon would have to make a caster level check every time it tried to bamf out. That strikes me as wrong.

What's really fun is the Quicken Spell-like Ability feat (MM) applied to Teleport w/o Error. It's fun to jump around hitting different party members as a free action. The standard mage and cleric hiding in the background doesn't work.

 

[Xarlen]

What's really fun is the Quicken Spell-like Ability feat (MM) applied to Teleport w/o Error. It's fun to jump around hitting different party members as a free action. The standard mage and cleric hiding in the background doesn't work.

I thought it only listed Dragons could get that? That's the only place where 'Quickened Spell-likes' is mentioned.

 

[hong]

I thought it only listed Dragons could get that? That's the only place where 'Quickened Spell-likes' is mentioned.

Indeed, a dragon-only goodie.

 

[Caliber]

Being a Half-Dragon changes your type to Dragon, enabling you to pick up those nifty Dragon Feats.

And I have changed my mind that the spell should check the caster's SR. Your SR is useless vs. your own spells.

 

[hong]

Being a Half-Dragon changes your type to Dragon, enabling you to pick up those nifty Dragon Feats.

You have to be an actual _dragon_ to get dragon feats, not just have the dragon type. They're listed under the dragon creature description, not in the writeup for the type. Otherwise wyverns and dragon turtles would be able to use them as well.

 

[Xarlen]

You have to be an actual _dragon_ to get dragon feats, not just have the dragon type. They're listed under the dragon creature description, not in the writeup for the type. Otherwise wyverns and dragon turtles would be able to use them as well.

From the SRD:

Feats: Half-dragons have one feat for every four levels or the base creature’s total of feats, whichever is greater. Half-dragons have access to, and usually favor, the dragon feats.

Note, though, that Half-Dragons have no spell like abilities. Of course, that is unless you're using Psionics, which Are considered Spell LIkes...