Spell Turning

[Dodo13]

A question came to my mind... say I have a Spell Turning cast on me. If I cast a spell with Target:You on myself, for example True Strike, what will happen?

 

[Pyrex]

According to the RAW:
A resonating field is created and it blows up in your face.

According to Common Sense:
No wizard with a 17 (or higher) Int would have designed the spell that way in the first place. I think it's reasonable to assume that Spell Turning does not affect spells that you subsequently cast on yourself.

 

[Dodo13]

The resonating field would be an obvious answer as both the caster and the target has Spell Turning on... in fact it was the first one that came to my mind. But then, the rules suggest that the resonation field is created from two Spell Turning fields, and in this case there is only one.
My second thought was that totaly new effect will occur - You cast True Strike, It uses one level of Spell Turning, bounces back on the caster, uses one level of Spell Turning, bounces... until it discharges the field completely and than takes effect. But hey, that would need... well, 7-10 bounces, would take quite long (relatively) and could cause the resonation itself.
Finaly, the "no friendly fire" effect came to my mind. It would be quite logical as the field guards you against spells from outside, is somewhere around you.

Just thought that somebody already asked that question.

The other idea about the usefullness of the Spell Turning just emerged: Is it usefull against ranged touch spells (or just touch spells)? They have no target in description (e.g. Disintegrate), so it shouldn't be turned back, even when the effect is quite similar to other attack spells with target.

 

[frankthedm]

Spell turning is a spell that is not as strong as it would be assumed to be.

I'd almost say it is of questionable usefulness.

If it bounced rays, lines and cones like the Tarraques caracpace, that would be what one expects of spell turning.

 

[moritheil]

Yeah, players can't do that until they get the Reflect seed to play with in epic. :\

 

[DungeonMaester]

T-U-R-N-I-N-G.


Get it?

 

[WhatGravitas]

Spell turning is a spell that is not as strong as it would be assumed to be.

I'd almost say it is of questionable usefulness.

If it bounced rays, lines and cones like the Tarraques caracpace, that would be what one expects of spell turning.

Indeed. But how "overpowered" would it be to include rays, touches, and generally everything that targets you specifically to the effects the spell can reflect back? Except for spells with personal range.

 

[hong]

Spell turning is great for BBEGs loaded up with personal buffs. Bounce the party's targeted dispel back at them. Of course, it only works a couple of times before they catch on, but still, it's good.

Actually, that brings up another question: if someone tries to counterspell the BBEG with dispel magic, and the BBEG has spell turning up, is the dispel magic turned? What if it was a direct counterspelling (counter spell X with itself)?

 

[Infiniti2000]

According to the RAW:
A resonating field is created and it blows up in your face.

Actually, no it doesn't. A resonating field is only created when "...you and a spellcasting attacker are both warded by spell turning effects in operation..." Since true strike is not an attack, then the second part of that condition is not fulfilled. Therefore, the spell is simply turned (subtracting from the total) onto yourself (so still cast on you). Of course, a vast majority of people would simply rule that spell turning doesn't apply to Personal spells (and I would include harmless spells in that).

 

[Infiniti2000]

Actually, that brings up another question: if someone tries to counterspell the BBEG with dispel magic, and the BBEG has spell turning up, is the dispel magic turned? What if it was a direct counterspelling (counter spell X with itself)?

For this dispel magic to be turned, it would have to target the BBEG. While you may technically be taking the counterspell action against the BBEG (and I don't think the RAW should be phrased that way), you are actually countering the BBEG's spell, thus targeting the spell.