Tactics for dealing with Blasphemy/Word of Chaos

[Runestar]

Blasphemy is No save, but does allow spell resistance - start there.

The spell Sheltered Vitality (Cleric 3/Druid 4) will render you immune to fatigue, exhaustion, ability damage and drain. Libris Mortis, page 71. That would take care of the Strength drain/weakening.

There are probably similar spells to render one immune to Dazing as well.

Blasphemy inflicts a str penalty, which is differentiated from str damage/drain, IIRC.

And you will be amazed at how rare daze immunity is. I myself count only 2 sources - a FR-specific spell which requires that you worship Ilmater, and an eberron dragonmark. Even constructs and undead (to some extent) can be dazed...

 

[Shin Okada]

Otiluke's Suppressing Field (Evocation) could be another option. It may prevent Blasphemy/Word of Chaos in some amount of chance. And at least, party casters can use non-evocation spells without problem.

 

[jasin]

Beeing deaf would help, because:
has the Sonic Descriptor.

Edit: Unless you qualify for this:

Are you sure? The rules seem somewhat unclear to me.

Sonic Attacks (Su): Unless otherwise noted, a sonic attack follows the rules for spreads. The range of the spread is measured from the creature using the sonic attack. Once a sonic attack has taken effect, deafening the subject or stopping its ears does not end the effect. Stopping one’s ears ahead of time allows opponents to avoid having to make saving throws against mind-affecting sonic attacks, but not other kinds of sonic attacks (such as those that deal damage). Stopping one’s ears is a full-round action and requires wax or other soundproof material to stuff into the ears.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Blasphemy inflicts a str penalty, which is differentiated from str damage/drain, IIRC.

And you will be amazed at how rare daze immunity is. I myself count only 2 sources - a FR-specific spell which requires that you worship Ilmater, and an eberron dragonmark. Even constructs and undead (to some extent) can be dazed...

Interesting - I didn't know Blasphemy was not temporary damage/drain of Strength. We had played it that way in-game.

At least the dazing is for one only round and you can defend yourself normally.

 

[Physiker]

Hm, to be honest, I didn't reread the rules before making the poste above.
I always ruled, that only damage dealing sonic spells are not negated when the target is deaf.
But you are right the rules are quite unclear.
In fact, daze is a mind-affecting attack, so at least it would qualify if Blasphemy would allow a saving throw.
But since Blasphemy don't grand a saving throw you get no advantage from having not to make one.

So the résumé would be: Beeing deaf doesn't make you immune to Blasphemy.

Which is a quite unstatisfying result in my opinion...

 

[Runestar]

Weakened:The creature’s Strength score decreases by 2d6 points for 2d4 rounds.

I always interpreted it as a penalty, not least because that meant the effects of multiple blasphemies would not be cumulative...

I could be wrong though...

 

[Shin Okada]

Third Eye Clarity (EPH or MIC), can negate confused, dazed, fascinated, or stunned condition as a Immediate action once per day. This could be another good protection against those spells.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Any effect to increase your HD or effective HD would help, such as the Bard's Inspire Greatness.

I have a houserule feat that adds +4 effective HD to the recipient, which CAN go above ECL, solely for purposes like this, so weaker mooks or PC cohorts and such have a fighting chance against such brutal spells.

[sblock]
Powerful Facade [General, Fighter]
You are trained to seem much tougher than you actually are.
Prerequisites: Improved Toughness, Intimidate 5 ranks
Benefit: For all opposed level checks (such as defending against the demoralization ability of intimidate) and abilities using a comparison of your HD to some other value (such as blasphemy or sleep), your HD count as four higher than they are. This value can exceed your ECL. This ability does not increase your effective caster/manifester/initiator level for any purpose.
Also, you may use a swift action to gain a number of temporary HP for one round equal to 1/2 your HD (without the modifications from this feat.)[/sblock]

I'm annoyed that the Bard can't use Countersong (only can be used as a save replacement), personally. Ah well.

 

[Allegro]

Go on the offensive and cast enervation and give the demon negative levels. This will knock down the caster level of the blasphemy spell. A bestow curse spell could give the demon a 50/50 chance of not spamming blasphemy.

I’m not sure what I think about this idea, how about using the skill Use Magic Device to emulate an alignment? In theory, if a character was emulating being evil they might be treated as evil for the purpose of this spell. Alternatively, a radical solution would be to purchase and use a helm of opposite alignment which would carry its own set of problems.

 

[Mordion]

Thanks to everyone who responded, I really do appreciate the help.

I'm still stuck on this deafness idea though;

1. If being deaf means you don't have to roll a saving throw against effects that normally allow one, it seems like that would mean the spell didn't really affect you and you also wouldn't take the hit just because a spell doesn't normally allow a saving throw.

2. In the spell description for Blasphemy, after the normal effects are given and it goes on to describe the banishment effect, it says:

if the caster is on his/her home
plane of existence, any non-Evil Extraplanar
creature in the area of effect (even if the
‘blasphemy’ cannot be heard)

which would seem to imply that the other effects of Blasphemy don't occur if the 'blasphemy' can't be heard.

Or is this just wishful thinking?