Timestop immunity?

[wally]

In certain write-ups of characters that I have seen online or in books, there are a few listed that have immunity to the spell timestop. Even after 3ed changed it from an area spell to caster effect.

As the spell in 3 and 3.5 speeds up the caster so everything else seems to stop, how can anyone be immune to your casting of it? Could it be that they mean these powerful mages actually can't cast the spell on themselves? That would be kinda silly.

If they mean that someone else can cast but it wont effect them, how is that when the spell doesn't effect them anyway?

I am looking for justification for it, or at least a lame excuse.

Wally

 

[Janos Audron]

In certain write-ups of characters that I have seen online or in books, there are a few listed that have immunity to the spell timestop. Even after 3ed changed it from an area spell to caster effect.

As the spell in 3 and 3.5 speeds up the caster so everything else seems to stop, how can anyone be immune to your casting of it? Could it be that they mean these powerful mages actually can't cast the spell on themselves? That would be kinda silly.

If they mean that someone else can cast but it wont effect them, how is that when the spell doesn't effect them anyway?

I am looking for justification for it, or at least a lame excuse.

Wally

Immnity to Time Stop doesn't do anything. According to some designer (no, I can't name or quote him, but I'm sure someone else will ) it should change to Immunity to Temporal Stasis (the 9th level save or die spell)

 

[James McMurray]

That ability (on Elminster IIRC) is a holdover from 2e. IF you use the ELH rules, it can be considered to be a granted power equivilent to the Spell Stowaway (Timestop) feat. Thus whenever anyone within range of him benefits from Time Stop, he does too.

If you don't use the ELH, it can be viewed as Mystra keeping an eye on him and channeling a Time Stop into him whenever someone near him uses it. It kind of makes sense given their relationship and his Chosen status.

The last alternative would be to just say "Elminster's a goob" and drop him from your version of Faerun.

 

[Victim]

In 3.0, Time Stop is range Personal. So it affects the caster. Therefore, immunity to time stop means the caster can't use it.

The Epic feat Spell Stowaway provides an effective immunity to Timestop, and it makes sense that the simultaneous timestops put the casters in the same reference frame.

 

[wally]

Well, Elminster wasn't the only one I saw who had this, and if I were to actually run a FR game I would probably never include him.

What does the Spell Stowaway actually do?

I was just wondering as I feel that turnabout is fair play and I have a player using timestop and want to look at possible ways he might find around NPC's using it as well.

 

[AuraSeer]

What does the Spell Stowaway actually do?

When you take the feat, pick a spell you can cast. Any time someone within a certain range of you uses that spell, you are subject to the same effect, with the same chosen parameters.

For isntance, one creature in the ELH has Spell Stowaway (Teleport Without Error). If it is about to kill you, and you flee via teleport without error, the monster is also teleported, and shows up at the same destination.

 

[wally]

When you take the feat, pick a spell you can cast. Any time someone within a certain range of you uses that spell, you are subject to the same effect, with the same chosen parameters.

For isntance, one creature in the ELH has Spell Stowaway (Teleport Without Error). If it is about to kill you, and you flee via teleport without error, the monster is also teleported, and shows up at the same destination.

That's one to look out for. Is there any heavy requirements?

-wally

 

[Kae'Yoss]

It's an error - it should be immunity to temporal stasis.

 

[wally]

It's an error - it should be immunity to temporal stasis.

With regards to 'E' I understand. It may also be that way to all of the others who have this ability, but when you run into those DM's that choose to ignore errata, and play with what is written, you need some way to explain it.

I agree that it shouldn't be possible, but I was wanting to know if some think it is and how they explain it.

 

[The Souljourner]

If you're playing with a DM who chooses to ignore errata, it's time to find a new DM. (or beat this one into sensibility)