True Dispel Magic

[Baronovan]

Would there be any real harm in making a 9th-level dispel that has no caster-level cap? I can't see any...

 

[Arkhandus]

No problem with it as I see it. Hell, a 9th-level version of Dispel Magic should give an extra +5 or so bonus on the dispel check, or something. Like be castable as a quickened spell aka a swift action or whatever, without need for any feat to do so.

 

[Staffan]

9th might even be a little high for it. I mean, if you're gonna end spells with a 9th level spell, there's Mordenkainen's Disjunction for that.

 

[Baronovan]

... :\
yeah, that spell.

Seeing how much that spell ah... sucks, wouldn't it be nice to have a fair shot at things at any level?

 

[ChrisHaines]

I disagree.
I think Mordenkainen's Disjunction is a very powerful spell. It acts like a Dispel Magic with a 40' radius burst with an automatic dispel, no rolling involved. Not only that, it can possibly dispel magic items permamently with a failed Will save. Oh, and don't forget the ultimate feature, it can even destroy an artifact! Of course you potentially piss off a divine being in doing so.

 

[JimAde]

I disagree.
I think Mordenkainen's Disjunction is a very powerful spell.

Actually I think that's why people don't like it. It's like using a nuclear weapon to crack a bunker. Sure it works, but it makes the area kind of hard to loot.

 

[the Jester]

If you wanna make a 9th level dispel, I suggest simply increasing the cap to +30.

There's an epic spell that gives a 1d20 + 30 dispel check, superb dispelling. It's a bad idea to let a valent spell (i.e. up to 9th level) outshine that imho.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

What Jester said,. . . just half an hour later.

 

[Li Shenron]

Would there be any real harm in making a 9th-level dispel that has no caster-level cap? I can't see any...

At least you have to think that this spell is going to be used by epic characters, otherwise why not just use a Greater Dispel Magic, which is just as effective as long as the caster level is less than 21?

I think it's not at all a problem to have this spell at 9th level, but because of what I have said, there's not much reason to learn that spell before you are epic.

What you could do to have at least some reason for that to be taken by non-epic casters is to let it dispel some of those spells which are NOT affected by Greater Dispel Magic (just like GDM added the use against Bestow Curse, compared to Dispel Magic).

Let it dispel Feeblemind, Wall of Force, Insanity, Forcecage or even Antimagic Field.

 

[Baronovan]

If you wanna make a 9th level dispel, I suggest simply increasing the cap to +30.

There's an epic spell that gives a 1d20 + 30 dispel check, superb dispelling. It's a bad idea to let a valent spell (i.e. up to 9th level) outshine that imho.

Considering how iffy the Epic spellcasting system is, I couldn't care less if a 9th level dispel steps on its toes. Frankly, I think the more we use "valent" spells to usurp the need for that system, the better.