Ways to Counter Death Ward

[Garnfellow]

Let's say you're a vampire, head of a large vampiric household. And you just know that a bunch of nasty adventurer types are on their way over to crash your bloodsucking party. And you're pretty sure they'll be packing lots and lots of death ward spells. What do you do, short of running away?

 

[green slime]

Death ward lasts an amazing 20 minutes at CL 20.... not too impressive. Running away sounds like a very effective policy.

As a vampire, you suck up to all the 5th level+ clerics in town... ;-)

A few targetted and area Dispel Magic's wrok wonders.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Death ward lasts an amazing 20 minutes at CL 20.... not too impressive. Running away sounds like a very effective policy.

As a vampire, you suck up to all the 5th level+ clerics in town... ;-)

A few targetted and area Dispel Magic's wrok wonders.

5th level caster can't dispel a Caster level 20 spell with Dispel Magic.
I can see Greater working, but not the normal.

You'd need to roll a 26 on a 1d20 (impossible). You'd have to beat a 31 minimum.

But at lower levels (assuming Death ward is cast at caster level 10 or something), it is possible.

 

[FEADIN]

Don't try to drain levels, go grappling and suck blood, constitution drain is not negative energy damage

 

[green slime]

5th level caster can't dispel a Caster level 20 spell with Dispel Magic.
I can see Greater working, but not the normal.

You'd need to roll a 26 on a 1d20 (impossible). You'd have to beat a 31 minimum.

But at lower levels (assuming Death ward is cast at caster level 10 or something), it is possible.

The OP made no mention of CL 20: the CL 20 was a reference to the short Duration, and was spurious...

Furthemore: See that "+" sign in my post? It isn't just a coincidence.

 

[Noir le Lotus]

A good way to deal with Death Ward is to take advantage of its short duration (1min/CL).

Step 1 : send your vampire minions attack the adventurers. Tell them to attack by priority the clerics.

Step 2 : your vampire minions are disabled (gazeous form + return to the coffin), the adventurers have used several Death Ward or their cleric have lost a few levels (less detah ward to cast).

Step 3 : Let your minions regenerate & the death wards end, let's say one hour.

Step 4 : Rince + Repeat.

 

[Shin Okada]

Assuming the Vampire is a BBEG and not a PC, it can have equal or better CL comparing to PC casters (Challenge Rating modifier of Vampire Template is just +2).

So, Greater Dispel Magic will work.

Also, Otiluke's Suppressing Field (Complete Mage, Sor/Wiz 4 spell) may be used to suppress Necromancy spells. Though caster level checks are allowed.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

A good way to deal with Death Ward is to take advantage of its short duration (1min/CL).

Another way to take advantage of the fact they'll basically have to cast it at the start of a combat due to short duration is to...have the spell yourself! Counterspell to the rescue! Have minions who can cast it, or get rings of counterspelling for them to wear, whatever.

EDIT: By RAW, the rings won't work, actually. What a shame. Is there an item out there that works like I'm thinking? Keyed to one specific spell and stops it, regardless of target? Within a certain range, obviously.

 

[roguerouge]

Try... dominating the fighter and rogue and getting them to kill the cleric?

 

[Shin Okada]

Try... dominating the fighter and rogue and getting them to kill the cleric?

If the party can cast a lot of Death Ward spells per day, we should also expect that they are using truly a lot of Magic Circle against Evil, I guess.