* * *     Wizards Community Thread  * * *

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Thread : "Potent" Dispel Magics
Started at 05-26-04 06:54 PM by Dugald the Lexicographer
Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=247175
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Post 1]
Author : Dugald the Lexicographer
Date : 05-26-04 06:54 PM
Thread Title : "Potent" Dispel Magics

A player in our group is arguing that his mage should have an extra bonus to dispel other magics, because his mage's magic is "potent" per the class/kit description (Halruaan Mage from Wizards and Rogues of the Realms).  The same argument should apply to any wizards with special focus, so here it is in general terms:
Any mage who is given a bonus to save versus a particular type of magic (school, etc.) should receive the same bonus when attempting to dispel that magic.
Here's the argument from the player I mentioned above:
Halruaan magic is described as "potent" ... hence ALL saves against magic spells launched by a Halruaan mage are made with a -4 penalty.  Also, Halruaans possess an innate ability to better resist magic effects than normal and recieve a +4 bonus to their own saving throws vs. spells.  Because of this potent magic, a Halruaan wizard's Dispel Magic ability should ALSO be more potent than a mage of the same level.  ANY and ALL saves vs. his magic incur a hefty -4 penalty to the save.  Since this "normal" magic is being affected by his "potent" magic, I think he should have some kind of adjustment to his roll.  Where any "rolls" are made, this negative penatly normally occurs.  I believe he should have some "benefit" to his dispel magic of the same level vs. a non-Halruaan's magic of the same level...

Out of fairness, a specialty mage should have a better chance to dispel something from his specialty school right?  A Red Wizard should have a better chance to dispel something from his two chosen specialty schools right?  A mysterious mage from the mythical island Nimbral I believe has a +2 vs. saves, and a -2 vs. his own magic...shouldn't he have a better chance to dispel magic because ALL of his magic rolls are at a -2 saving throw?
So ... anyone run into this before?  I'm inclined to say "it's not listed in ANY of those cases explicitly, so the answer is no."  But his argument has some merit, as, in a sense, a standing spell effect is "saving" against a mage who casts Dispel Magic on it.

What think thee?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Post 2]
Author : Falstaff the Fighter
Date : 05-26-04 08:00 PM

I wouldn't allow it. It just looks like a case of a clever rules lawyer jockying for extra powers the rules clearly do not intend for him to have (Otherwise they would have said so.) using a cleverly put together argument in his favor (Citing source which are not only optional, but unrelated-sans spin doctoring to the issue at hand.).

It reeks of 3e, the attempted use of a "universal" logic in a system where logic was not nessecirly based on percieved notions of class equality or congruency of applied terminology ("Potent".).

Edit: Fixed spelling.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Post 3]
Author : vader42xx
Date : 05-27-04 02:45 AM

Falstaff said it all...I agree 100%.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Post 4]
Author : Dugald the Lexicographer
Date : 05-27-04 10:57 AM

Thanks for weighing in gents!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:20 AM.