Protection from disintegration?

[werlax]

So, last night my 15th level rogue flubbed a saving roll and was
disintegrated. He was wearing a Scarab of Protection and we had a lot
of discussion whether the item refers to the "death" domain of spells,
or just things that can kill you. In the end the DM decided I was to
remain ash. There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides. The DM
made a roll and came in at a total of 19. Risen from the ashes, my
character stands reborn! ;) OK, anyway. I ramble. I was just
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration. I can't find anything that specifically mentions this
protection. I was considering a Ring of Counterspells. My problem
with that ring is I could never decide which spell to store in it.
What other 'instant death' spells are there that wouldn't be covered
by the Scarab of Protection? What about something to instantly pop-up
an Anti-Magic shield? I want to be a superhero. Something in a shade
of green would be nice.
Thanks for any tips!

[JB]

Post by werlax
So, last night my 15th level rogue flubbed a saving roll and was
disintegrated. He was wearing a Scarab of Protection and we had a lot
of discussion whether the item refers to the "death" domain of spells,
or just things that can kill you.

?!

Unless the 3.5 rules changed the description significantly from 3.0 SoP
states "The scarab can also absorb energy-draining attacks, death
effects, and negative energy effects". They have specific meanings in
D&D. IIRC it would apply to disintegrate in 3.0 and not in 3.5. Specify
your edition.

Post by werlax
In the end the DM decided I was to
remain ash. There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides.

Spell resistance 20 *is not* 20%!

Post by werlax
The DM
made a roll and came in at a total of 19. Risen from the ashes, my
character stands reborn! ;) OK, anyway. I ramble. I was just
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration. I can't find anything that specifically mentions this
protection. I was considering a Ring of Counterspells. My problem
with that ring is I could never decide which spell to store in it.
What other 'instant death' spells are there that wouldn't be covered
by the Scarab of Protection? What about something to instantly pop-up
an Anti-Magic shield? I want to be a superhero. Something in a shade
of green would be nice.
Thanks for any tips!

Cube of Force, Uber dex based AC to avoid the attack in the first place
or the cheapest option of all - total cover.

[Michael Scott Brown]

Post by JB
Unless the 3.5 rules changed the description significantly from 3.0 SoP
states "The scarab can also absorb energy-draining attacks, death
effects, and negative energy effects". They have specific meanings in
D&D. IIRC it would apply to disintegrate in 3.0 and not in 3.5. Specify
your edition.

Ahem. Disintegrate is none of these types of effect. The scarab is no
protection against that spell save through the SR it provides.

-Michael

[JB]

Post by Michael Scott Brown

Post by JB
Unless the 3.5 rules changed the description significantly from 3.0 SoP
states "The scarab can also absorb energy-draining attacks, death
effects, and negative energy effects". They have specific meanings in
D&D. IIRC it would apply to disintegrate in 3.0 and not in 3.5. Specify
your edition.

Ahem. Disintegrate is none of these types of effect. The scarab is no
protection against that spell save through the SR it provides.

Duh! How far up my arse did I pull that from.

[Ed Chauvin IV]

Post by JB

Post by Michael Scott Brown

Post by JB
Unless the 3.5 rules changed the description significantly from 3.0 SoP
states "The scarab can also absorb energy-draining attacks, death
effects, and negative energy effects". They have specific meanings in
D&D. IIRC it would apply to disintegrate in 3.0 and not in 3.5. Specify
your edition.

Ahem. Disintegrate is none of these types of effect. The scarab is no
protection against that spell save through the SR it provides.

Duh! How far up my arse did I pull that from.

Measure from fingertip to the brown ring on your arm.



Ed Chauvin IV

[werlax]

Post by JB

Post by werlax
In the end the DM decided I was to
remain ash. There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides.

Spell resistance 20 *is not* 20%!

Thanks. I knew that. I was typing without thinking again.

[Michael Scott Brown]

Post by werlax
So, last night my 15th level rogue flubbed a saving roll and was
disintegrated. He was wearing a Scarab of Protection and we had a lot
of discussion whether the item refers to the "death" domain of spells,
or just things that can kill you. In the end the DM decided I was to
remain ash.

And well he should. Scarabs are about life-snuffing necromancy and the
like, not just big powerful transmutation attacks.

Post by werlax
There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides. The DM
made a roll and came in at a total of 19.

Your DM would do well to review the rules, as this is not how spell
resistance works (SR 20 means that attacking casters must overcome "20" on a
caster level check). The caster of disintegrate (in a non epic game) is
between 11th and 20th level.

Post by werlax
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration. I can't find anything that specifically mentions this
protection.

Avoid being hit by the ray (increase your touch AC), improve your
fortitude save (con boosting item, save boosting items), or use generic
spell-turning devices.

-Michael

[werlax]

Post by Michael Scott Brown

Post by werlax
There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides. The DM
made a roll and came in at a total of 19.

Your DM would do well to review the rules, as this is not how spell
resistance works (SR 20 means that attacking casters must overcome "20" on a
caster level check). The caster of disintegrate (in a non epic game) is
between 11th and 20th level.

Right. I survived. His roll didn't exceed my SR. He rolled a 3. Lucky me. :)

[Simon Hain]

Post by werlax
I was just
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration.

spellblade-enhancement for your weapon.
absorbs a spell (you have to select one) and you can fire it back as a
free action in the next round.

i love to have my BBEG carrying some dagger at the off-hand with
spellblade on magic missele and other nice ones the wizboy likes to use.

gs
simon

[Dasheiff]

***@hotmail.com (werlax) wrote in message news:<***@posting.google.com>...
I was just

Post by werlax
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration.

Spell Turning, Spell Immunity, and of course having higher or multiple
sources of SR.

[Wayne Shaw]

Post by werlax
I was just

Post by werlax
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration.

Spell Turning, Spell Immunity, and of course having higher or multiple
sources of SR.

I.e. nothing specific to disintegrate that won't, if it works at all,
effect other spells.

[Nikolas Landauer]

Post by Wayne Shaw

Post by Dasheiff

I was just wondering if there is any protection against
something like disintegration.

Spell Turning, Spell Immunity, and of course having higher
or multiple sources of SR.

I.e. nothing specific to disintegrate that won't, if it
works at all, effect other spells.

Affect, not effect. Effect as a verb means "to create". For a spell
to effect other spells, it'd have to be a Contingency spell. :D

And Spell Immunity fits the bill to the T. Spell Immunity only
functions against one or more spells, chosen at casting. I'm sure you
could find a few other spells it wouldn't hurt to be immune to. :D

[127.0.0.1]

Post by Nikolas Landauer
And Spell Immunity fits the bill to the T. Spell Immunity only
functions against one or more spells, chosen at casting. I'm sure you
could find a few other spells it wouldn't hurt to be immune to. :D

Isn't there a level limit on the spells that Spell Immunity can protect
against ?

Another way to protect might be to polymorph into something bigger than
10x10x10.

[Michael Scott Brown]

Post by 127.0.0.1
Another way to protect might be to polymorph into something bigger than
10x10x10.

<shakes head sadly>

-Michael

[Wayne Shaw]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 19:10:53 GMT, Nikolas Landauer

Post by Nikolas Landauer

Post by Wayne Shaw

Post by Dasheiff

I was just wondering if there is any protection against
something like disintegration.

Spell Turning, Spell Immunity, and of course having higher
or multiple sources of SR.

I.e. nothing specific to disintegrate that won't, if it
works at all, effect other spells.

Affect, not effect. Effect as a verb means "to create". For a spell
to effect other spells, it'd have to be a Contingency spell. :D

Yes, yes. I have to look it up every time, or I never keep them
straight.

Post by Nikolas Landauer
And Spell Immunity fits the bill to the T. Spell Immunity only
functions against one or more spells, chosen at casting. I'm sure you
could find a few other spells it wouldn't hurt to be immune to. :D

Ah, but it still works on other spells, it's just you have to chose
the other spells at casting. There's still no dedicated
anti-disintegrate (and as I recall, Spell Immunity chops off before
6th level spells).

[Bradd W. Szonye]

Post by Wayne Shaw
Ah, but it still works on other spells, it's just you have to chose
the other spells at casting. There's still no dedicated
anti-disintegrate (and as I recall, Spell Immunity chops off before
6th level spells).

Was the OP looking for a defense *specifically* against disintegration?
I don't remember anything like that.

[Wayne Shaw]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 23:31:18 GMT, "Bradd W. Szonye"

Post by Bradd W. Szonye

Post by Wayne Shaw
Ah, but it still works on other spells, it's just you have to chose
the other spells at casting. There's still no dedicated
anti-disintegrate (and as I recall, Spell Immunity chops off before
6th level spells).

Was the OP looking for a defense *specifically* against disintegration?
I don't remember anything like that.

Perhaps not; but I've seen people in the past present general
antimagical defenses (which tend to be pricey in one term or another)
when a more specific defense is what someone is looking for.

[Nikolas Landauer]

Post by Wayne Shaw

Post by Nikolas Landauer

Post by Wayne Shaw

Post by Dasheiff

I was just wondering if there is any protection against
something like disintegration.

Spell Turning, Spell Immunity, and of course having higher
or multiple sources of SR.

I.e. nothing specific to disintegrate that won't, if it
works at all, effect other spells.

Affect, not effect. Effect as a verb means "to create". For
a spell to effect other spells, it'd have to be a Contingency
spell. :D

Yes, yes. I have to look it up every time, or I never keep them
straight.

It can get worse when you add the nouns. :D You can effect an affect,
and when you affect something, it results in an effect. :D

Post by Wayne Shaw

Post by Nikolas Landauer
And Spell Immunity fits the bill to the T. Spell Immunity only
functions against one or more spells, chosen at casting. I'm
sure you could find a few other spells it wouldn't hurt to be
immune to. :D

Ah, but it still works on other spells, it's just you have to
chose the other spells at casting. There's still no dedicated
anti-disintegrate (and as I recall, Spell Immunity chops off
before 6th level spells).

I don't think a dedicated anti-disintegrate was what he was looking
for, anyway. "any protection against something like disintegration"
implies that anything that defends against it is workable.

Spell Immunity only works on 4th or lower level spells.

Greater Spell Immunity works on up to 8th level spells.

Your "problem" with it seems silly, though. If you choose the other
spells, you'll never be stuck with a defense that affects spells you
*want* cast on you, unlike Spell Resistance (which you can still drop
and resume as a free action, IIRC).

If I'm a 16th level Cleric, or a friend of one, I can think of 4 spells
I don't want cast on me, ever. Disintegrate *is* one of those. :D

[Bradd W. Szonye]

Post by Nikolas Landauer
If I'm a 16th level Cleric, or a friend of one, I can think of 4
spells I don't want cast on me, ever. Disintegrate *is* one of those.

Out of curiosity, what are the others?

[Nikolas Landauer]

Post by Bradd W. Szonye

Post by Nikolas Landauer
If I'm a 16th level Cleric, or a friend of one, I can think of 4
spells I don't want cast on me, ever. Disintegrate *is* one of those.

Out of curiosity, what are the others?

At L16? I meant that I could think of *at least* 4. But here's my
list, for now:
1. Enervation
2. Polymorph any Object
3. Maze
4. Disintegrate

This list would, of course, change with circumstance. For instance,
I'd drop Maze, were I a Wizard or had a high INT... And I'd drop
Disintegrate (and maybe Enervation) if I were someone who can be very
difficult to hit with a ranged touch...

It would also change if I had an inkling of what kinds of foes we'd be
up against, obviously.

There's at least one I'd love to add, if it allowed Spell Resistance:
Forcecage. Not because it's particularly nasty, but because it makes a
fight pretty much guaranteed to not be fun for me, if I don't have a
way out. IMC, I added a Ref save to get out of the way, because we had
a fight (first encounter of the night's session, in fact) become
instantly unenjoyable to one of the players, on the first round.

[Rupert Boleyn]

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 05:31:47 GMT, Nikolas Landauer

Post by Nikolas Landauer

Post by Bradd W. Szonye

Post by Nikolas Landauer
If I'm a 16th level Cleric, or a friend of one, I can think of 4
spells I don't want cast on me, ever. Disintegrate *is* one of those.

Out of curiosity, what are the others?

At L16? I meant that I could think of *at least* 4. But here's my
1. Enervation
2. Polymorph any Object
3. Maze
4. Disintegrate
This list would, of course, change with circumstance. For instance,
I'd drop Maze, were I a Wizard or had a high INT... And I'd drop
Disintegrate (and maybe Enervation) if I were someone who can be very
difficult to hit with a ranged touch...

How about Harm? Or does the requirment that they touch you remove it
from the list?

[Nikolas Landauer]

Post by Rupert Boleyn
On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 05:31:47 GMT, Nikolas Landauer

Post by Nikolas Landauer

Post by Bradd W. Szonye

Post by Nikolas Landauer
If I'm a 16th level Cleric, or a friend of one, I can think of 4
spells I don't want cast on me, ever. Disintegrate *is* one of those.

Out of curiosity, what are the others?

At L16? I meant that I could think of *at least* 4. But here's my
1. Enervation
2. Polymorph any Object
3. Maze
4. Disintegrate
This list would, of course, change with circumstance. For instance,
I'd drop Maze, were I a Wizard or had a high INT... And I'd drop
Disintegrate (and maybe Enervation) if I were someone who can be very
difficult to hit with a ranged touch...

How about Harm? Or does the requirment that they touch you remove it
from the list?

Yup. If I knew I was going to be up against Clerics, I'd probably
replace Disintegrate with Harm, but in general, the Touch range, the
save-ability of it, and the chance for Disintegrate to do *more* damage
than Harm, make D more relevant as a choice for me. Also, I tend to
run up against arcanists more often in the D&D (not AU, heh) campaign
in which I'm a player.

[Andy]

Post by werlax
So, last night my 15th level rogue flubbed a saving roll and was
disintegrated. He was wearing a Scarab of Protection and we had a lot
of discussion whether the item refers to the "death" domain of spells,
or just things that can kill you. In the end the DM decided I was to
remain ash. There was light at the end of the dustpan, though. We
had all forgotten about the 20% spell resistance it provides. The DM
made a roll and came in at a total of 19. Risen from the ashes, my
character stands reborn! ;) OK, anyway. I ramble. I was just
wondering if there is any protection against something like
disintegration. I can't find anything that specifically mentions this
protection. I was considering a Ring of Counterspells. My problem
with that ring is I could never decide which spell to store in it.
What other 'instant death' spells are there that wouldn't be covered
by the Scarab of Protection? What about something to instantly pop-up
an Anti-Magic shield? I want to be a superhero. Something in a shade
of green would be nice.
Thanks for any tips!

In Magic of Faerun there's an armour enhancement called Proof against
Transmutation which prevents any spell or effect from altering your form,
including Polymorph Other and Disintegrate (specifically listed). Sadly
it's a +6 enhancement bonus, but probably worth it.

In the same book there's also the Ring of Spell-Battle. Not only are you
aware of all spellcasting nearby (even metamagic still, silent spells), but
1/day you can redirect any spell.

My favourite though is Ring of Nine Lives; expend a charge and automatically
succeed on any saving throw you just failed. It's cheaper, if not as
convenient, to get yourself True Resurrected though. The ring can also
instantly heal you if you drop below 0 hit points, but again, it gets very
pricey very fast, especially in a continuous damage environment.

Andy