Can you dispel magic on a Rope Trick?

[shilsen]

Specifically, if some people have cast a rope trick spell and are inside the extradimensional space, can a caster standing outside cast dispel magic and affect it?

My first reaction would have been to say 'yes', but looking at the spell description more carefully, I'm not sure sure. Arguments for non-dispelling: (1) The rope trick spell is cast on the rope, which is inside the extradimensional space, and (2) Dispel magic does not work across planes (okay, as an abjuration its effects do extend to the Ethereal, but not across planes in general). Argument for dispelling: (1) The "window" is present on the Material Plane and thus can be dispelled (though I'm not sure from the description if the extradimensional space is actually created by the spell or simply pre-existent and is accessed by it).

Opinions?

 

[Black Knight Irios]

So first of all the window is present the whole time on the material plane, invisible indeed, but being on the same plane as the dispel effect will affect the rope trick spell for sure, only the area version works because the "window" is neither object nor creature. And 2nd the spell would be detectable with detect magic, so the magic is for sure present on the material plane.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

3rd if you couldn't dispel rope trick with dispel magic, they would have written it down, so that everyone could read it. Some spells do explecitly state that they can't be dispelled with dispel magic, why should it be the ame in the case of a 2nd level spell where it is not stated.

 

[shilsen]

So first of all the window is present the whole time on the material plane, invisible indeed, but being on the same plane as the dispel effect will affect the rope trick spell for sure, only the area version works because the "window" is neither object nor creature. And 2nd the spell would be detectable with detect magic, so the magic is for sure present on the material plane.

I think a targeted dispel would work too, since you can target it at a specific spell.

Thanks for the opinions. My players might not thank you, however

 

[Black Knight Irios]

Yes, your right targeted should work, too!

 

[Sir Whiskers]

This is actually a very tricky question, given the specific wording of dispel magic, and the fact that rope trick targets the rope, which is within the extra-dimensional space, which cannot be targeted from the Prime Material plane.

The only passage in dispel magic that seems appropriate is being able to dispel effects that overlap with the dispel, which means the window. But is dispelling the window sufficient to dispel the entire spell? Can one target the spell itself, since the only part of the spell one can spot is the invisible window? I've seen this argued on the boards before, but I don't remember if a consensus was reached.

Rather than parse the words, I'd suggest each GM decide what works in his/her own campaign and let the players know when their characters gain access to this spell. IIRC, most GM's allow the spell to be dispelled, primarily to keep parties from abusing it.

 

[Piratecat]

I would say absolutely yes, the spell can be dispelled from outside. The rules are a little unclear, so I ask myself: should a second lvl spell provide absolute invulnerability? For my campaign the answer is no, so I've ruled accordingly.

I've both done this to players in the past, and had it done to my PC. In both case it resulted in a very exciting game. Especially when the bad guys drop spells like spike stones and entangle underneath the spot first. As a DM, you need to be very aware that the PCs will be asleep and unarmored; this makes them significantly less powerful than normal.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

I would say absolutely yes, the spell can be dispelled from outside. The rules are a little unclear, so I ask myself: should a second lvl spell provide absolute invulnerability? For my campaign the answer is no, so I've ruled accordingly.

I've both done this to players in the past, and had it done to my PC. In both case it resulted in a very exciting game. Especially when the bad guys drop spells like spike stones and entangle underneath the spot first. As a DM, you need to be very aware that the PCs will be asleep and unarmored; this makes them significantly less powerful than normal.

It also gives the PC's a break when others use rope trick. Not only do my bad guys use them for resting, but to set up ambushes. Allowing dispel to work keeps this from being a killer spell for either group. Still, just imagine the look on the players faces when suddenly several ropes appear in mid-air and things start attacking them...

 

[shilsen]

I've both done this to players in the past, and had it done to my PC. In both case it resulted in a very exciting game. Especially when the bad guys drop spells like spike stones and entangle underneath the spot first. As a DM, you need to be very aware that the PCs will be asleep and unarmored; this makes them significantly less powerful than normal.

True, as my PCs discovered less than six hours ago. Being dropped on their butts at 9th level by a few goblins is pretty embarrassing. Luckily, that didn't kill them. Unfortunately, having the flying party paladin knocked backwards through the wizard's fire wall did!

Considering they (1) made camp within a quarter of a mile of a goblin encampment (2) after having killed two nagas they knew worked for the goblins (with lots of loud bang-boom spells) and were probably expected back and (3) left the bodies lying out there in the open and (4) cast the rope trick in the same exact area that ten characters and NPCs and four animal companions and mounts had wandered around in for half an hour, without making any effort to hide their presence or tracks, and (5) decided to have nobody keep watch through the window, I think they were asking for it.

I love the Rope Trick spell, but it needs some smart usage.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I've both done this to players in the past, and had it done to my PC. In both case it resulted in a very exciting game. Especially when the bad guys drop spells like spike stones and entangle underneath the spot first.

I saw a nasty version where the PCs had a Planar Ally sicced on them... a Glabrezu, with Dispel Magic and Reverse Gravity as at-will SLAs.

He set up a Reverse Gravity, then fired Dispels until he beat the Rope Trick.

The PCs hit the ceiling; the Glabrezu dismissed his Reverse Gravity. And next round, he teleported out.

Interrupted rest; spellcasters added another hour to their required nap time; healing required for minor falling damage to everyone; cast another Rope Trick...

... guess what happened next?

The party quickly learned that Rope Trick isn't as safe and secure at 13th level as it was at 8th...

-Hyp.